This is an archived blog from when I ran Conscious Public Relations Inc. from 2008-2018. Excuse the potential outdated-ness!
The creators of South Park reflect the state of our world back to us
This isn’t the first time I’ve done a blog post on South Park, but I never thought I’d be posting about it here on Conscious PR. I have been watching the show since its inception in 1997 when I visited family in Chicago and it wasn’t yet available in Canada. It was one of the most obscene shows I’d seen since Ren & Stimpy. It’s gone from an animated show whose characters simply curse to one that has strictly adult content. I definitely wouldn’t recommend it to children under 18.
I haven’t been watching religiously, but at some point in the last decade – around the time Leo and I were first dating – South Park got smarter. It started making references to current events – often putting real people or groups of people at the centre of their episodes – and left a sort of “moral of the story” conclusion that left viewers to think about the issues that were talked about in the show. You might think that the comedy and the obscenity covered the seriousness of the issues, but I see no difference from the way that stand-up comedians or talk show hosts poke fun at current events, groups of people, and high profile figures.
Last week’s season finale, “PC Principal Final Justice,” was no different. The episode makes a (brilliant, in my opinion) commentary on the commonality and glorification of guns in the American household, violence, online advertising, and how people have become distracted from their own reality by media. It’s not the first time South Park has put itself down to make a point.
I wouldn’t recommend the show or episode to about anybody, but if you consider yourself a conscious individual who can stand to watch violent/obscene film or TV, I highly suggest you watch the episode, and judge for yourself. Here is the Canadian link to watch select episodes on Much. Though I highly advise against children seeing it, I do think that every critically-thinking, mature adult should.
