South Park and Society

South Park is a show that has been around as long as I can remember. When someone thinks of South Park it’s either love or hate feeling. The one thing that is cool about the show is that it is based on real current events, and exposes what some may call the harsh reality of the world we live in today. The way they present there material is from an over the top, vulgar, and debatable standpoints. I think that is what makes this show good. The fact that so many people hate it and the creators are always pushing the limits makes for some good television. It is essentially a satire in which the topic is exaggerated in a way to where it is exactly big time celebrities, current news, and social trends, can disagree with the content.

            A show like South Park is important because it shows alternative views. Only a few corporations, like time warner, today control the media today. South Park is one of the only cartoons that’s episodes are about current issues, for example just the other month they came out with a jersey shore episode. The episode makes all of the Jersey Shore characters look like idiots. I think it is making fun of the fact that those same characters became overnight celebrities in America. As sad as it is jersey shore is one of the biggest hit shows in our country. Many people would rather watch jersey shore on Thursday nights then watch tsunami coverage in japan. Here we have thousands of people trapped, suffering, and dying and people are watching Jersey Shore and Charlie Sheen.

            South Park is a rarity, not only because of its originality but it reminds me of the way media was presented back in the day. Back when people did not have television and Internet they would read the newspaper. Inside there would be cartoons, political cartoons would display a hidden message just like South Park. I would call South Park an evolved political cartoon in today’s society, though not all episodes are political they have to deal with big time celebrity’s, current news, and social trends. In a way South Park is a modern day political cartoon, to an extent, it’s an entertaining way to catch up on the news. South Park is a show that can last as long as television exists. It has a faithful following and a plot that goes with the wind. The only way I can ever see the show being cancelled is if there are issues with the network, producers, or creators.