Exam 3 guide
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What is dogma?
What's an “ism” and what are some of the main isms within the religious worlds? What
type of ism is most critiqued in South Park?
What was the role of the “sacred” in carnivalesque according to Bakhtin? What are
some examples of the carnivalesque in respect to religion?
How does, in general, South Park approach religion? How does it attack believers of
religion? What is biblical inerrancy?
How is Jesus Christ depicted in South Park? How have Christians tended to depict
Christ? What do you think South Park's version suggest?
How does South Park present religious believers as what Popper called the enemies of
open society?
What is the Sacred Tradition, Scriptures, and magesterium of the Catholic Church and
how does South Park parody/satire it in “Red Hot Catholic Love?”
What is the commentary in “Red Hot Catholic Love” on Catholicism and atheism? What
is crapping out the mouth symbolic of? What are some forms of carnivalesque and
intertextuality in this episode?
What was some of the fallout after the 2002 Catholic Church sex abuse scandal
What was some of the critiques in “Bloody Mary?” What's the significance of the lower
body stratum humor?
Why was “Bloody Mary” censored and how was it censored? Does this violate the First
Amendment in any way?
What is blasphemy? What's its role on South Park? Is it free speech and how can it be
censored?
Be familiar with characteristics of science. How is this presented in “Go God Go” and
“Go God Go XII?”
What is scientific method and characteristics of accepting theory?
What is logical fallacy and appeal to ignorance? How is this presented in “Go God Go”
and “Go God Go XII?” Are religious claims of existence open to scrutiny and how do
we see this critiqued in different episodes of South Park?
How is atheism critiqued in the “Go God Go” episodes and other episodes? How has
the evolution v. creationism debate been satired in South Park and elsewhere (I.e
Pastafarianism)?
In many of the episodes of South Park what do they tend to say about the books that
represent the word of God?
Be familiar with the story of Joseph Smith as told in South Park and Under the Banner
of Heaven? Why was the Book of Mormon so successful at its time? And, what is plural
marriage and how did it impact the LDS?
What is proselytizing?
How is the idea of faith versus empiricism explored in “All About Mormons?”
Be familiar with some of the the LDS's financial activities and what is “tithing?”
Understand some of the structure of the Church of Scientology; such as what is the
RTC and what are Celebrity Centres?
Be a bit familiar with the story of L Ron Hubbard, Dianetics, and his science fiction
writing background. Also, be familiar with how South Park shows the beliefs of
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Scientology?
In “Trapped in the Closet” how do we see the litigious nature of the Church? Also, how
has the Church used the legal system to censor its critics? How does this (as well as
other instances of religious censorship) appear to be ironic in respect the the First
Amendment?
How does “Trapped in the Closet” address paying for faith? And, how do you pay for
faith within the Church of Scientology?
What what were some of the fallouts and issues with “Trapped in the Close?” What's
“Closetgate” and understand the censorship dynamics with it?
What's a cult and what is irrational faith?
What is John Stuart Mill's idea of utilitarianism and be able to apply it (this is be in the
essay question)? Be familiar with direct and indirect consequences. What is
blasphemous humor?
What is a “fixation of belief” and what are some examples that we've seen in episodes
of South Park?
What are some of the differences between the concepts of race and ethnicity? How
can we understand ethnicity as the product of social interaction or socially
constructed?
Be familiar with some of the groups and their characteristics that are subjected to jokes
of difference in South Park (Jews, goth kids, Canadians, African Americans, Asians,
Meheecans, handicapables, overweight children (Cartman), hippies, etc.). How can
ethnic/stereotype humor subvert or reinforce hegemonic culture? How can this type of
humor challenge or strengthen stereotypes with viewers?
What is Chef's role in the town of South Park and representation within popular
cinema? What does the epitaph “Uncle Tom” mean and how can Chef be viewed as an
Uncle Tom?
What is “tokenism” on TV and how does the character Token Black exemplify this
concept?
How are Rednecks, white trash, and crackers stereotypically portrayed in South Park.
What are the three ways in which they differ from other white groups in media/South
Park portrayals?
In the episode “Here Comes the Neighborhood” how does Token get marginalized,
form his own subculture to challenge the hegemonic culture, and then get marginalized
again at the end of the episode.
What are some of the satirical points in respect to difference in “Here Comes the
Neighborhood?” How can we see this as a parody on gentrification? For the viewer,
how can the racism in this episode be interoperated?
What is hate speech and how does it differ form free speech? What is the immanent
danger test and how does it factor in to determining whether communication is
protected as free speech or punishable as hate speech?
What are the three common stereotypes of Arabs perpetuated by Western media?
How does the episode “The Snuke” comment on racial profiling? What is Cartman's
symbolic role in this episode and how does he try to rationalize his
stereotyping/racism? How does the episode comment on depiction of torture in popular
cinema?
What is some of the basic ideas of Said's theory of “Orientalism” and how has South
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Park commented on the basis of this theory in some episodes where people from the
East are portrayed, stereotyped, etc.? How does Orientalism build westerner
stereotypes of people from the East?
What is “nativism” and how are the people of South Park portrayed as more nativist
rather than purely racist? And, what are the characteristics of cultural assimilation?
What is structural racism/white privilege and what are some of its characteristics?
What is “hipster racism” and how can we see South Park as being guilty of this? How
or does the whiteness of Parker and Stone play into race, privilege, etc.?
In general, how has sexuality and gender been explored in South Park? Who are some
of the characters who have explored sex/sexuality on the show?
Who are some of the characters that have explored male homosexuality other than Mr.
Garrison?
What are some of the LGBT issues explored in South Park? What do you think is the
significance of exploring gayness mainly through the male view (i.e. the “butt buddies”
scene in “Follow that Egg)?
What is praxis and its role in critical theory? Can South Park be praxis (in your
opinion)?
What are some of the characteristics of identity politics? What are some of the
differences between nature (essentialism) and nurture (social construction)? Can you
think of any examples identity essentialism or construction in South Park episodes?
AND, what do you think about identity...are you born who you ARE or do you BECOME
who you are and how much of a role do you think nature/nurture play in this (no
right/wrong answer here)? Are identities fixed or fluid?
What are some of the characteristics of Judith Butler's theory of “performativity” While
Judith Butler would say that we all perform gender/sexuality, which two characters on
South Park are clear examples of gender/sexuality performativity and how do they do
this?
Be familiar with some of the characteristics of Queer Theory? Also, do you think that
categories of difference like race, gender, class, sexual orientation (gay/straight) are
natural or are they the product of discourse? That is, do we create the difference by
acknowledging and labeling it or does it exist as part of nature? Both? (this is largely a
matter of philosophy, and personal opinion, but I may ask this in a question so it's good
for you to THINK about it). Does gayness/straightness exist in the natural world or do
we create the difference discursively???
Numerous LGBT issues have been brought to light by activists and Queer theorists?
What are some of the major social issues LGBT face in society and how have we seen
them expressed in South Park (think “Follow that Egg” and “Death Camp of
Tolerance”)?
What's the significance of Lawrence v. Texas?
How does the “Death Camp of Tolerance” address the concept of tolerance and
difference in society? In the episode, how does Mr. Garrison express the difference
between tolerance and acceptance?
Explain Popper's Paradox of Tolerance? Through mainly the adults of South Park we
have seen some examples of the Paradox of Tolerance in numerous episodes...can
you think of instances when they've forced tolerance? South Park usually gives both
sides of extremism their views (which are usually intolerant of either side of the
perspective) on the show; how does this create and help foster the idea of an open
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society?
What are some of the social issues explored in “Follow that Egg?” Does the governor's
solution to same sex marriage (that is, instead of calling it marriage they are called
“butt buddies) promote equality or difference?
In the United States, is marriage a sacrament with God or with the government and
what's its general social value? According to Held's chapter in Philsophah, what are
some of the arguments for and against same sex marriage? What is “negative liberty”
does harm play into the debate in South Park (mainly “Follow that Egg” and “Death
Camp of Tolerance”)?
Be familiar with some of the ideologies of the counterculture and hippie movement.
How does “Die Hippie Die” serve as a libertarian critique of extremist hippie ideology
and maybe the paradox of the modern manifestation in neo-hippies?
Be familiar with the counterculture’s history from the Beats to the hippies? How were
they counter-hegemonic and what is the influence of this movement in current popular
culture?
What is the significance of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 and how can cannabis
prohibition be seen as racist/nationalist?
Be familiar with both sides of the medicinal cannabis debate.
How is “Medicinal Fried Chicken” a libertarian critique on paternalistic control of what
we put into our bodies? How is the episode a commentary on addiction in America?
How is the balls gag in “Medicinal Fried Chicken” social satire on the debate over
medicinal marijuana and the extent to which people will go to be able to get medicinal
marijuana?
What is John Stuart Mill’s liberty principle and how does it apply to “Medicinal Fried
Chicken” and in the current socio-political context of 2014? What are some of the
shortcomings of libertarian philosophy when it comes to addressing societies and US
governments?
What is paternalism? What does South Park say about paternalism in general (some
examples?)? Why does libertarian philosophy suggest that legalization of
drugs/substances/food is better for society at large?
ESSAY QUESTIONS:
Option 1:In this essay I want you to look at blasphemous humor in South Park and consider
dogmatic beliefs rooted in “isms.” Define blasphemy and then blasphemous humor. Then
discuss how blasphemy has been used in South Park and how does this make us think
critically? How does South Park use blasphemy to critique the dogmatic beliefs/actions by
believers of religions and show how fundamentalist believers keep alive Popper's “closed
societies?” How has South Park shown us examples of naïve and arrogant interpretations of
the word(s) of God? What is the “fixation of belief” and how has this been addressed in South
Park? Based upon what we've seen, can religion encourage religious discourse and criticism
or is censorship the preferred method and how does South Park handle this? Lastly, what
does it mean in your opinion? (you don't have to answer all these questions, but use
them as prompts)
Option 2: In this essay I want you to address John Stuart Mill's theory of utilitarianism and
apply it to how South Park uses satire/jokes that are related to race, gender/sexuality, and
difference of all forms and then look at how the show challenges or reinforces hegemony.
First, define utilitarianism and outline the general characteristics of using it in analysis.
Second, apply utilitarianism to examples of South Park's humor using racial and other
gender/sexuality stereotypes that we've seen in episodes (this could also be handicappable,
rednecks, etc.) citing examples. Third, using examples, how can
ethnic/race/gender/sexuality/stereotype humor subvert or reinforce hegemonic culture within
the South Park world and within our “real” world? How can this type of humor challenge or
strengthen stereotypes with viewers? Lastly, what does it mean in your opinion? (you don't
have to answer all these questions, but use them as prompts)
Option 3: In this essay I want you to address libertarianism/individual liberty and paternalism
as it relates to regulating our bodies and our relationships. First, address some of the basic
ideas of libertarian philosophy, including negative harm, liberty principle and paternalism.
Second, address the debate on EITHER same sex marriage OR medicinal
marijuana/legalization. Then, how does South Park address same sex marriage OR medicinal
marijuana/legalization; make sure to use as many examples as you can from episodes? Also,
how does the point of view in South Park collide with the debate you chose, and what do you
think is best for society overall: regulation of our bodies/marriage, legalization, or somewhere
in between? How would federally legalizing same sex marriage OR marijuana impact society?
Lastly, what does it mean in your opinion? (you don't have to answer all these questions,
but use them as prompts)