Blacks. Jews. Homosexuals. Racists. No one is safe in the surreal world that is “South Park.”In my relatively sheltered little universe where a new episode of Comedy Central’s nihilistic cartoon is a true cause for celebration, I suppose I dismissed the possibility that the adventures of four foul-mouthed eight-year-olds from Colorado could be offensive to some people. Just a few weeks ago, one of my roommates recounted a mutual friend’s resentment of “South Park” for its so-called detrimental attitude toward Jews. Now, any avid “South Park” fan can tell you that Cartman’s unbridled social commentaries tend to push the envelope of good taste in this age of Political Correctness; that’s practically a given. But any argument for “South Park’s” supposed anti-semitic or racist trajectory virtually falls apart considering the all-encompassing offensiveness crucial to the show’s success.First of all, Jews are not the only group to fall victim to “South Park’s” biting satire. A good amount of airtime has been devoted to Chef’s stereotypically large member and seemingly insatiable sexual appetite. Likewise, environmentalists are tagged “hippies,” “treehuggers,” and “flower children,” while the otherwise sedate Mrs. Cartman is exposed, through her son’s unrestrained rants, to be a staunch racist under the guise of caring provider. By no means a complete list of groups scrutinized in the show’s handful of episodes, these examples provide the first indication that “South Park” means no ill will, rather it is an equal-opportunity offender.Secondly, the issues addressed during the course of a typical episode are generally so wide-ranging as to exclude extensive criticism of any particular group. Gun control, genetic engineering, euthanasia, and homosexuality (to name just a few) affect everyone, albeit to differing degrees. Because Big Gay Al just happens to be big, gay, and white is no need for alarm. Because Uncle Jimbo and Ned take the kids on a hunting trip complete with assault rifles and explosives does not mean real-life trips ensure militancy and a disposition towards violent aggression. We may not agree with some of the ingredients that go into making “South Park,” but it doesn’t mean we have to take them as gospel. Which leads to my final point…”South Park” is a cartoon. Shocking as it may be, Stan, Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny are really just little pieces of cutout animation that sometimes open their mouths and say bad things. Big deal. I’m not about to bore everyone with the typical First Amendment/Larry Flynt argument, but I will say this: though it may be “just a cartoon,” “South Park” serves an important societal purpose by providing us with a creative outlet to passively revel in our inherent differences without taking an active role in demeaning one another. Some may argue that tuning in is indeed taking an active role, and I can’t help but disagree – but only to an extent. Being an “active viewer” sure beats the hell out of some of the alternatives.In the end, the whole “South Park” controversy is probably just a matter of semantics, superfluous observations given unnecessary weight by those who just don’t get the joke. But if I’m wrong and enjoying “South Park” makes me a bad person, fine. That way, the opposition can take heart in the fact that I’m the only one who really has to live with myself for the rest of my life.
Brian Hayes is a senior majoring in English.
