- 08/02/2013
- Posted by: essay
- Category: Free essays
“South Park” demonstrates the support of advocates for the rights of sexual minorities and is criticizing their opponents in the standard for “South Park” grotesque style. The irony is that the chief opponent of gays in the series – Mr. Harrison- is an open homosexual, and then – a transsexual by the name Mrs. Harrison. Eventually, Mrs. Harrison becomes a lesbian, and then, after understanding the impossibility to bear children – again a man. In “Watch the eggs!” the same-sex marriages are declared as “too offensive”, but the school experiment proves that same-sex couples can raise children, despite all the efforts of Mrs. Harrison. As a result, according to the plot of the cartoon, a single-sex marriage is allowed in Colorado. In the episode “Cripple Fight” states that Boy Scouts of America did not have to hire homosexuals, but also did not have to try to dismiss homosexuals.
“South Park” is regularly referred to or making fun of different political ideas, political figures. In it has repeatedly appeared the U.S. Presidents: twice it was Bill Clinton, eight times – George W. Bush, and single episode (“About Last Night”) was devoted to America’s presidential election in 2008, which also parodied the main contenders for the post, including the current president – Barack Obama.
In a series of “Free Willzyx” the second president of Russia Vladimir Putin was parodied, and the members of the Russian government of that time. In the episode “Mandombe” Queen Elizabeth II was shown, and in the final of the series she killed herself after an unsuccessful attempt to capture the U.S. with the help of the British Navy. Also many world leaders have been parodied in a series of “Derby pine forest”. (Heffernan, 2004)custom term paper
One more topic that is criticized is the hype around the issue of global warming. For example, in a series of 1999 activist-environmentalist, who is voiced by Jennifer Aniston, falls into the jungle and finds out that she did not like nature at all. In a series of 2001 “Terrance and Phillip: Behind the” group of ecologists are trying to wash people’s brains, so that they began to care about the environment. They take Kenni in hostage and begin to chop off pieces of him to make friends to organize a speech at the festival in support of the environment.
In a series of 2005, “Two days before the day after tomorrow” the assumption that the cause of hurricanes is global warming is ridiculed. The entire series is a parody of the movie “The Day After Tomorrow”. In a series of 2006 “The threat of complacency!” Owners of hybrid cars are so proud of themselves, that a result they themselves begin to exude dangerous fumes. Nevertheless, in the series was noted the importance of using hybrid cars. The episode “ManBearPig” is dedicated to Albert Gore and his fight against global warming. Gore is shown as insane rogue, trying to catch the imaginary ManBearPig to attract attention to himself. South (Park Studios FAQ, 2001)
Also in the cartoon repeatedly appears Humane Society of PETA. In the episode “Douche and Turd” members of the organization are represented as natural freaks who marry animals (a hybrid of man and the ostrich is moaning “Kill me”) and contemptuous of their fellows.
Conclusion
During its existence, the “South Park” has become not only a successful show, but a kind of pop-culture phenomenon, and its characters like Cartman, Kenny, Timmy, as well as many phrases, parts and fragments of the episodes have become an essential part of pop culture.
Effect of “South Park”, according to assistant of show producer Mike McMahon, “one can often see in things that have no relationship to pop culture or animation”. (South Park Studios FAQ, 2001)
In 1999 came a full-length animated film “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut”. The film combines the elements of a musical (the film is actively parodying the Disney musicals), political satire and dark, obscene and wicked humor, it has a “hard R” rating due to the large amount of violence, obscene language and obscenity. The film revolves around the ban by parents of Terrance and Phillip movie, and the growth of hatred of Americans to Canada, and around the attempts of Satan and Saddam Hussein to capture the world.
The film has achieved considerable critical success, both qualitative and interesting example of political satire.
In the whole both series and film ridicule the shortcomings of American culture and current world events, and criticized a lot of deep convictions and taboos, through parody and black humor.
“South Park” ridicules modern celebrities, religious ideas, modern stereotypes and views about nations and nationalities, and a lot of things that are part of today’s life in America. So all this make “South Park” a modern icon of satire and humor in America.
References:
1. Broman, Per F, Jacoby, Henry, 2006, South Park and Philosophy: You Know, I Learned Something Today. Blackwell Publishing (The Blackwell Philosophy & Pop Culture Series)
2. Mansour, David, 2005, From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century. Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC.
3. Johnson-Woods, Toni, 2007, Blame Canada!: South Park And Popular Culture. Available from
4. Trapper, Jake, Morris, Dan, 2006, Secrets of “South Park”. ABC News. Available from
5. Heffernan, Virginia, 2004, What? Morals in “South Park”?. The New York Times.
6. Jones, Vanessa E, 2008, No offense, but The Boston Globe.
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