South Park - The Decider

[palindrome]

I just wanted to set things straight. We are a democratic society after all. Let's put it to the vote...

[Sam]

Dammit, I didn't even see this topic until I finished writing in the other thread. Oh well.

[palindrome]

In regards to your final comments on the other thread, you are absolutely right. I do agree, as I have already made clear, that EVERY piece of art, whether it is writing, film, theatre, music, visual arts, etc. has something to offer in terms of some kind of deeper message. And I understand these messages in South Park. However, and this is where I separate the 'better' artists from the others, the true quality of the art comes in the form of expression the artist wishes to use. When I see South Park, the messages may be there, but I am put off by the form that is used (swearing, rudeness, cynicism, unnecessary violence, not to mention the [albeit intenional] terrible drawing of the cartoon itself). Others may appreciate this as a good way of conveying the deeper messages within the animation, but I think it could have been executed without all the horrible side-effects. South Park is like a prescribed medicine... You take it because you want to cure a twitchy eye, and then you look at the bottle to find:
"Side effects may include: Nausea, diarhoea, deterioration of the stomach lining, blood clots, back strain, muscle tightness, stiff neck, constant vomitting, headaches, impotency, reduction of sperm count, infertility, mood swings, catatonia, temporary deafness, exhaustion, loss of hair, colour blindness, testicular cancer, or in rare circumstances, death. Do not take if pregnant."

[apollo]

You are so full of sh1t Palindrome.

You say you've seen the SP movie, but your saying 'is it really necessary to have at least one swear word in ever(y) sentence?' is bullsh1t. Have you even seen the TV series? I doubt it.

Swearing is fairly light, and anything even slightly extreme is bleeped out - in the pilot episode it's impossible to tell what Kyle is saying when he's shouting at the aliens. And the reason there's so much swearing in the film is because Parker and Stone are making a statement about how American parents blame TV, video games etc. for their failings as parents, as Sam pointed out.

And as for it having nothing but a negative influence - utter cr@p - it's entertainment and entertainment makes people feel better. I bet you've watched and enjoyed TV shows that have swearing etc. in. What exactly don't you like about south park?

What do you think of Trey Parker's other films? Orgazmo, Cannibal, Baseketball etc?

[Rose]

I like bits of South Park, it does make some good points, and it is funny in places. But you do get the impression they genuinely believe fart jokes are funny. And I guess to some people they are... I'd see it as a reversal of Palindrome's pescribed medicine... it's like dodgy black market drugs that inadvertently make you healthy, fit and more intelligent. ie the kind of people that like fart jokes and swearing will watch it and absorb a cultural critique with liberal conditioning before they've realized it.

[Sam]

admin said:

a cultural critique with liberal conditioning

That made me think of hair products. ;D

Additionally, I am amused by the fact that Apollo is having a go at Palindrome for being offended by swearing and yet is censoring his own posts as he goes.

[palindrome]

Oki doki then ... I seem to be getting alot of hostility here so this is going to be my last comment on the matter. I would like to say that I have in fact seen the TV series and I solidly object that "swearing is fairly light", and I think Apollo has contradicted himself here when he then mentions the bleeping out (which, we all know to be swearing anyway) and remarks "in the pilot episode it's impossible to tell what Kyle is saying when he's shouting at the aliens." On this matter I would also like to emphasise that I do not find the swearing offensive, as such. I merely believe that it is pointless - this is why I asked if it was necessary. There must be a better way to "make a statement about how American parents blame TV, video games etc. for their failings as parents."
Furthermore, as well as stating that it has a negative influence I feel that I have also acknowledged that people could also attain messages from it or enjoy it from their own perspective - otherwise I would not have even created a poll.
I also feel that I have thoroughly explained my reasons for my dislike of South Park. If anyone wants to go back and check it is all there, so I don't feel obliged to reitterate what I've already said. As for Trey Parker's other films, I have only seen Baseketball out of those mentioned and I disliked that because I felt it was only getting cheap laughs out of vile behaviour. I accept that Trey Parker's intention may have been to comment on how the American culture puts too much value into capitalism and celebrity heroism or any other message you may come up with. However, to ME the film failed. Now I emphasise that my opinions on South Park and Baseketball and anything else are purely subjective. I do not believe they failed because they are sending out a negative influence - yes, that would be bull shit and I totally agree that no film or television programme or book can turn a person evil or make a person do or say bad (if you'll excuse the generalisation) things. All I am saying is that I didn't like them because I thought they took the easy way of expressing these issues - mostly through cheap laughs and rudeness. Again - this is MY opinion and I'm not saying that everyone should suddenly ban these films.
Finally, I apologise if anyone has gotten the wrong impression from what I've said. I've never received so many insults from simply stating that I didn't like a film. This was all just intended as friendly conversation so I've obviously overstated my opinion. Sorry. If it's any consolation, I do enjoy The Simpsons...

[apollo]

I agree that this discussion has perhaps gone on long enough so I will just say one more thing to explain my reaction to your posts.

"But it doesn't change the fact that it's complete garbage!"

Doesn't sound much like YOUR opinion to me.

Also, a good point by Sam. I censored it in case the ProBoards system filtered posts with swearing in - I pomise to be more explicit in future.

Anyways - as it seems like (so far) that South Park is fairly popular, would nayone like to share which episodes they liked the most?

Off the top of my head I think one of the best is 'World Wide Recorder Concert' (Season 3 I think). I remember the day after seeing it, me and all my friends went on the internet at school to try and find out what the brown noise was (in my defense we were in year 8 at the time).

[cryurchin]

south park is for me pretty so-so, i don't sit down and watch it, but i woudlnt complain if it was on in the room. i bought and enjoy BASEketball. Cannibal the musical is mint. orgasmo is ok. (these are opinions by the way, that's something that seems to be getting a little confused in this discussion).

a little side note. i think that finding swearing objectionable is kinda dumb. as with any other word in our rich language different lexis goes in and out of fashion and offensive possibilty. fuck is considered bad, but we say shit pretty often now. i find fecal matter more disturbing to contemplate and observe than sex. wanker as a word is farely acceptable, would not induce a '15' rating in a film and yet it describes a specific, personal and graphic sex act. cunt (ooh the worst word) is a term for the female genitals yet your film is now an '18' if you use it. convention dictates this stuff i guess, but that's what makes it funny. if no-one objected to it it wouldn't be swearing. it's a real life case of ignore it and it'll go away