Marxist Analysis: South Park
Tabish Habib
Media Theory and Criticism
Goodwin
10-2-2010
Marxist Analysis: South Park
One can’t say enough about the animated sitcom South Park and its controversial, yet humorous satire of American media and culture. The show has come a long way from its initial blend of raunchy toilet humor and now incorporates narratives that center around recent events in the news, the entertainment world and even critiques cultural norms in America. In the episode “Medical Fried Chicken”, Matt Stone and Trey Parker (the creators) tackle the very controversial American state laws of medical marijuana and the Country’s obsession with K.F.C. In the episode, K.F.C gets banned in South Park as it is seen to be extremely unhealthy and the local K.F.C is replaced by a medical marijuana clinic. All of the males in South Park are extremely excited about the opening of the clinic, but are disappointed to realize that it is only open to people who have a prescription from a doctor. As a result, the ignorant men of South Park give themselves testicular cancer by shoving their testicles in a microwave and are as a result are seen bouncing around on their insanely large genitalia throughout the show. K.F.C in the mean time is made illegal and its chicken, gravy as well as other items are brought in through a black market. The Colonel is showcased as a Scarface figure.
What’s important to note about that episode is, while people seem to think it’s a joke, it is actually a satirical critique of the Super structure that exists in modern day America and the influence it has on its community. People in America will do anything to get around their legal system, even if it means abandoning basic logic. Pot, is something that most Americans desire, but they can’t have it, so they make it legal via a medial prescription. K.F.C is considered to be very unhealthy and can actually kill you faster than the consumption of marijuana (debatable, but true). In an ideal world (according to the South
Media Theory and Criticism
Goodwin
10-2-2010
Marxist Analysis: South Park
One can’t say enough about the animated sitcom South Park and its controversial, yet humorous satire of American media and culture. The show has come a long way from its initial blend of raunchy toilet humor and now incorporates narratives that center around recent events in the news, the entertainment world and even critiques cultural norms in America. In the episode “Medical Fried Chicken”, Matt Stone and Trey Parker (the creators) tackle the very controversial American state laws of medical marijuana and the Country’s obsession with K.F.C. In the episode, K.F.C gets banned in South Park as it is seen to be extremely unhealthy and the local K.F.C is replaced by a medical marijuana clinic. All of the males in South Park are extremely excited about the opening of the clinic, but are disappointed to realize that it is only open to people who have a prescription from a doctor. As a result, the ignorant men of South Park give themselves testicular cancer by shoving their testicles in a microwave and are as a result are seen bouncing around on their insanely large genitalia throughout the show. K.F.C in the mean time is made illegal and its chicken, gravy as well as other items are brought in through a black market. The Colonel is showcased as a Scarface figure.
What’s important to note about that episode is, while people seem to think it’s a joke, it is actually a satirical critique of the Super structure that exists in modern day America and the influence it has on its community. People in America will do anything to get around their legal system, even if it means abandoning basic logic. Pot, is something that most Americans desire, but they can’t have it, so they make it legal via a medial prescription. K.F.C is considered to be very unhealthy and can actually kill you faster than the consumption of marijuana (debatable, but true). In an ideal world (according to the South