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'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

theguardian.com

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Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#221

Post by zarro »

vkou wrote: post #196
nilkn wrote: post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's really not about morals at all. It's about money. China is the world's most populous country, and a surprising number of American industries are fairly dependent on revenue from Chinese customers. This effectively gives China indirect control over multiple major US corporations. Until recently, this has been hidden behind the scenes exceptionally well, but the curtains are being pulled aside as China is becoming…

Every artist that cares about mass market appeal has to self-censor, lest they not offend a large market segment. That is the point this episode of South Park very deliberately avoids talking about. Nobody's stopping them from creating art. Really is, unfortunately, putting constraints on which kind of art is going to get bankrolled by millions of dollars of say, Hollywood money. Those constraints have always been th…

The point of debate is not about self-censuring in order to get bankrolled, the point is about contesting using the law to actually coerce someone from creating what they want, which is what China does, and the potential influence of that mentality onto our culture (and the slippery slope to law).

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#222

Post by AnthonyMouse »

delecti wrote: post #212
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But isn't it the very definition of privilege, when through no effort of your own you get to enjoy the benefits for which others have "fought", "struggled", and "sacrificed"? How is it different from the privilege of being born into a rich (or just functional) family? The reason this framing is despicable is that rights and privileges are not the same. Being able to afford a Lexus is a privilege. Not everyone has i…

Being able to afford a Lexus is a privilege, but it is not an example of capital-P "Privilege" [1]. Not every lower-case p privilege (perk) is an example of capital-P Privilege. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_privilege

The point is the opposite -- not every right is a privilege. Some are inalienable and their denial is a human rights violation rather than merely an instance of economic disparity.

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#223

Post by jessaustin »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #217
azangru wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Calling our rights "privilege" is throwing out the struggle and sacrifice of everyone that fought for those rights. But isn't it the very definition of privilege, when through no effort of your own you get to enjoy the benefits for which others have "fought", "struggled", and "sacrificed"? How is it different from the privilege of being born into a rich (or just functional) family? > You may have been Lucky to have…

If I google privilege definition google tells me 'a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. "education is a right, not a privilege"' Obviously whoever wrote that should be penalized because they mucked it up with their example, if privilege is a special right then how is education a right not a privilege? But anyway, a privilege is something that is understood…

Kindergarten and first grade might be rights, but if students don't graduate they learn that later levels are privileges?

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#224

Post by Volundr »

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #217
azangru wrote: post #186

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Calling our rights "privilege" is throwing out the struggle and sacrifice of everyone that fought for those rights. But isn't it the very definition of privilege, when through no effort of your own you get to enjoy the benefits for which others have "fought", "struggled", and "sacrificed"? How is it different from the privilege of being born into a rich (or just functional) family? > You may have been Lucky to have…

If I google privilege definition google tells me 'a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group. "education is a right, not a privilege"' Obviously whoever wrote that should be penalized because they mucked it up with their example, if privilege is a special right then how is education a right not a privilege? But anyway, a privilege is something that is understood…

Education is a right to all, not a particular person or group, hence not a privilege.

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#227

Post by onemoresoop »

nilkn wrote: post #152
zarro wrote: post #83

Before this episode I always wondered why they kept making those bad transformers movies, turns out China loves em. I think its fine if people want to make movies for the China market, but what I find alarming is copycat behavior trying to bring that sort of censorship here. It doesn't make any sense to me why anyone should apologize or censor themselves creatively just because someone got salty about it. I find the…

It's really not about morals at all. It's about money. China is the world's most populous country, and a surprising number of American industries are fairly dependent on revenue from Chinese customers. This effectively gives China indirect control over multiple major US corporations. Until recently, this has been hidden behind the scenes exceptionally well, but the curtains are being pulled aside as China is becoming…

Why don't they create a version specific to China and censor it all they want? Why do we all have to be bundled in that censorship? Only because it is easier marketing and the are saving on logistics?

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#228

Post by dlivingston »

olalonde wrote: post #54
bluntfang wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>One wonders if there is an entire revolutionary class within China sharing South Park videos for freedom. I've noticed a trend on this site in particular where we collectively wonder if our western media is a part of Chinese counter-culture. Is this hubris uniquely American?

That and the idea that Chinese citizens see themselves as oppressed. As crazy as it may seem to us, they're overwhelmingly supportive of their government.

I remember reading somewhere (The Atlantic, maybe?) that, while Western people highly value individualism, Chinese people value the collective. That may explain the ostensibly huge support for the PRC.

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#229

Post by jessaustin »

laheyBro wrote: post #172
dekhn wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

there were laws through the 1960s and I think even later that prevents african americans and other non-caucasians from marrying caucasians. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loving_v._Virginia required Supreme Court to override laws that violated the constitution. If that's your standard for "least oppressed", I think your standards are very low.

Believe it or not, a lot of things have changed since the 60's. Name a society with more rights, more opportunities for the historically oppressed. Deny reality all you want, you're only hurting yourself.

Canada? Anywhere in western/northern Europe?

Re: 'We good now China?' South Park creators issue mock apology

#230

Post by NeedMoreTea »

dlivingston wrote: post #228
olalonde wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That and the idea that Chinese citizens see themselves as oppressed. As crazy as it may seem to us, they're overwhelmingly supportive of their government.

I remember reading somewhere (The Atlantic, maybe?) that, while Western people highly value individualism, Chinese people value the collective. That may explain the ostensibly huge support for the PRC.

The West used to value the collective, or community and society as we were more inclined to call it.

The neoliberal experiment that started with Reagan and Thatcher put paid to that, and it's become all about the individual. Even when it is clearly to the detriment of individuals.

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