Critical Media Analysis of "South Park"
Author: Kim ImdiekePublished on: Jul 21, 2000
The following is the eleventh in a series of essays written in response to the media analysis assignment described in the January 28, 2000 article on this topic page. Colorado State University student Dave Rael analyzes South Park's reinforcement of Americans' distrust for authority.
Critical Media Analysis of South Park by Dave Rael
Ask someone what the most obscene, degrading and humorous show of today is, and what will they respond? South Park. If you are in the mood for mockery, stereotypes, or governmental hypocrisy ,tune in. Once would ask what kind of idiocy does it take to create this twisted toon? Answer: Trey Parker and Matt Stone, two film school graduates from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Although South Park is a cartoon, its intention is definitely not directed toward children. Both Stone and Parker stated in the November issue of Maxim, "this show is not for kids." You could assume if a television program is a cartoon, it is probably produced for children. This is one instnce when that assumption is wrong. This is purely an adult cartoon. The humor is relayed via any of the diverse characters: Eric Cartman, Stan Marsh, Kenny McCormick and Kyle Brofslovski to name the main characters. With episode names ranging from The Spirt of Christmas to Cartman Gets an Anal Probe to The Mexican Staring Frog of Sri Lanka, there must be a method concealed behind this humor.
As it is in America today, with every person voicing their own opinion, many remarks have been derogatory toward South Park, and the graphic extent of its characters/episodes/makers etc. It criticizes most everything that can be criticized, and does it in a no-holds-barred frank and humorous fashion. South Park responds to the public's perceptions about authority through humor. South Park reinforces our distrust with authority and their attempts to regain our trust.
An episode titled Volcano illustrates the blind idiocy of public officials and authority figures. The title is self-descriptive as to what the episode is relating to. There is a volcano that erupts near South Park, so they call upon the Park geologis who is too ignorant to work the job that he does. He later states, "Yeah, the little needle thingy is moving back and forth really fast...uh-huh." This is suggesting that he does not know how to operate or even read his instruments. Later the geologist enters into the courthouse only to find the Mayor and the local police officer, officer Barbrady is wearing leather women's lingerieand the Mayor is standing next to him with a whip, together laughing about how much money they fraudulently stole from the town. This seems to be portraying that governmental officials are not trust-worthy enough to engage taxes, or handle currency. Not only untrustworthy, but incompetent as well, as the geologist so vividly displayed to us.
South Park also perpetuates ignorance and distrust in highly paid professional positions, such as doctoring. In a different episode titled Pinkeye, a night of the living dead plague engulfs the town. Local doctors proceed with multiple medical exams and conclude to believe that pinkeye is the culprit. This idea is asking if we really trust those who are supposedly here to help us, such as doctors. If they cannot conduct proper testing, and are incompetent to analyze the results, do we trust them?
In another episode, Cartman Gets an Anal Probe, aliens abduct Eric Cartman. During the episode, the aliens mutilate two or three cows from a herd and say that it was an accident, speaking to the cows in a "moo" language. They also tell the cows that they (the cows) are the most intelligent human beings on the planet Earth. Througout which, Officer Barbrady has some pointless vendetta against the cows, and tries to hunt them down through the entire episode. This episode is displaying bits of mockery through the cows, and the police officer--whom was previously involved in another untrusting situation. What do police officers do when they are not writing tickets or eating donuts? Pointless tasks and get paid our tax dollars? This episode is again reinforcing our distrust with authority figures.
South Park has definitely generated a media response. Most media sources depict the program similar to what I have previously stated. There has not been much media action in this aspect of South Park, it has been focused on its perverse episodes. The media has not concentrated on the political aspect that is hidden behind the facade of South Park. Because there has not been a great deal of media response in this area does not mean that there is not going to be. In fact, South Park has done so well generating a general media response that they have recently released a full-length feature film. The film reinforces the idea of distrust a great deal as well. Though there has not yet been controversy in the political side of South Park, this does not suggest that such an idea does not exist.
There has not been an effect on viewers in the political standpoint of the cartoon at this point. Many people across the nation watch the program, and enjoy its humor and demeaning undertones, not to mention provide Stone and Parker with their salaries by purchasing South Park merchandise. I know of many viewers, including myself, of whom are avid viewers of the show, and enjoy and appreciate it on a regular basis. The shows are here for entertainment value, and need to be appreciated as such.
Ultimately, South Park has provided hours of humor and laughter to millions of people throughout the entire nation. South Park has also provided humor through the bits and pieces of mockery generated throughout the show(s), similar to the distrust issue previously discussed. Although it is just a cartoon, but doesn't it give room for thought?