Does laughing at racism make you racist? Subjective question, but the normative answer put out by the Southpark is No. How? By replacing the concept of conscience with a new one free of certain guilt. Do you judge people by what they laugh at? Notice in "TV" the diabolical villian is trademarked by his diabolical laugh. In America, why isn't the Southpark fan condemned after we hear his/her smart ass snicker.
Positive reinforcement is an increase in the likelihood of a behavior due to the addition of a reinforcer after a behavior. If you snort coke the euphoria will make you crave more coke. If you get attention by using stereotypes in your jokes, you will use more stereotypes in the future. We basically learn (condition through positive reinforcement) to use stereotypes. When has using stereotypes ever backfired for a white teenage who needs attention. When a minority is present, it is either awful (black white violence) or tragedy disguised as acceptance (the Asian nerd smiles). The media can get away because you can't fight a medium. You can't fight free speech. and if you criticize southpark you criticize free speech. Everyone who doesn't like Southpark on TV seems to be tied with religion. How come philosophers and intellectuals don't make an ethical case against Southpark? they probably have but it is better to put the Southern Baptist on O Reilly factor than anyone who has an actual background in social psychology. I feel bad for minorities who laugh at their own stereotypes because they think they are belittling racism when they are just setting new standards for more racist humor. Racism + Laughter = Acceptance of stereotypes. Laughter is your way of showing your approval. Ethnic jokes exploit ethnic stereotypes. The exploitation of ethnicity for humor and attention is definitely racist and subsequently aggressive.
When Laugher becomes Aggressive (Do Minorities have a say in how they are presented to the Majority on TV). No but we'll make our Public Relations Manager a minority to give a model and give a false impression. Acting, TV, PR how are they all so high on the Jerkoff/BS/Mainstream Illusion scale.
Minorities are forced to be judged against unrealistic fictional characters. You meet more Asians through Southpark (watching the caricatures) and Grey's Anatomy and Lost than in real life. Plus the ones on TV are the actual true minorities, right??? (They are what's called models of impression management.
Let's look at the effect on society down the road. Most white teenage guys like Southpark. Along with that admiration comes a certain worldview (White is right or other logical fallacies like white is smart, and smart is right so...bs) When these people start to turn 45, the typical age for kicking off political careers, they will be the minority. How can someone who has been raised to appreciate a good stereotype going to deal with immigration or human rights. I think we can ask that question right now of our current administrators and say, How'd you like all those cowboy movies Georgie? Righteous and cool you are George. Intelligent and feeling you are not? Righteous and cool are you southpark sycophants, intelligent and feeling you are not.
What will happen when the balance of white power sways? It's going to be fun to watch.
Though a rant, I really want criticism on this article so please post even a few words whitey. Answer these questions?
Does laughing at racism make you racist? Does laughter show approval? What is laughter? Do stereotypes marginalize minorities? Is Southpark a multicultural cartoon? Is the target audience of Southpark (white,suburbs 14-28) multicultural? The paranthetical statement will help you out. Would you want a Southpark fan in charge of the distribution of income and resources? Would you want a racially, culturally, and morally bankrupt person in charge of the distribution of income and resources? Is laughing at Southpark showing your approval of southpark and subsequently sarcasm and black humor? What are the social implications of black humor and sarcasm? Are they beneficial and if so to what social caste (white, suburbs 14-28)
I disagree in full. South Park doesn't re-enforce stereotypes because the stereotypes are blown so out of proportion that no human being with an IQ greater than his shoe size could possibly lend credence to any of it. If anything, South Park effectively destroys racism by exaggerating stereotypes to the point where they become funny and thus stupid and irrelevent.
I cite George Carlin's "Doing It Again." When he makes jokes about rapists and the rapist mentality -- the "She was asking for it" mentality -- he doesn't promote rape nor does he promote that mentality. Any listener immediately regards the mentality as erroneous and sheer lunacy.
What does make people racist are the publicity hawks (Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and the like) who insist that the problem can only be solved by not dealing with it and avoiding the issue at all costs, and shunning anyone who dares to think that their plan absolutely sucks.
Their plan absolutely sucks.
Also, I like how you base your entire system of reasoning on stereotypes and perceived/assumed demographics. Nice going.
--Mike
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"I disagree in full. South Park doesn't re-enforce stereotypes because the stereotypes are blown so out of proportion that no human being with an IQ greater than his shoe size could possibly lend credence to any of it."
Spot on. Although I think we also have to spare a thought for those who have an IQ greater than their shoe size, but are crippled with underdeveloped-sense-of-humour syndrome. I think we should all spare a thought for these poor souls whose crippling anal retention disqualifies them from understanding or enjoying any humour beyond the most basic knock-knock joke.
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
I have a few things.
First I know all ethnicities who watch this show...even well enough to quote it....so i don't know where the stat came from that only white teenage guys watch it....so maybe you should cite that info with a source.
Second, I don't know where you live, but I meet more asians and every other ethnicity face to face than i do on Southpark...so maybe try not to make such a general statement about that.
Laughing at racism does not make you a racist. I laugh at the stereotypes of the characters on South Park, but I am more than willing to tell you that most of the stereotypes...and all of the characters in general are false and simply unrealistic.
Stereotypes marginalize everyone. You have to remember, Southpark doesnt just tap into racism, it taps into all prejudice. Race, religion, social class...etc etc. However, lets be honest, there are SOME people who fit right into the certain stereotype of their race, religion, culture etc. The problem with stereotypes is not recognizing that they exist but in using them to judge other people. You need to get to know someone before you can see if they fit the stereotype...not use the stereotype to know someone.
Is South Park a multicultural cartoon?? Nothing is multicultural in America unless its stressed....and even then, a stress on being multicultural can make something become JUST as stereotypical and fake as anything else....especially when an ignorant or sheltered person/group is trying to be multicultural. This most often happens when commercialism is part of the plan.
Would I want a south Park fan in charge of distribution of income and resources?? no....but I wouldn't want all distribution of income and resources to be handled completely by middle-aged upper class white men who have their money incredibly backed by the oil companies and other places in the stock market.....but I got the short end of that stick too.
as for the next question....i think for the most part....it may be a little too late for that....at least with the current administration and other high ups of the economic world.
Laughing at Southpark shows my support of a funny joke. I will laugh at any joke/idea if i find it funny enough. Its not just black humor its ALL humor. Honestly I feel the show isn't that big of adeal...i mean i don't know anyone who takes that show seriously....its just a cartoon. and frankly I think we need to stop relying on the media and blaming the media around the issues of racism. If a bigot wants to be a bigot....he's going to be a bigot....he's not going to be a bigot because of south park. If society is racist, then its society's fault....we are all adults....or should be adult enough to understand to respect each others differences in the real world and teach that to our youth.
I don't think its necessarily beneficial, but I say if it makes you laugh, then go ahead with it....better to spread good energy with laughter, then bad energy with hate. I don't really think there's a lot of beneficial media period....but thats just my opinion.
On a final note, let me add, that this article seems to be making a huge deal out of south Park when its really not. If we want ot fight social injustice or stereotypes the fight needs to start from within. if you use a cartoon to make your judgements of other people, thats pretty pathetic. (and when i say "you" i dont mean YOU....i'm just making a general statement)
I don't think thast the racial stereotypes will stop with the "sway of white power" there will still be Mind of Mencia and The Chappele Show....that spouts off just as many stereotypes regardless of race as anyone else.
Laughing at a stereotype is not positive reinforcement....rewarding those who teach others to take stereotypes literally is a positive reinforcement that will have negative after-affects.
And philosophers and other intellactuals are not getting up in ethical arms over South Park, because theyre too busy dealing with the ethics of those in the government and religious groups.
Most of the South Park episodes i've watched were making fun of the media itself including celebrities, and certain organized groups/religions.....not people of a certain race.
"Would I want a south Park fan in charge of distribution of income and resources?? no...."
Why not? I mean on the subject of stereotypes, what exactly is your stereotype of South Park fans? Of all the most intelligent people I know, I don't know one that doesn't like it, they may not wear Cartman T-shirts or own the entire series on DVD, but they all really like it.
In fact, the majority of people I've met that never liked South Park are people who think that because they are dull it must mean that they are intelligent. Those are the type of people I wouldn't want in charge of anything. They are the kind of people who say things like: "That's stupid, I don't get it", without irony.
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
No, laughing are racism is showing that you are not affected by it. Honestly, I am more prone to laugh at someone because they are stupid than because of their skin color/ethnicity.
As a child, I was told that if someone called me a mean name, I was to simply reply, "so?" Now, as most of us know, by not reacting to the insult, it prevents further bullying because the bully wants you to react. Correct? So, when South Park takes a typical stereotype and blows it WAY out of proportion, it actually has the same effect. We see it with less meaning, less connotation. We associate the racism with South Park, and then laugh it away.
As someone ahead of me said, "no human being with an IQ greater than his shoe size could possibly lend credence to any of it." And I agree to that. I am a semi-intelligent, white, 17 year old, male, and I would attest that I find it "peanut butter for the brain."
Now, as to your "suggested" target audience, Where did you get that information? Seriously, because I would like to see your sources...Prove that to me, and I will answer the rest of your questions.
As I currently see it, each show begins with the same statement... Disclamer
How odd that they tell people not to watch their show...
Nicholas Aden
Actually, it's the complete opposite. Instead of "reinforcing" racial stereotypes, South Park takes them to an extreme where they are so absurd you can't but laugh at them. Marginalizing the stereotype by making it absurd actually is constructive for society because those who believe those stereotypes also become marginalized and those who are subject to those stereotypes are free to laugh at the, for lack of a better term "nigger guys". (Season 10, episode 1; Stan's dad says the n-word on Wheel of Fortune and is plagued everywhere he goes by people calling him "nigger-guy".)
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If I had had more time I would have written less. -- Thomas Jefferson
RachelSetzer.com
I am definitely not a fan of South Park. . . And while I have seen a few episodes it is crude humor. Yes they are addressing the things that are happening today; Some may think its a progressive outlet and while they may not be harming anybody they aren't doing anything to help the cause! Stereotypes is already a controversal topic so doing positive things seems to be the right thing to me!
Crude humour? You do realise that when people describe South Park as crude humour they are playing right into the arms of it's creators biggest in-joke. That being that anybody who can't see the sophistication of the humour underlying the crude antics of the characters and the crude format of the cartoon's animation style, is in fact only demonstrating the crudeness of their own critical faculties.
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
I couldn't disagree (respectfully) more with your position.
As others have already iterated similar sentiments about how South Park is outlandish enough in its use of stereotypes that it can't be taken seriously as racist or culturally degenerate, I won't spend a great deal of time emphasizing this point.
Except to say, come on. Come on.
I wasn't allowed to watch South Park as a child, and never watched an episode until I came to college. And now, I can't believe how many episodes I still haven't seen, though my roommates and I own four seasons and watch it most of the time it's on TV.
I may have agreed with you in the ninth grade, when I was still not allowed to watch it and had no idea what I was talking about, but after watching well over a hundred episodes, many several times, I have come to a far different conclusion. Perhaps you should do the same.
Here are some episodes that are slightly relevant to this discussion: "I'm a Little Bit Country" is good (that's their 100th episode, season 7), "Death Camp of Tolerance" (season 6), and "Ginger Kids" (season 9). At least that's what I can come up with. "Passion of the Jew" is also pretty good.
Being racist implies that someone targets a specific race. South Park makes fun of everyone, including white teenagers, (your alleged target demographic of South Park- see "Make Love, not Warcraft" and "Go God Go" among many others) so I hardly see how they are reinforcing things that they are effectively destroying. The attention has been taken away from the racism itself and satirizes the intolerance.
Satire. It's legal, it's brilliant, and it's South Park.
I would argue that the way South Park aims to provoke laughter through it's use of stereotypes is beneficial. It aims to dis-empower a tool used by genuine bigots to pass a very serious message of hate to stupid people by masquerading it as humour. With South Park though the humour is benevolant, it is not thinly veiled hatred and racism, it is the opposite. They lampoon the clumsy efforts of racists to make their attitudes appear funny, by turning them around on them. They basically use racial stereotypes to highlight the fact that racists are idiots.
Their stereotypes are also used to highlight people's own selective sensitivity to stereotypes by lampooning everybody and watching how people pick out what they personally deem as offensive or as "going too far". Anybody with even the slightest modicum of self-awareness will have been forced at some point to realise that they are more offended by some stereotypes than others and forced to accept the fact that they have their own little presuppositions about certain groups. Anybody who honestly believes that they don't hold any prejudice whatsoever in their personal make-up can be neatly slotted into a category beside those who claim they are without ego.
Even my assertion that racists are idiots demonstrates my willingness to endorse a stereotype that I think is acceptable. The same goes for my view of South Park's detractors as a cross-section of morons and po-faced strings of misery with no sense of humour. But you know what, I couldn't give a rats ass. So if you'll excuse me, Mr. Towelie and I have a date.......
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
Well put. Couldn't have said it better myself.
Why did Dave Chappelle go to africa?
Probably had something to do with this:
"You know why my show is good? Because the network officials say you're not smart enough to get what I'm doing, and every day I fight for you. I tell them how smart you are. Turns out, I was wrong. You people are stupid"
-Dave Chapelle
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
Didn't he also start practicing his religion more faithfully (I believe he's Muslim) and his comedy show's content and the behavior expected of him as the show's creator were inconsistent with his religious beliefs?
At least, I think that's what made him decide to leave Comedy Central.
I'd argue that stereotypes are funny because there is a grain of truth in them and/or because the comedians take them to the extreme.
My boyfriend likes to look a lists of 'You might be a Jew if...' and finds them funny because they're largely true. I don't find them particularly funny because I have a limited experience with that culture. Yet I find the 'You might be a redneck...' or 'You might come from (insert state here) if...' funny because a lot of the things on the list I agree with. The fact that it can snow one day in Colorado and be 90 degrees the next is true. It also makes for a good joke. Jeff Foxworthy has even admitted that all of his 'you might be a redneck' jokes are based on things he has seen in his family. People find it funny because they either know someone that fits the stereotype, or because they think the stereotype is ludicrous. Then again, it also seems like the people that poke the best fun at a culture are those that have lived in it.
At any rate, I don't think laughing at stereotypes positively reinforces them for most people. It may for some, but most people laugh at the stereotypes on shows like South Park or Blue Collar Comedy because they are so incredibly blown out of proportion.
Have a good day.
~C
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Yea. When I call my Asian friend Chang even though his name is Bill Franklin we all think it's real funny. He laughs and smiles, but for some reason he stopped hanging out with us. Actually, he started keeping to himself more. What a loser who can't take a joke. Doesn't he see by us calling him chink it liberates him. Doesn't he see exploiting him for attention can be disguised as clever sociopolitical witticisms.
Silly minorities, when will you learn there is no such thing as internal bias. White people love you, why else would they let you in? Certainly not for labor (Mexicans) or labor(Africa)or labor (Asia). They don't let us in just to work, they let us in because they are a noble people. They have done so much for everyone. native Americans would never have been able to thrive as they do today without the European touch. I wish they would not question themselves more and we would be in a great situation.
If Southpark can be crude extreme and hilarious, I can be crude and extreme to reach out to a few minorites who had been duped like me. But my white audience dost not allow it. Humor is subjective right.
If you actually BELIEVE that repeating extreme crude stereotypes will eventually destroy the meaning, call black people niggers. You won't nigga. I guess they don't know how to take a joke if they decide to beat yo ass.
It's all about context. If you're unable to differentiate between something communicated with malicious intent and something which is not, that is where subjectivity comes into play. Just because you have an under-developed sense of humour, an inability/unwillingness to interpret communication in a genuine and non-self-serving fashion and a big old "whitey will pay" chip on your shoulder to boot, that doesn't make satirical mockery of stereotypes racist or reaffirming of racist ideals. In fact your attitude to White people and Europeans does.
Have you ever been to any European countries? Do you even know the first thing about the diverse ethnic makeup of Europe as a continent? Do you have even the vaguest clue about European history? You do realise that white skinned people have fought, persecuted and racially discriminated against other white skinned people for centuries, just like black skinned people have.
White cultures are all vastly different from each other, as are Black cultures. Just because many Black Americans and White Americans choose to ignore their actual roots and associated culture in favour of a generic Black/White American one that doesn't make all people of both colours the same.
You are more than comfortable stereotyping a whole bunch of different ethnicities and cultures across a continent like Europe, as if it was a single country comprised of one ethnicity and culture, yet you then turn around and piss and moan about stereotyping of minorities. The difference between your stereotyping and South Park's mockery of stereotypes lies in the fact that yours is malevolent and laced with contempt, while South Park's isn't. If you didn't harbour so much ill-will towards people with White skin you might be able to see that.
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I am the people my mother warned me about.
I was going to write about context, too, but my internship kind of took over my life...
Isn't "When has using stereotypes ever backfired for a white teenage who needs attention" a rather stereotypical sentence. ... I mean ... wouldn't, if one wanted to avoid racial profiling, one say the sentence, "When has using stereotypes ever backfired for attention seekers"?
"Though a rant, I really want criticism on this article so please post even a few words whitey."
I just thought that was a funny statement which possibly negated all credence to your post.
How can you ever expect to change something if you can't laugh at it? South Park is a vehicle for that change. By making it ok for people to laugh at something, SP makes it ok for us to change it. If we're just going to be completely PC and uptight about every little thing then we can never talk honestly about it--and talking honestly about something allows us to change it. Laughter is a vehicle to that change.
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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici.
Your conclusion is a claim which is a logical fallacy that Southpark is morally informative in it's humor.
I say in reality it is culturally destructive when the audience is uninformed or suburban white WASPs.
And I can say suburban white Comedy Central progressives because it is stupid to be PC.
Funny no minorities have voiced their opinion. White people, being "well" educated, will say O that's irrelevant.
*pst* try using the reply link. It might help follow the conversation better.
And 'white WASPs' is repetitive.
~C
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"If we're just going to be completely PC and uptight about every little thing then we can never talk honestly about it--and talking honestly about something allows us to change it. Laughter is a vehicle to that change."
So following that rationale I will make a joke.
White people are so stupid, they think racism can be combatted by an immature show starring 4 edgy white 1st graders.
Now minorities will probably think this is funny unless they've been "well" educated.
I honestly don't see how you plan to stop racism unless you stop being a racist yourself.
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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici.
They're 4th graders.
--Mike
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lol
I wonder if you know the following:
In China, students are told that the best way to learn English is to watch South Park. They are told that the best way to understand and follow our language is to listen and to watch all those racial and immoral jokes.
And, what's the joke in your statement? You made no joke, you made a racist opinion.
And, my Asian friend, Tian, who happens to be a MINORITY, says, "The show is great and I can't think of any reason it could be construed as utterly immoral when the entire thing is one great political and cultural satire."
Nicholas Aden
oh, and don't forget Token, the token black guy. And chef!
Nicholas Aden
People don't like to see the truth head on. Or else they get really angry and lash out at people. You can see that kind of violence in history. So it's easier to show truth through humor. At least it brings awareness of a racist society which is seen through marginalization and exploitation. We laugh not because it's funny, we laugh out of discomfort of facing our own racist tendencies.
You see the depictions in South Park as true? That's scary.
--Mike
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In response to the previous comment. No, I don't see the depictions on South Park are true. I'm just giving an opinion on why people laugh at the show or any humor involving race. Of course the humor is wrong and stereotypical and if you notice that, then you are aware of how racism exists. People don't like to see that racism exists and sometimes it's easier for some to laugh at it and at the stupid reflections of themselves and what they do. Maybe that's why all the little main characters are white. I think I worded my previous comment wrong. I meant that there is exploitation and marginalization in our racist society. I guess I'm trying to get at the truth of the awareness of a racist society and for people to see that and to change that. I also don't watch very much of South Park. So I'm probably not fully understanding this blog as opposed to those who do understand it because they watched the show.
First of all, use the reply link at the bottom of the comments to which you are replying.
I don't think anyone who watches the show actually believes in the stereotypes depicted because a) they're so unfathomably out of proportion, and b) if they believed them to be true, they wouldn't be laughing at them. The scariest thing I could think of is someone who doesn't laugh at South Park because they take the depictions seriously.
--Mike
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b) if they believed them to be true, they wouldn't be laughing at them.
True to a certain extent, but the other side of that coin is the phrase "It's funny cause it's true!" Stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason--true, the ones on the show are completely blown out of proportion, but there are elements of truth in them. That's the beauty of satire--it's taking something and pushing it to the breaking point. (Same with speculative fiction, actually.)
I don't think laughing at those blown-out-of-proportion stereotypes automatically = agreeing that's the way it is, no questions asked no exceptions--it just means you realize that sometimes it's true, sometimes it's not, and when someone makes a good joke out of it damn is it funny.
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Vi veri veniversum vivus vici.
O and I grew up in the South so...when I hear all my white friends use the word chink nonchalantly (not aimed at me but when refering to Asian girls they've foreignicated funny pun)when I am chilling with them or nigger when looking at the football team. (Their favorite shows are SouthPark btw)
If yall grew up somewhere outside of the Bible Belt I envy you and my post won't make as much sense? :)
I feel like Faulkner a bit. Where are the minorities commenting. I thought this place was diverse. Yall are bringing up quotes by Asian friends to validate your arguments.
My Dave Chappelle blog is directly tied to this motif of the sociological influence on laughter.
Except that South Park never stoops to name calling or direct racism (well, except for the Chinpokemon episode when they had Japanese characters insisting that American penises are so big. Well, mine's not.) I think South Park demonstrates how far we've come as a culture that we take it for granted (and rightfully so) that the stereotypes are all jokes.
--Mike
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*dies laughing*
Nicholas Aden