There are numerous culturally insensitive shows on television nowadays, including the Jersey Shore, Tosh.0, Buckwild, and 16 and Pregnant, among others. However, South Park stands out as one of the most culturally insensitive shows. Centered around four fourth graders in a small mountain town in Colorado, South Park is well-known in America due to its relevance to current events and real-world situations. Nevertheless, the show’s humor is often crude and insensitive towards various populations in America and worldwide.
The creators of South Park depict Canadians as different and stupid compared to Americans, which emphasizes their weirdness. This portrayal is culturally insensitive as Canadians are not any different from us. Additionally, in the show, there is only one black child named Token in the 4th grade, serving as the “token” black character. Furthermore, snarky comments towards Jewish people are made due to one of the main characters, Kyle, being Jewish.
South Park satirizes various social groups, races, and ethnicities in America, even going so far as making celebrities like Snooki from the Jersey Shore into monstrous figures. The show’s use of cultural insensitivity for comedic effect borders on the absurd, serving as a commentary on the ironic reality of how culturally insensitive the real world can be. While some viewers may find certain episodes of South Park offensive, the show intentionally pushes boundaries when it comes to their humor targeting sensitive subjects.
The creators of South Park went to great lengths to be funny, but they crossed the line when they showed images of Muhammad in one episode. These images were meant to mock a Dutch political cartoonist’s portrayal of Muhammad, which had sparked riots in Europe. Unfortunately, this move greatly offended Muslim people and led to threats from terrorists against the producers of the show. Although South Park has always pushed boundaries, this particular episode went too far and can be considered the most culturally insensitive show currently on television.
I believe South Park should not be significantly altered because it closely reflects reality. It is a fact that every American holds some form of prejudice towards another race, ethnicity, or individual. South Park merely takes these existing thoughts and presents them in a humorous way for everyone to observe. Although there are instances where they may go too far, they also provide clarity on certain matters and inject humor into serious issues. Ultimately, I don’t believe humor has ever harmed anyone.
Despite the frequent use of racist jokes and crude remarks in each episode, South Park’s entertainment value lies precisely in these elements. The show fearlessly presents the truth without apologizing for it, which is not inherently problematic. Moreover, disclaimers are included before every episode to preempt any potential outrage. It is essential to recognize that everyone has different thoughts and behaviors, including those involved in producing and creating South Park. As a result, viewers of the show have the freedom to interpret and respond to it as they see fit, whether they find it offensive or amusing. Ultimately, South Park’s primary objective is to provide amusement.
