South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China” • Hacker News Board

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#131

Post by jquery » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:14 AM UTC

licebmi__at__ wrote: post #37

bfm1982 wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"I like the style when it fits my beliefs, but this comedy show is polluting discourse when I disagree with it"

Or this is how you get the creators apologizing through the characters -for almost half an episode- of being so stupid of equating climate change with a half man, half bear, half pig creature.

They were mocking Al Gore, who made some pretty wild doom predictions which didn’t come true. Even if you’re fully on board with climate change being a very serious issue, there’s plenty of space to mock people. For example, how about an episode which mocks Democrats for coming down hard against nuclear energy (except for Yang)? It’s incredibly disappointing to see the candidates cave to the anti-nuclear wing of their base.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#132

Post by jquery » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:17 AM UTC

bboygravity wrote: post #128

Interesting. I haven't watched South Park in ages. The only reason I'm going to watch this episode is because China banned it. I wonder if it works like that for people who live in China. Is it something Chinese people often do (specifically seek out banned stuff)?

No. There is simply too much personal risk for most people. Chinese censorship works because it’s backed by an enormous stick.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#133

Post by jquery » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:20 AM UTC

giancarlostoro wrote: post #58

anm89 wrote: post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know if I'd go that far. I'd argue South Park was at its peak for the first 10 seasons. This episode was awesome but there has been quite a bit of junk between now and then. Obviously just my opinion though.

Thr 2016 elections season was so darn good. Thats just my opinion as well. It became my favorite. I was never watching South Park like others did as it airs. I think shows like South Park you should have breaks on and then watch an episode or two on Hulu cause over time it does get tiresome. I can binge Family Guy and South Park but a lot gets lost compared to savoring it over time. Watched a lot of classic movies th…

Really? Wasn’t that the season that was a total mess because it was written assuming Hillary would win (which seemed overwhelmingly likely at the time)? And then they had to quickly change everything? If anything I’d say that season was one of their biggest missteps.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#134

Post by atroche » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:21 AM UTC

Florin_Andrei wrote: post #106

SmirkingRevenge wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting corporate taxonomy there. On the other hand, if China is willing to cancel something as big as the NBA at the drop of a hat (or tweet, as it were), it really highlights the risks of doing business with China in a very stark way. Nothing is to big to fail if you offend the party. You operate at their whims. Transgress, and its lights out. Too many of these kinds of reactions could backfire (one would hope)…

I thought all that was common knowledge.

FWIW I hadn't heard of the NBA thing until this. Maybe because I'm Australian and the NBA isn't as huge a deal here.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#135

Post by audessuscest » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:24 AM UTC

In France, there's 10 Southpark episodes censored, and no one cares. Also in France, repression against Gilet Jaunes was way more intense and there was less coverage, even on social medias...

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#136

Post by nnq » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:26 AM UTC

viscanti wrote: post #25

Waterluvian wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not saying they don't have a political leaning, but they often focus their energy and 22 minutes on showing just how wildly absurd a situation is. For me, that's a big ingredient in why they've stayed so entertaining.

They're also a big proponent of bothsideism. For some topics that makes sense (because there are two legitimate or legitimately absurd sides). For other topics it just pollutes discourse by elevating an illegitimate side.

> For some topics that makes sense

Bothsideism is always good fun. It makes 100% sense if your purpose is simply humor. Discourse is mean to be polluted, heil post-truth!

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#137

Post by jquery » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:26 AM UTC

sjwright wrote: post #70

yumraj wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unlike China, Americans make enough fun of themselves, and are not censored. SNL is exactly what you're proposing.

I want to love SNL but a lot of the current political skits are just cast members mimicking news events mostly verbatim while pulling funny faces. (E.g. The Kavenaugh hearings: “I like beer! I like beer!”) Or taking a serious matter and turning it into mere farce. (E.g. current impeachment matters, with Giuliani portrayed with all the wit of a Sesame Street puppet.)

The recent primary debate skit was pretty good. But... the Christmas Mueller song was particularly egregious. They were better when Obama was in office, IMO. Trump has ruined a lot of “news comedy” across the board. It’s too predictable.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#138

Post by pnako » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:26 AM UTC

runeblaze wrote: post #105

jaimex2 wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is satire a thing over there? I think it would be too risky as crossing a line could mean prison. All the Trump episodes on SP would definitely have ended with Trey and Matt locked up in China.

Yes it is a thing (albeit more subtle, which makes satire better or worse depending on your taste). I was able to read Chinese satire on U.S. gun shootings and PC issues quite frequently. I guess my issue with things like this SP episode and these kind of satire in general, is that they only seem to focus on one important but partial aspect of one nation. To joke on American PC issues seems fun to many in China, but…

>Yes it is a thing

I think GP was talking about satire of your own country, not propaganda about other countries.

Reminds me of the old joke:

Q: Is it true that there is freedom of speech in the Soviet Union, just like in the USA?

A: In principle, yes. In the USA, you can stand in front of the White House in Washington, DC, and yell, "Down with Reagan!", and you will not be punished. Equally, you can also stand in Red Square in Moscow and yell, "Down with Reagan!", and you will not be punished.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#139

Post by paganel » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:30 AM UTC

audessuscest wrote: post #135

In France, there's 10 Southpark episodes censored, and no one cares. Also in France, repression against Gilet Jaunes was way more intense and there was less coverage, even on social medias...

Because Macron is one of “our guys”. Also, the way the recent Rouen chemical accident got treated by the people in charge and by the mainstream media there is a joke, had this happened in a country like China or Russia the international media would have rightfully been up in arms. These types of double standards really make our liberal/democratic society weaker and prone to populist attacks and even wins from within our own ranks, no need for a Russian or Chinese invasion or cyber-war.

Re: South Park Responds to Being Banned in China for “Band in China”

#140

Post by jquery » Tue, Oct 08, 2019, 6:30 AM UTC

nkozyra wrote: post #102

scarmig wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Everyone realizes it's counterproductive to overreact to any particular SP parody. Most people recognize SP as libertarian in general orientation, with a slight liberal bias. Neither Obama nor Trump has spent a second in office thinking about its portrayal of them.

> Most people recognize SP as libertarian in general orientation While I believe Matt & Trey are generally libertarian-leaning I've never detected the slightest bleed-through of libertarian/neoliberal idealism in the show itself. I've not really watched the show regularly in years, maybe that's changed. I do know that they initially discussed the libertarianism at a time when it was the hip above-it-all precursor to…

You’re mistaking “both sides” with the ability and willingness to skewer anyone. Take a step back and it’s easy to see politics across the spectrum is ripe for satire.