Is South Park becoming too much about social commentary and not enough about comedy?

Question

I believe such a problem often plagued The SImpsons. It might still.

No offense, but I think there is a difference between asking if something has become too much about social commentary and asking if it has become social commentary.

Please, no one else try to educate me on what the shows are about. There's no valid basis for thinking I didn't understand those shows have always been partially are about social commentary. I was asking if the balance between such commentary and the comedy the shows try to present themsevles as has gone too far toward the social commentary side.

Damn I hate it when I have to correct people, as I always end up making errors, probably due to frustration.

Errors in grammar. See what I mean?

Answer 1

In my own little mind. I didnt find it much to be social commentary. More like, Matt & Trey displaying their issues through south park. Case in point. Their views on how Scientology is a goofball religion made by a goofball sci fi writer. And later on, insulting Issac Hayes by making his character Chef a pedophille and having him killed off, only to return again as Darth Pedophille Chef. The fact that that episode was made because of how upset they were with Issac for leaving his role as Chef because of how they insulted his goofball religion on that episode that i already mentioned. You can even tell that they were when they had Kyle mention that "a goofball club has taken him away" (not exactly what he said. but he was referencing Issac's scientologist beliefs through Chefs brainwashing by the adventure club)

Another issue example is would be of course: Family Guy. They have a huge hatred towards that show. So they expressed it out through a 2 parter episode explaining how they hate it. But at the same time in their usual way. Have it seen in abit of a positive expression as well along with a half assed funny plot like "Manatee Writers".

But if its the deep down issues that would be considered social commentary like for instance the references relating to Terry Schiavo, Hurricane Katrina, Or 9/11 (and its conspiracy). It's just Matt & Trey's little ways of expressing how annoying these issues were and expressed them out through South Park. I mean, if i had that kind of power to make a cartoon. I would probally do the same thing. Cause i am easily annoyed by these issues as they are.

So to put it bluntly. Its not much about social commentary to me and it still it pretty damn funny enough for me to continue watching. I mean, they had to stop killing Kenny every episode at one point.

Answer 2

The series originally started as a purely raunchy comedy with small doses of social commentary, and has been playing with the recipe ever since. and often Matt and Trey will fall back to raunch when they themselves see it getting to 'social'. It may have shifted too much for some people, but on the whole it is still more Comedy than Commentator.

You have to remember, it started with a short almost 10 years ago with a fight between Jesus and Santa over who Christmas belonged too, now if that wasn't social commentary I don't know what is. So the Commentary has always been there, its just ebbed and flowed within each episode, and season to meet the needs of the times.

Most 'Social Comment' episodes are made within weeks of the events that inspire them, where as the general comedy can be made and shelved until needed. Look at the "Ike & his teacher" episode, yes it was commenting on the occurance of those incidents, but its been months since one of them was in the news, and the episode would have been just as funny if Mary Kay Latournoux(sp) were the only person who ever did that.

Answer 3

Becoming? The last season and a half have been pretty much that...and form what I can see it is only getting worse...too bad too becasue I used to like the show...still do sort of...just wish Matt and Trey would get back to good clean DIRTY comedy and forget the political stuff...we got Bill Mahr and Letterman for political commmentary we don't need South Park doing it.

As to the Simpsons...the same applies although not so much as with South Park...at least the Simpsons still can do pure humor without being overtly political once in a while...

Answer 4

I don't know.... It can be a little too over the top with the social commentary and lacking in focus on comedy.... but it could swing the wrong way too.... that is what I think happened to Family Guy... Family Guy has gone the other way, trying too hard for the cheap laugh and losing the social commentary (which they had early on)....

Anyway that is my opinion.

Answer 5

South Park is its' own genre of comedy. It makes fun of everyone and everything. Every religion has been made fun of and a lot of countries (especially Canada) have gotten a beat down too. You've just got to accept it for what it is... FUNNY.... mindless, and stupid, but freakin hilarious all the same. It's always done what it is doing now, but Kenny isn't dieing. Same old stuff never ends.

Answer 6

South Park is very brilliant the guys are just cutting edge all the time. They are going to have the Tom Cruise coming out of the closet back on air. How can you have a cartoon be more accurate then the regular slanted news. Love the Paris one to. If you have a pulse and are not right you are fair game to those guys. That's it I AM OUT OF HERE! YOU MUST RESPECT MY AAAUUTHORITYE and give me 10 pts! LOL

Answer 7

You think that the first couple of seasons of South Park were *not* about social commentary? I imagine they've always had that bend.

Answer 8

The Simpsons have numerous writers and has REALLY suffered. South Park is still funny and socially relevant.

Answer 9

The social commentary is what makes it funny for me.

Answer 10

i think it also has to do with the fact that south park has pushed the boundaries so far, that they have almost run out of things to shock you with... so they pick up on every little thing they can, and current events (especially controversial ones) are a good mining source