BORAT exposes red state "rednecks" or just conservatives? A good thing???

[RiverStone]

Here is an interesting op-ed piece about Borat's movie and its connect to the election results:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ferguson13nov13,0,5958394.column?coll=la-util-opinion-commentary

I have not seen the movie yet; but wondering: It seems Borat's overly offensive personality is a good thing for showing the truly racist aspect of our American culture that's still out there. Yea, lots of it in the heart of red-state country. :grr:

Or is his over the top racist/sexist humor promoting more of the same?

Either way, I gotta admit, it looks to be a damn funny flick. :rofl:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. There is no way this would promote more racism/sexism.

Because the subjects of the joke are portrayed as total jackasses and little more. If anything, this film does a lot more to end racism/sexism than any "awareness day", protest, or law ever could.

[jobycom]

2. It's brilliant satire. It's Alexis de Toqueville meets Citizen Lazlo.

I don't think it affected the elections much, but I think it was popular do to the same increasing awareness of Americans that led to the election outcome.

[phrenzy]

3. It does NOT 'promote' more of the same...

This is where, for some reason, many liberals fierce (and admirable) defense of equality and fairness, drift poisonously into humorlessness.

SBCs comedy is total satire, irony and sometimes just over-the-top silliness. Much like Eminem. He uses many people's sacred cows as a target for outrageous situations that generally bring out the worst in his victims. This is a public service IMO. (PS - he has done the same thing to liberals too)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. I'd say it does both.

I haven't seen it yet. But I imagine the reaction would depend on who the viewer is.

Some people would get all of it.

Really dumb people viewing it would agree with the racism/sexism.

Then there are people who are inbetween that would laugh at the dumb rednecks, but then assume that's what all of middle America thinks.

I've also read that it sort of exploits innocent people that get caught in the cross fire. Such as the black hooker that Borat brings to the dinner party of white upper-class southerners.

[SeattleRob]

5. I saw it this weekend

I thought it was very funny! (THe Wrestling Scene was side spiltting funny!) :rofl:


My take on it was that it was exposing a lot of the negatives about American Culture. I suspect it's no accident that Borat went from New York to California via the South.

[question everything]

7. I had a similar observation

about going through the south.

I sat through most of it with my jaw dropped. I think that the scenes in New York and the wrestling and even the one with Pamela Anderson were funny and pretty much harmless.

The rodeo crowd and the frat boys - they deserve it.

But I felt bad for the "genteel" group on Georgia, I think, and the owner of the antique store, who just wanted to be polite to a visitor whom they genuinely believed was from a backwater place - and ended up being duped.

There was a letter in Newsweek a few weeks ago, from someone who did the booking for that TV morning show and ended up being double questioned every decision since then, and left the job, was depressed and quite miserable as a result of his spoof.

[Zynx]

9. Midwest is harder to make fun of.

And we're smarter.

:evilgrin:

[Batgirl]

6. After seeing the movie this weekend

I can't imagine how stupid a bigot would have to be to think this promotes whatever racism/sexism they harbor.

The fact that 2 of the frat guys who spewed their asinine sexist and racist comments in the movie, and are now attempting to sue the producers, shows how clear the movie is about its point of view. They know they came across as complete ignorant jackasses.

My husband and I were on the verge of hysteria during most of the movie. I still find myself laughing the next day remembering certain scenes.

You just can't believe what kind of inappropriate speech and behavior "Borat" can get away with because people keep making allowances on the grounds of him being a foreigner and so of course being from "over there" he doesn't know what to do for example, if he's at a high-falutin' dinner party and has to use "the shithole."

And the actor who engages in the naked wrestling match with Borat deserves an Oscar nomination IMO.

But I definitely wouldn't recommend Borat to the easily offended of any political stripe.

[upi402]

8. Like Archie Bunker, light purifies

Archie Bunker had fans FOR his racism. But more had their eyes opened when it was countered by liberal thought, and met up with real human beings with a different skin color but the same mind and soul and feelings.


Archie shed light on the face of ignorant prejudice.