Still Subject to Criticism

The two most recent episodes of South Park, really left me scratching my head. Sure at times the episodes were very funny, but most of these moments played off of moments from past episodes. Neither episode did anything for me. They weren't all that funny and when it came to the climax of the hour long special, they censored out every important word. maybe all they were trying to say was no one can get away from being fun of, but if that was it, why drag the episode out over an hour? Maybe South Park censored parts referring to Muhammad to prove that not even he is immune to being made fun of. I guess what the creators are saying is that South Park can make fun of anyone at anytime. Just because you're famous doesn't mean you can't be made fun of. Yes, that means you too Tom Cruise. No one can escape being made fun of it's a simple fact in life. We just have to learn to deal with it.

Celebrities and South Park

Since South Park's 200th episode focuses on all the celebrities, which South Park has made fun of over the years, I decided to take a look back at some of my favorite celebrity moments myself.

We'll start off with one of my favorite celebrity/athlete, Tiger Woods. I know I already addressed this episode a few posts ago but, that was more to point out the inconsiderate nature of how the episode was structured. Fact is, it was Tiger's turn to get ripped by South Park. Over the years we've seen athletes made fun of by South Park before, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire for their steroid use, and even Ben Rothlisberger for his sex assault problems. Tiger's episode however, focused almost solely around him and his wife Elin. Overall I feel as though the episode was very funny, however I feel as though it was released to soon. I think South Park would've been better off waiting a few weeks with this episode just to let the dust settle a bit more especially around the assault issue. This is not the first time South Park has been too quick to poke fun at an issue. In 2006 within two weeks of Steve Irwin's death, South Park shows Steve Irwin attending a Halloween party with a stingray still stuck in his heart.

The second group of celebrities commonly exploited by South Park are politicians. In 2008, only days after the election. An episode aired portraying Barack Obama, John McCain, Sarah Palin, and Michelle Obama all as a part of a conspiracy using the presidency to steal the Hope diamond from the Smithsonian. Other episodes include characters such as Bill and Hillary Clinton.

A third and the most common group of celebrities attacked by South Park are performers and movie stars. Some of South Park's funniest episodes, such as the Kanye West "Fishsticks" episode, and more recently the 200th episode when Tom Cruise wages war against South Park.

South Park is a controversial show not only because of its obscenity, it's also controversial because of the people the show makes fun of. The Fishsticks episode just wouldn't be the same without Kanye West, just like the episode based on Sex addiction wouldn't be the same without Tiger Woods. Really after looking at each episode in depth, South Park does nothing more than Satirize current events and stereotypes. Taking an event like the election, and spinning it to create, funny, fictional story. In doing so South Park becomes personally relevant to its veiwers.

The Wonderful World Of Facebook

Facebook.
It's an understatement to say that it's part of out culture. We all have our Facebook superiority complexes. We all like to compare our friends, and we've even see employers look at Facebook pages to determine whether you'll be hired or not. South Park looks at Facebook in depth by taking the world of Facebook and making it a separate entity, underlying the physical world we live in. South Park creates this idea that Facebook has developed this idea of a dual reality in the modern world.

Though Facebook, we develop a second personality, one that can be vastly different from your real personality. For example, in reality, someone might be a big partier, but in Facebook he/she appears to be innocent and conservative, because he/she monitors the pictures posted of her, and the comments she makes while online. Sure, all of her friends know who she really is, but through Facebook she might be able to hide her real life from her parents, relatives, employers, etc.

A second type of personality found on Facebook is the person who posts every picture, every party, every event they're attending to make themselves look cooler. These people are searching for popularity and recognition they can't ultimately find in their own lives.

South Park's portrayal of Facebook, and the Facebook culture addresses the idea of "friends" in a way which everyone can relate to. This episode really addresses the idea of friends versus Facebook friends. Should there be a difference? Obviously, yes! The one thing many Facebook users don't realize is just because you're friends with someone on Facebook doesn't mean you can treat them like friends in real life. Sure you can be nice to them, but you can't do things like make fun of each other or have deep conversations with each other like you can with a real friend. Sure you can like someone's status or post something on their wall, but living out a Facebook friendship, in no way involves living out a friendship in real life.

I've been waiting for this issue to be addressed by an outlet like South Park. Many of South Parks viewers are Facebook users, as such I feel as South Park made a strong statement as to how Facebook can get a bit ridiculous and carried away.

Kind For Cures Opens In South Park

I didn't even know about this story until South Park aired this episode a few weeks back, but upon further investigation I found it to be shockingly true. Watching the episode, I really didn't think anything of KFC's closing, and opening as medicinal marijuana shops, I thought the creators were solely playing on the fact that KFC and other fast foods have become almost drug-like in our society. I later stumbled on an article about this actually happening in California. South Park really nailed it on this one!

This episode really addresses the both sides of the debate on medical marijuana. The argument for the legalization of medical marijuana, as well as the underground drug trade with marijuana remaining illegal.

South Park really does a good job illustrating how legalizing medicinal marijuana creates loopholes for marijuana users to legally, get their hands on the drug. Although, as usual, the example given in South Park was rather extreme, as men in South park begin to intentionally give themselves testicular cancer in order to receive marijuana licenses.

The second side of the marijuana debate addressed by this episode is the underground drug market that develops as a result of marijuana or any substance be illegalized. To illustrate this, South Park banns KFC from Colorado, which in turn creates an underground market for KFC in South Park. Cartman as a KFC dealer becomes involved in the shady life of a drug dealer, illustrating how the black market causes an unnecessary amount of crime to take place over a relatively harmless substance.

Bottom line the debate over medical marijuana is ridiculous, because the rules themselves are ridiculous. Such as marijuana sales outside of the pharmacy building, even if proper documentation is provided. Legalizing medical marijuana doesn't eliminate the underground drug network, but solely allows for drug dealers/marijuana sellers easier access to the drug. Further more, today in much of Colorado, the location of the real South Park, there are laws allowing the possession of marijuana of up to an ounce, which if you are not familiar with marijuana, is a lot. Personally, I feel as though the legalization of marijuana is inevitable, as such authorities should focus on more dangerous drugs, and our culture should accept the drug as it has accepted alcohol.

Banned Books Promote Popularity

Remember back in high school when your english teacher said the class would be reading a "banned book?" If you were anything like me, the idea the book was banned only intrigues me to read it.

The most recent episode, "The Tale of Scrotie McBoogerballs" really hits this issue on the head. People are attracted by controversy. People are attracted by things that are disturbing and disgusting. South Park as a whole is a perfect example of how controversy attracts viewers.

A second issue addressed by this episode is the idea that books have a deeper meaning and have an overall commentary on current social and political issues. South Park recognizes that sometimes a book has to be taken at face value, and that more times than not the author doesn't even write the book with a deeper meaning to it. Most authors are just trying to write a good story, if a deeper meaning is found, great! That just means the book is finding personal relevance with the readers, and as such promotes the popularity of the book. Bottom line, every book is up to your own interpretation, no matter what your english teacher says, there is no real right or wrong to the interpretation of a piece of literature.

South Park Addresses Sex Addiction... This Should Be Good!

A new season of South Park, and they're talking about Tiger Woods? What could be better?

I knew someone was gonna run with this one, but the team at South Park really out did themselves on this one.

Not a month after Tiger's speech, in which he was obviously angered by the accusations of assault against his wife Elin, South Park blatantly reenacts this scenario. Yeah, it was portrayed as part of a video game but still, have some respect for the man.

I'm not gonna lie, I found the episode hilarious, however I feel like South Park's portrayal of the events of Thanksgiving night to be a little disrespectful to the Woods family. Sure, I have no problem with making fun of Tiger's "sex addiction," which in my opinion is a bit ridiculous in itself. You can even reenact his affairs and everything. That would all be funny and good, but don't bring a matter that Tiger himself specifically addressed in his statement, especially because he was very obviously upset about the issue. Bottom line, people don't like lies about them to be spread. The possibility of Elin assaulting Tiger is all speculation, this topis was out of bounds for Saturday Night Live, it should be out of bounds for South Park too.

Don't get me wrong, I love the show, I just feel they went over the top with this one. The rest of the episode was well done, their commentary of "sex addiction" was spot on. We as a culture are very quick to point the finger at the tabloid affairs and divorces, however we are scared to look in the mirror. We have to come to grips with the facts that the American culture is a sexual one. Whether it's advertising, television, movies, or music, we are bombarded by sexual images, but yet we want to go and criticize celebrities for their infidelity, when we can't even own up to our own. Thank you South Park for shedding light on this issue.