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South Park — Still Good Thirteen Seasons Later

South Park — Still good thirteen seasons later

After twelve years of continuous airing on Comedy Central, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have proven that they still have what it takes to create both hilarious and thought provoking episodes.

With topics ranging from Glenn Beck’s generally shameful existence, to commenting on Michael Jackson’s untimely death — season thirteen is filled with underlying socio-political themes and shocking comedic essence, which is what makes “South Park” incredibly successful.

Not many television shows have had their contracts renewed as many times as “South Park”, and much less can say they became better as they went along. It is Comedy Central’s highest-rated program, attracting 3.1 million viewers an episode, more than “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” Last year, according to TNS Media Intelligence, it generated $34 million in advertising revenue.

In the old days, circa 1997 when “South Park” first went into production, their toilet-humor was pretty heavy which is what attracted many young adults. However, as seasons progressed, the “South Park” creators developed a formula; their episodes became more crisp and intelligent. They focused their themes on social commentary and political satire, such as ‘Margaritaville’ which is an episode about the current global economic crises. Unfortunately, fart-joke-lovers do not find ‘Margaritaville’ as enthralling as ‘Mr. Hanky the Christmas Poo’ from season one.

Now more people with half a brain are starting to enjoy “South Park”, while other people who just don’t understand the commentary are joining the hate club.

Parker and Stone explained on the Tonight Show in 2008 that it takes them six days to complete an episode from start to finish. They begin writing the episode on Thursday, and then work 100-120 hours until it is ready before it airs Wednesday night at 10 P.M. Having to meet this extreme deadline results in spontaneous ideas and in many cases, the episodes are topical and related to current events.

Season thirteen starts off with a Disney spoof called “The Ring.” The creators focused this episode on The Jonas Brothers and the despicable marketing schemes of its parent, Disney. Mickey Mouse even makes a surprise appearance as an evil, conniving, vulgar corporate tycoon after the Jonas boys finish selling their purity wrapped sex appeal to heaps of screaming girls.

There were a few funny but not particularly remarkable episodes in season thirteen. However, before we could complain, “South Park” delivered one of the funniest, most spot-on episodes about Kanye West, that even the conceited rap star himself found it funny.  When “Fishticks” aired, it became the talk of the internet for weeks, and when West further embarrassed himself by snatching the mic from Taylor Swift at the VMA’s, Comedy Central ‘honored’ him again by airing the episode for two straight hours shortly after the award ceremony.

It is not uncommon to hear about “South Park” in the news. Most recently, the creators really ruffled some feathers after their episode “The F Word” aired in November. The episode attempts to reconstruct the word ‘fag’ so that it has no affiliation with homosexuals. Instead, the “South Park” kids use it in reference to Harley Davidson bikers who disrupt peace in the town. The episode was hardly mean-spirited, and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) understood what the show was going for, but felt they missed the mark and maybe did more harm than good.  After the episode aired, GLAAD issued this statement:

While many South Park viewers will understand the sophisticated satire and critique in last night’s episode, others won’t – and if even a small number of those take from this a message that using the “F-word” is OK, it worsens the hostile climate that many in our community continue to face.

This is certainly not the first time the “South Park” creators have faced public scrutiny. In 2009, several teenagers started a ‘Kick a Ginger Day’ which was inspired by an earlier “South Park” episode about redheads. While the episode’s underlying theme is about tolerance, and makes no reference to ‘Kick a Ginger Day’, parents were foolishly outraged by the influence the show had on the kids.

However, from criticizing celebrities for their ridiculous behavior, to tackling social issues, “South Park” season thirteen has more cultural impact than most animated series could ever dream of. The creators have not lost steam and continue to produce episodes that make us think and laugh at the same time.

Rewan's South Park Avatar. Please note the blood.

Muslim Barbie

My sister and I headed to the toy store for some games for her clients. I saw this barbie and cracked up. I hope the shopkeeper didn’t take offense, but I just had to snap a shot. I don’t know why I’m so amused by this; after all, 6 year old girls forced to wear the hijab get to play with dolls too.

There is always controversy regarding Islamic law; is drinking forbidden (or better known as haram), does the woman have to cover all her face, or just her hair? In religion class in school I was always taught that it is mentioned in the Koran that women must wear the hijab and cover her arms up to her wrists and legs down to her ankles. The other day I met with some producers at Grey Scale Studio in Amman and one of them is working on an article exploring the hijab. His argument is that the hijab is not required, as it is not officially mentioned in the Koran. According to him, the Koran only states that women must cover up to their elbows and up to their knees, but because of ‘tafseer’ (interpretation/translation) the covering of the head has been included. From what I know, covering the head is not just an Islamic thing, but dates pre-Islam as both women and men would wrap their heads to protect them from the sand and heat of the desert. Both Christian and Jewish women cover their heads as well.

Contrary to what many people think, Islam does not disrespect women. What Islam does do, is place a big emphasis on gender differences. To me, the hijab incriminates men. It says, men are perverts and cannot look at women without dirty thoughts, therefor women must protect themselves by covering up. Another rule in Islam is that when women and men who are not immediate relatives speak to each other, they must lower their gaze. This is also incriminating to both men and women, as if we are unable to hold a decent conversation without dirty thoughts.

I guess if one were to accept Islam, they must realize that these rules were made at a different time and place. What bothers me is that as a muslim, how much do I accept as a solid rule and how much do I let pass as something that is constantly changing with society. If Islam is accepting of societal changes and evolves with them, what will be left of Islam in 100 years? Organized religion is a funny thing…