South Park on censorship and fear
Last night's episode of South Park was one of those rare but shimmering moments when the show is both funny and politically relevant. At issue: Family Guy, and the cartoon portrayal of the prophet Muhammad of Islam.
First, the funny, wherein Family Guy is taken to task. The episode (along with last week's) primarily makes fun of how Family Guy's humor mostly derives from jokes that are completely irrelevant to the plot. To illustrate this point, they explain that the writing staff of the show is comprised of several manatees in a large water tank who pick from a pile random balls with words written upon them such as "Gary Coleman" and "Mexico." These balls, when put together, create a random Family Guy joke. Funny, mocking, and (metaphorically) true.
Second, the political, wherein South Park reveals the persistent hypocrisy surrounding censorship. The basic plot of the episode is that Fox is refusing to air a Family Guy episode that shows a cartoon representation of Muhammad, and Kyle goes on a crusade to get them to change their minds. Layered above that is the obvious question of whether Comedy Central (i.e., Viacom) will let South Park itself portray Muhammad. The answer comes at the end of the episode, when Kyle finally convinces Fox to air the Family Guy episode. A rather mundane joke follows where Muhammad gives Peter a football helmet at his front door (I don't remember why), but when Muhammad is supposed to appear, white text on a black screen appears stating that Comedy Central refused to allow the portrayal of Muhammad.
They then show Al Qaeda's hypothetical response to Fox's airing of Muhammad, which you can view below. The hypocrisy being clear: the network is too scared to allow them to show Muhammad do something as mundane as handing Peter a football helmet, yet they air the below without a blink of the eye.
Censorship = Fear:
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metaphorically true?
well, I don't think it's literally true.
but "metaphorically true" sounds like you're praising it for being a particularly astute metaphor. i mean, it's funny, and a good poke at how the writers live and die by the nonsequitir -- but it's not yeats-like imagery or some shit.
by the way, it is very rewarding to watch that without sound on your computer at work, then come home and watch it with sound. i highly recommend it.
yummy, yummy crap.
Wasn't the show also filled with references to Viacom's censoring of South Park and its take on Scientology? Didn't Viacom agree not the air the ant-Scientology episode again?
It is true that Viacom hasn't re-aired the Scientology episode since the whole blow-up, but it's hard to tell if that's a permanent move or not. But there weren't any explicit references to that situation, or at least none that I can remember.
I like how the first three comments are all about semantic.
It was partly about that. I was also about that fact that Matt and Trey wanted to show mohamed and Comedy Central wouldn't allow them too. So this is there response. It was also about how fucking terrible and lazy Family Guy is. And they hit that dead on. I have said forever that there is not a lazier comedy show than Family Guy. It's got funny jokes (ish), but seriously, anyone with an iota of comedic talent could write an episode. Anyone. Even Robin Williams. South Park has been quite good this (mini) season. Whenever they decide to no longer make that show, I will look forward to how they end it. I am sure it will be interesting. As opposed to how the Simpsons will end. "Look, they got special guest Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. What a finale!"
wow, i totally forgot until now about the Super Best Friends episode, which portrayed Mohammed as a flame-wielding superhero. sigh.
Although South Park has been on for a long, long time, and sometimes their epsisodes get old, I do agree with Cmonk about how they still come up with culturally relavent and politically pertinent stuff. It is such a tremendous hypocrasy that they were able to air that but not Mohammed just holding a football. I love the question mark that is slowly drawn on at the end. It's too bad that Viacom hasn't allowed them to air the first scientology episode again, since I have never seen it! However, I did love Matt and Trey's response to scientology at large, it is officially my favorite quote of the year (at least thus far) and I use any opportunity to insert it into conversation. Therefore:
"Scientology, you may have won THIS battle, but the million-year war for Earth has just begun! Temporarily anozinizing our episode will NOT stop us from keeping Thetans forever trapped in your pitiful man-bodies. Curses and drat! You have obstructed us for now, but your feeble bid to save humanity will fail! Hail Xenu!!!"
It was a great response, but it would've been a smidgen greater if they had used the phrase "crap lousy."
Also, you can watch the whole scientology episode here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eQKxV9Lh04
No way! Cool!
OMG, just watched it. It's absolutely brillant. I even love who at the end the credits just read John & Jane Smith. Heeeheeehee.
Ok, I'm confused.
I just downloaded the episode and it didn't have any white boxes... it had Mohammed handing Peter a football helmet. I wonder who put the unedited version online.
On somewhat of a tangent, I watched the scientology episode and then the Trapt in the Closet saga--- wow. Pretty funny stuff. R Kelly is a really bad actor.
Interesting -- where did you find the uncensored version?
Torrent.
IsoHunt.
I think the "uncensored" version is a fake. I doubt that scene was ever animated. it was written in response to Comedy Central saying no to a Mohamed.
Well, I'm happy to send it anyone who's interested in seeing it. If you've got Instant Messenger send me an email and you can judge for yourself.
It looked legit.
Yeah, I haven't seen it, but I bet they animated it. First of all, animating it means very little in terms of South Park. Second, they probably animated it in case Viacom backed down at the last minute (otherwise it would've been rather presumptuous of them). Third, Ingen, can you email me the torrent link? I'll post the clip online if you do.
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