South Park has made a name for itself over the last 15 years as one of the funniest yet most offensive shows on television. The creators of the show spare no one on their endless quest to bash every famous person or group of people in America they don't like. Do you think the show is offensive? Do you think it is OK for the writers to make fun of anyone they want, as long as it is purely for the comedy of the show and it's "all in good fun?" Do the writers have the right to bash anyone they please? Below is a link to an article describing why some people might find the show offensive and refuse to watch it, and why the show is hilarious despite the show's vulgar nature (in the author's opinion).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/7671750/South-Park-The-most-dangerous-show-on-television.html
I have personally never gotten into South Park, and i think the author hit it right on the spot with why when he talks about how bad the cartoons are drawn, the annoying voices, and to me the stupid plots. Some of the things that are brought up in the article i do see as being funny, but i know if I do go watch the episode that is being talked about i know that they will take it too far and i will not like it. i find that the author is pretty fair when it comes to writing this article and judging the show. he personally knows that show show is stupid, offensive and poorly executed; but he does see why people like it. he leads you to believe that he is even a fan of the show as well. Over all I think it is ok to pick on other who ever you want; however you need to know your boundaries, such as what is offensive and when i should stop. I have no problem people making a joke about me, but if they are constantly picking on me and insulting me and putting me down, ya I am going to be mad. With that said i do not think that South Park's targets are the problem, the problem is how far they take their jokes because they end up insulting their targets more than pointing out facts and twisting them a little to make them funny.
ReplyDeleteIf you can't laugh at everything, you shouldn't laugh at anything at all. This is what I believe South Park has truly captured in their program. Of course it is offensive and goes beyond the limits and boundaries of crude humor, but that is what makes this show so popular and entertaining. Being a fan of this show and having watched literally every episode has allowed me to see the message its creators are trying to send out to the world. Within their stupid, malicious, and cynical humor lies something creative and witty. They make fun of people, but make a point along the way. There are some things that South Park does that I may not agree with but I still watch it and laugh. It may sound crazy to someone who hasn't had the pleasure of watching this show and understanding what it is about it, but to those who do understand it appreciate what they're trying to do. Not to mention how great it is that we live in a country that offers free speech to anyone and everyone.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any episode of South Park. But I ask my friend about the comment of it, he just told me after he watched couple seasons, he learned tons of filthy language in English. I am so curious why the author create the image of four kids to say those coarse language. And there is a caption before every episode,"All character and event in the show ——Even based in the real people——Entirely fictional.All celebrity voice are impersonated…poorly." The whole show is an irony about the current society, policy, celebrities. And I am pretty impressed by the free speech in America.
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ReplyDeleteI've never finished an episode of South Park but I have tried to watch it a few times. I didn't really find anything funny about the show but I think it just wasn't my style of humor. However, I didn't take offense to the attacks the creators were making towards the celebrities or situations that each episode focused on. It's a personal choice whether you watch the show or not and if people are really taking offense to the jokes then they should just change the channel. Everyone knows the first amendment gives us the right to freedom of speech and there are examples of this in the world that are more cruel and offensive than a joke said by a cartoon character. I do understand why the people under attack could take some of the jokes made on the show personally but South Park isn't the only form of media making a mockery out of society.
ReplyDeleteI never watched the show, South Park, until yesterday. I watched one episode of South Park in order to better understand it. However, I feel I cannot even bear the show. It is ridiculous for me to see cute cartoon characters talked dirty words all the time. Moreover, the voices of some characters in the show are too offensive. I just felt uncomfortable when I heard their voices. Since the characters in the show are cartoons, it will attract lots of children and teenagers to watch it. In my opinion, the show is deeply harmful for young generations. They are not mature and may try to imitate those characters. The show definitely will lead them to live a way of aggressive. Moreover, I do not think there is any worthy value stands behind the show. Nothing we can learn from it.
ReplyDeleteThe only time I watched this cartoon was in this english class. At that time I found it hilarious. I thought the whole point about south park is for a laugh, but it is not. Every point they make about social issues etc are always right. The issues, restated in sarcasm way by cute characters，give the audience a strong contrast and let the audience think when they laugh. However the cartoon says everything explicitly and imitate celebrities vividly. It is quiet offensive, even if the content matches audience's opinion. Moreover it uses filthy words almost in every sentence. I don't think it will give a good influence on children. People without independent thinking will also be mislead by the cartoon. They will see the world in a pathetic way.
ReplyDeleteI have never personally watched south park. I don't find it to be very funny. But that is just not what I find to be funny. I don't find what the creators make fun of offensive, I believe they have a right for free speech. People can chose to watch the show or not its their decision. If I find something they say on the show offensive, then I would just stop watching the show. People should not take their jokes seriously. The creators are trying to take social issues and famous people and put a comedic spin on it.
ReplyDeleteThe article summed up why South Park is able to get so many viewers and appeal to many groups of people:
ReplyDelete"But it's in the quality of its satire that its greatest strengths lie. There's only one thing that's politically correct about South Park – and that is its rigorously equal opportunities policy on offence-giving. It has upset Jews, blacks, homosexuals, the disabled, parents, teachers, environmentalists, Hollywood celebrities, Catholics and Scientologists."
Yes, the show uses crude humor but it is able to get away with it by attacking everyone. This gives them the ability to put anything on the show. Nothing is safe from their ridicule. The only time that people were seriously offended was when they attempted to have an image of Mohammed. South Park is simply an expression of freedom of speech that people can simply ignore if they are offended.
I don't think I've ever fully watched an episode of South Park, and reading other people's comments I'm glad I'm not the only one. My boyfriend and other friends are always telling me how funny it is and making references to it that I never understand. I just don't find anything entertaining about the show. Call me a complete girl but I'd much rather watch Grey's or Tosh.o before I watched South Park. It's just not my thing or my sense of humor, I just don't really get it. I feel like it portrays more to a male’s perspective than a female's. However, I do think they do a good job at not discriminating against just one race or person, but the world as a whole. It's America so we are allowed to speak about what we want and say what we want, even if others don't like it.
ReplyDeleteIn fact I never watch the south park , but I hear about it . Someone say it is funny but someone say it is babbittry.Whatever , South park walks on its 15 years old ,there is no doubt that it has it is own glamour ， and a part of audience in every ages watch it , it may become a part of american culture maybe .
ReplyDeleteActually, i have watched the South Park for a long time. The first time i saw it was when i was in a social class, but i didn't interesting at all cause the rough draw style and the strange dub at that time. But if you start get to know about this show, you will find something really interested you. As for me, i agree with what Joe Roz said, the authors themselves know how stupid story they write, offensive and poorly, but them also know how to make this show attract people's attention and make people laugh. And also, it is really a personal choice whether you watch the show or not; if someone is really taking offense to the jokes in the show they could choose just to change the channel. I know cause the story, it may cause some trouble of Islamic but really if you choose to watch this show, please don't take South Park so seriously, it's just having fun!
ReplyDeleteI have never really gotten into this show either, but occasionally watch an episode if my roomates have it on. I do agree that most of their humor and insults to famous people are in good nature though. At the end of every episode there seems to be a deeper meaning of what they were actually trying to portray, even though they do often bash celebrities. I agree with kaitlyn in that they do a great job of not discriminating, which would definitely be crossing the line. I think that celebrities who are on the show understand that it purely for comedy so they know that it is all in good taste.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this show is very popular and become cultural things. Even there are many people who don't like to watch the show, since the show has continued 15 years, this kind of show is kind of represent American humor. I don't like to making fun with people, but I know so many of my friends like to watch so much. So I think this show is a little bit offensive, but I think most of people like it and they don't mind.
ReplyDeleteActually I did not watch South park, but I just heard about it. One of my friends says it is about politics and social issues. Although I am not interesting in the topics of politic, I know that the reason why South park is this kind of famous is that it presents an aspect of American culture. To get to know the culture of a country, of course we should work on the shows which convey what this nation wants to say to us. Maybe I will try this South park some day to get in touch with local American things closer.
ReplyDeleteThe animated television series South Park has always been known for crude humor, extravagant story lines, and scathing satire. It has been subject to debate and controversy since its first episode 1997 for the shows’ general disregard for the sanctity of religion and government, as well as the shows’ use of less than clean language. However, the show has aired for 15 seasons, and is contracted to air another 5 seasons for a reason. South Park satirizes current and relevant topics that are controversial in nature to begin with; as a result, it is going to incite extreme responses. If the show were merely demoralizing aspects of society without truthful satire or useful criticism, the show would cease to exist and run for so many seasons.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I never watched this TV show before. I did some research online about this show. I found it is not just like what it looks like. Four cut children can say anything, even though bad language and molest any people. I don't think the writer has any rights to comment or make fun with others. Of course it is your right, but you should not use it to make money for you. That is shameful. Since it is cartoon, what is the result after children watch it? learned much coarse language?
ReplyDeleteI think that the popularity of this show must be that the creator goes offensive, off boundaries of humor. I think that the creator of the show should make some boundaries so people do not hate him and try to kill them. Because if you make a fun of a person once then it is okay but if you do it every time then that person is not going to like it and eventually he will do something to stop it.
ReplyDeleteI watched a few episodes of this show; I give the creators big credit, however I stopped as I believe it crosses the line in one of its episodes, maybe because I felt it crossed a line for something that I feel it is a red line and can’t be crossed. The freedom of speech is a right but not to be abused or misused. This show is over rated and in my opinion it does not deserve this popularity and large audience. I believe if kids accidentally watch it will have negative impact on their life and when dealing with others and in the way they may treat people.
ReplyDeleteI think that any cartoon should be able to poke fun at anything mainly because it’s comedy and as in comedy anything and everything is fair game.
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