Adventures in Free Speech with Borat
CAUTION: link contains pictures of mostly bare man ass.
While I'm not a huge fan of Ali G, I find the continuing adventures of his most inflammatory alter-ego, Borat very interesting on a socio-political level. It amazes and entertains me to no end that the government of Kazakhstan has time and money to spend on a full out PR campaign and a trip to meet with the president of the United States to discuss the effect a comedian has on their image.
What does not entertain me is that our president is taking time and money to meet with the Kazakhs on this issue instead of telling them to grow a sense of humor. Shouldn't our president be a little more worried about the people dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism (separate issues, kids) or maybe reducing the national debt instead of increasing it more than any president ever?
While I'm not a huge fan of Ali G, I find the continuing adventures of his most inflammatory alter-ego, Borat very interesting on a socio-political level. It amazes and entertains me to no end that the government of Kazakhstan has time and money to spend on a full out PR campaign and a trip to meet with the president of the United States to discuss the effect a comedian has on their image.
What does not entertain me is that our president is taking time and money to meet with the Kazakhs on this issue instead of telling them to grow a sense of humor. Shouldn't our president be a little more worried about the people dying in Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism (separate issues, kids) or maybe reducing the national debt instead of increasing it more than any president ever?
posted by thesunwolf at 12:30 PM
5 Comments:
I got to see the Borat movie last night and will share my thoughts and feelings on the subject.
I was originally introduced to Borat many years ago on the Ali G show on HBO. Cohen's portrayl of the Kazak journalist was a fresh type of satire. The character's blunders, politically incorrect comments and misunderstandings of American/British culture really brought to light several important things. The most evident was that no one had any working understanding of Borat's culture so they were so easy to forgive his blunderings, even to the most outrageous extremes(blatant racism, sexism, pedophilia, etc). This is the American idea of forgiving and forgetting all "foreigners" because they are different. This can be contrasted with having some working knowledge of other cultures, and while respecting them, being sure to re-inforce what is and isn't culturally acceptable.
For me, that is why Borat and rest of Cohen's characters are interesting: the satire drives a point home, and I believe that point will lead to change.
The movie only loosely follows this trend, and it seems he and the director cater more to the "frat boy" audience, losing social change aspects of the character.
Now, I don't think Cohen has ever openly said that he sees his form of comedy as a catalyst for change, but regardless, I believe it is and was therefore disapointed in the movie.
Regardless, I still highly recommend it. Like Snakes on a Plane, one of the best parts of the movie is enjoying it with a good audience, so go opening weekend (sometime early November).
My two cents.
Oh shit, sunwolf! --- Ali G is funny. Lighten up with all yer damn ranting and raving. :)
WHAT??? You are reserving the right to approve my comments before they can be posted to your blog? What's this fucking censorship bullshit?!
I haven't experienced such oppression since my days sharing a snowy, frozen hellhole of a hovel with Solzhenitsyn in a Siberian gulag. I expected more from you, you goddamn fascist. May your gangrenous, atrophied balls rot right off your freaking live carcass so that you never reproduce!
Oh. Sorry. I think my PTSD is acting up. xo, Asylee
Good commentary A-Rash.
Asylee...
Your first comment...re-read my post.
Your second comment.
Ahem.
I don't censor any legitimate comments. I do, however, sensor those from "Nigerian bankers" and those hawking "P3n1S En1arG3m3nT P1LLs 4 H3r P13A5ur3!"
As long as you're not one of those, you're fine.
Though, threatening my testicles does tempt me. Good thing I'm a strong free speech advocate...and live too far away to throw things at you.
Just a question...Am I only one that thinks that although hilarious, "Borat" is not only here to make us laugh at his people, but our own as well?
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