For the past 19 years, not a single American event has slid under the venomous radar of a little animated comedy series called "South Park." Every time a tragedy, celebration, or just a new fad comes around, "South Park" was right there to mock it with its own unique brand of humor!
Is the show inappropriate? Very much so. It's certainly not for everyone. It's humor can at times be very crass and arguably sacrilegious. Yes, I do have something of a warped mind, but that's not the main reason I like this show. If crass humor is all I'm looking for, I would only watch "Family Guy." But there is more to this show than that.
Some episodes are just episodes, but a lot of the time, especially lately, they involve the boys getting caught up in some kind of national controversy in which they will have to pick a side
Now, the shows' creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are known for seeing any kind of political view as stupid. They pretty much see the world as one big joke, and that is the view they perpetuate with this show. And that is why I think society needs "South Park!" Do I agree with their worldview? Of course not. I do believe that there are issues that need to be taken seriously in our day and age. However, one could argue that these times are a bit too serious. We live in the year 2016, where everyone has to walk on egg shells to avoid offending somebody. No matter what you say, someone somewhere will be offended by it. This is especially true in the age of the Internet, when all of the PC and SJW types take to the internet to express just how offended they are if something even mildly controversial occurs. Don't you just get sick of it sometimes? And if that weren't enough, there are thousands upon thousands of people who use the internet to argue, even though there has not been one proven case where that has changed anybody's mind on anything.
What I'm trying to get to is this: We need "South Park" and shows like it because sometimes, it's better to laugh about controversy than just be constantly fighting about it. Especially when tragedy strikes, sometimes we need this show as a reminder that it's OK to laugh again, in spite of the pain. One of the best examples of this is when "South Park" was taken off the air for a couple months in 2001 because they didn't want them making any comments about 9-11 too close to one of the greatest tragedies in our nation's history. That decision has merits, I'll admit. The show came back on the air in November of that year, and of course, they did a show about Afghanistan, which took every opportunity to make Osama bin Laden look like the biggest buffoon ... and it was hilarious.
And that was just what the country needed at that dark time in our history. We had already been told by multiple people that it was OK to cry. "South Park" said it's OK to laugh again. I'm not saying tragedy should be made light of, but in a world full of chaos, sometimes laughter is a better response than uptightness!
Something that's been consistent about the series throughout its run is that it can serve as both a mindless escape and an opportunity to think about something relevant more deeply! Almost every episode I've seen of "South Park" has been an opportunity to think about certain things, sometimes in a way I wouldn't have before. "Freemium Isn't Free" exposes the tricks that companies use to get you hooked on things and warns viewers to look in the mirror before judging someone else's addictions. It also contains what I consider one of the most telling scenes in the series. Kyle is trying to come up with a plan to expose a corrupt company, but as he's talking, Cartman interrupts and tells him he just tweeted about the company and it's trending. Problem solved! The internet is where everything happens nowadays! Also, this just may be my favorite scene in "South Park." (Warning: Language)
Of course, as a Catholic, I do believe in spiritual warfare and all that, but I do also think we sometimes overplay it. This clip shows that sometimes, addiction just has to do with the way all humans are wired.
There are other examples. "Christian Rock Hard" mocks how simple Christian entertainment has become as well as a lot of the BS people spout about music piracy. "Go Fund Yourself" pokes some well-earned fun at the Washington Redskins controversy, and also calls out most organizations as sell-outs. The entire last season of the show skewered our politically correct, safe-space culture. Their movie, "South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut," brought to light a lot of the double standards of our media. And so on.
So, yes I am a firm believer that the world needs this show. I'm not saying everyone needs to watch it. Like I said, lots of its humor can be quite vulgar and isn't for everyone's taste. But what I've always admired is that they are equal opportunity offenders. If you're offended by something they say, don't worry they'll likely offend the other guy next week! And in a world with safe spaces, microagrressions, and Tumblr PTSD bullcrap, that is something that will always serve as a breath of fresh air for me!
