TV and "South Park"

        It wasn’t long before television followed radio, our first source of “technology” in relaying messages or providing entertainment faster than print.  TV today is a common medium that is rare to not be in an American home, seeing that it can be both informative and a way to unwind or relax by simply “vegging” out.  However, even if we are just using TV as entertainment, today’s entertainment often can be focused on what goes on around or what is happening in the news world.  The presenters of "South Park", a TV show that has been on air for over 15 seasons, discussed the idea that while "South Park" holds an entertainment factor and is mainly intended to be perceived as entertainment it also mocks real life situations and even what we had considered news.  Even though it is unique in form, "South Park" still follows John Fiske’s “The codes of television” in our Moodle reading of “Television Culture”.  Fiske describes the three levels of code that television follows as “Reality”, “Representation” and “Ideology”.

        "South Park" was also discussed as not being a racist show, but rather a show that makes light of those who are racist.  The group talked about how "South Park" has stopped at nothing and therefore redeems itself of simply showing us in humor what a racist society we are, but it made me ask myself, ‘Am I O.K. with laughing at something that while it claims to be pointing out racism is still making racist comments and remarks that are considered humorous therefore bending a societal depiction of racism?’  Here’s my opinion, "South Park" has taken the racism of American culture and simple humored it so it appeals to their audience as something that’s funny and yet managed to make some believe that it is not the show itself that is racist, but rather society and they (creators of "South Park") are simply pointing it out, when in reality they have provided a humorous outlet for those who watch to believe that it is O.K. and well accepted (sadly this is becoming true more and more) in American culture.  

          I find it interesting that more people seem to think that is a funny way to look at serious situations.  It’s not about the fact that ‘at least "South Park" is bringing certain issues into the light’, it’s about the fact that no one has stopped them from doing it in such a hurtful, often disrespectful, and extremely racist way.  I think that American society should care about what is being discussed in "South Park", or at least how it is being discussed.  I don’t think it is O.K. to cultural generations into thinking that it is educated to take a racist view on EVERYTHING.  Whether it’s funny or not.