Difference in South Park

1. Difference in South Park

2. RACE vs. Ethnicity?

3. Race • According to U.S. Census Bureau, there are 5 race categories: populations differentiated by genetic traits • 1. White (72%) • 2. Black or African American (13%) • 3. American Indian or Alaska Native (1%) • 4. Asian (5%) • 5. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander (.2%) • Two or more races (3%); some other race (6%) • Those who identify their origin as Hispanic or Latino, may be of any race

4. Ethnicity • Identification (self or otherwise) with cultural, social, national groups • Shared customs, language, cultural heritage, history, homeland, religion, ritual, food, etc. • Ethnicity can be socially constructed or the biproduct of social interaction

5. “But race is the child of racism, not the father. And the process of naming ‘the people’ has never been a matter of genealogy and physiognomy so much as one of hierarchy. Difference in hue and hair is old. But the belief in the preeminence of hue and hair, the notion that these factors can correctly organize a society and that they signify deeper attributes, which are indelible— this is the new idea...” Ta-Nehisi Coates

6. While people may share similar skin color or other physical attributes/traits, scientific studies show that there are no races, just a human race. Race and ethnicity are given meaning and power through us, which has been constructed through history. The idea of races has been hugely problematic and used as a way to act violently and oppressively (directly or systematically) towards groups.

7. 14, Difference • Bahktin: jokes provide “corrective of laughter and criticism” forcing a contradictory reality • Ethnic jokes can subvert the stereotypes they deploy as they confront the stereotype and challenge dominant culture • But, can they reinforce hegemonic culture???

8. Chef • Musical, libidinous, most sensible adult • “Uncle Tom” who doesn't explore the complexities of black life in South Park • Epitaph for someone who participates in their own group's oppression by dominant culture • Draws attention to the marginalized/cliched role of black people in popular cinema • In the town of South Park we see how racism is learned, it's a social construction • “Chef Goes Nanners” (2000)

9. “Chef Goes Nanners” (2002)

10. Token Black • Reminder of TV's “Tokenism”: the practice of making a symbolic inclusion of minorities • In TV, token characters have reduced roles and often bland personalities • Name is a play/parody on the concept • Musical/entertainer stereotype

11. “South Park takes prejudices...exposes the flaws of examination, and...neutralizes their power to offend. The show turns political correctness on its head with carnivalesque humor.” (Johnson-Woods p. 220)

12. Rednecks, White Trash & Crackers • Redneck stereotype: beer, guns, fights, xenophobic, working class • 1) biologically different: unattractive, less intelligent, inbred • 2) geographically different: southern, trailer park, across the tracks • 3) economic/culturally different: lazy, violent, poor

13. Ableism? Hipster Ableism?

14. Anti Conformity, Anti-Capitalism

15. Hippies • 1. Giggling stoners 2. drum-circle hippies 3.know-it-all college hippies and 4.Aging Liberal Hippie Douche

16. Canadians

17. “White People Renovating Houses” • Attack on Trump’s politics (not Trump) • Satire of Charlottesville protest violence (and Trump blaming both sides) and white working class • Load bearing wall? Parody on HGTV and renovation and the “American Dream” • Alexa terk er jerbs? The promise of bringing back coal, etc. • Economic anxiety fueling nationalism? But doesn’t get into how racism fuels it • Ruining the white people brand?

18. “Sorry you didn’t go to college so you have to take the jobs you can get. Coal mining and truck driving are not exactly jobs of the future. You’re stuck in another time, afraid to change.” ~Randy

19. Free Speech v. Hate Speech • Communication whose only purpose is to express hatred towards a group; MUST result in violence • Against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation • While speech may be hateful in nature, it doesn't make it hate speech • “Immanent Danger” test: results in unlawful action • Hate speech is NOT protected by First Amendment • Should we allow hateful speech??? Who decides what is hateful?

20. “The Snuke” (2007) • Racial profiling; commentary on torture • Cartman represents Westerner narrow-mindedness • Perpetuation of the Arab stereotypes by western media aka Orientalism • Parody of 24; torture as a dramatic device (“super bad farts”) • Hillary Clinton; lower body stratum/grotesque • Public official used in the satire...other examples? • The real enemy? Cartman's bigotry/racism?

21. Arab Stereotypes in Western Media • Bombers, Billionaires, Belly Dancers • Media stereotyping + news portrayal of current events = Arab profiling in US

22. Orientalism • Oriental=Eastern world;Occidental=Western world • Edward Said, 1978 • Orientalism is the lens through which the West sees the East...forms stereotypes • How the Middle East/Asia is constructed by Western culture as “other” in media reflects power interests • West projects its fantasies upon it and shows it as sensuous, mysterious, irrational, undeveloped; West is presented as opposite to this • Orientalism answers why the West has preconceptions about the East

23. “Here Comes the Neighborhood” (2001) • Gentrification parody • Satire/parody of the representation of African Americans in media • Token counter-marginalizes by inviting rich people to South Park; creates a new subculture

24. “Here Comes...” Cont'd • The ultimate difference between “richers” and South Park townspeople is class not race • “Richers” or “cash chuckers” • One of the many episodes that make hate groups look ridiculous and petty • For the viewer: • 1) racism is reinforced by thinly disguising it AND/OR... • 2) shows the stupidity and pointlessness of racism • Ends with a showdown between subculture and mainstream; we see that South Park is, well, racist

25. 7, Race, Ethnicity, and Belonging • Use of slurs/stereotypes brings on marginalization and counter-marginalization • In South Park, stereotypical judgements are true • Minorities must assimilate into South Park • Educate them on “proper” roles in community • Must change language, culture, etc. to fit in • South Park satirizes white assumptions, which creates a counter-hegemony as ethnic minorities are better people than white hegemony (???)

26. Nativism • Notion of characteristics endemic to a group within a region • American nativism= perception of American ethnicity/culture • South Park townspeople are more nativist than purely racist • Those who are not South Park natives must assimilate to be included

27. In the End... • “Although Parker and Stone satirize the powerful, the hypocritical, and stridently bigoted, the do not provide solutions to society's problems or provide keys to social harmony” (Coleman p. 141) • But South Park shows how racial and ethnic tension can have positive outcomes

28. Structural Racism • Aka white privilege based on a long history of racism • Bigotry is not on a personal level, it's on an institutional level • Discrimination is less overt, but systematic and subliminal that reinforces whiteness • What are some structures • Religion, education, military, work/labor, corporate business, government, property ownership, city planning, standardized tests, bank lending, legal/prison system, health care...more? • Policies, laws, etc. are not blatantly racist but outcomes the put POC at a disadvantage • Do Parker/Stone benefit from white priv? Exploit it?

29. Hipster Racism • Ironic racism as humor or satirizing racism and political correctness • Not wanting to be racist in an attempt to make it okay to be racist; being controversial/edgy • The powerful making jokes at the expense of the powerless • HOWEVER, this still is and can reinforce racist ideas • Is South Park guilty of Hipster Racism?