South Park’s French Bashing Explored.
The world of cartoons is a powerful way to get out any message you could never achieve with traditional actors or more conventional means. Much like Aesop’s fables, the use of animated characters often serves as a vehicle for political and social satire that avoids serious scrutiny. After all, it’s just a cartoon right?
The Simpsons, Family Guy, King of the Hill and South Park have all achieved success through poking fun at our collective hypocrisies or our contradictions. Unfortunately, when empowered with such a potent vehicle, the creative teams behind these cartoons sometimes let their own prejudices show through.
The Simpsons famously entered the fray of Anti-French prejudice with several barbs, most notably the “Cheese eating surrender monkey” epithet spoken by Groundskeeper Willie in an episode aired on April 30, 1995. In another episode, the character Lenny is also used as a vehicle for Anti-French stereotypes: “I’m shaking like a French soldier!”. Anti-French prejudice from the Simpsons is also evident in licensed games such as “Medal of Homer” (See note 1).
Matt Groening disputed his association with that now famous Anti-French slur: “That was not the original context. It was all about Willie yelling at students in a French class. People took that expression out of context (…) Besides I adore France, to be associated with this was insulting” (See note 2). Given the Simpsons long record of Anti-French attitudes, Matt Groening’s comments can only be considered as pure hypocrisy. But enough with this antiquated series that overstayed its welcome 6 years ago.
Last Wednesday, South Park aired an episode ripped from the headlines that deals with Somali pirates. At one point a French crew surrenders to children wielding toys. In another scene, another characters exclaims: “they were French so of course they surrendered immediately”.
South Park’s late foray into the world of French Bashing is not only regrettable, it proves once more that anti-French prejudice is so entwined in American pop-culture that it will take monumental efforts on our behalf to undo the harm done by years of laissez-faire.
In the meanwhile, little can be done with our limited means. We can however let the creators of South Park know how we feel with it comes to mocking the most tragic event of our recent history or we can also share our opinions with the myriad of bloggers, writers, columnists out there who are applauding this new Anti-French jab like circus seals.
(1) Miquelon.org article on Medal of Homer
(2) Source: Interview with Erwan Cario, July 25th 2007
Related links
- South Park Episode 7, season 13 “Fatbeard”
- Entertainement Weekly by Ken Tucker who thinks this is a “funny depiction of the French as pretentious cowards”
- AvClub.com – tv.ign.com
Fear of the other –not “us”; therefore, to the primal mind, threatening and inimical to our interests (Rome versus Carthage) is seen as being “addressed” by our fellow watch-dogs of the crowd (nation, tribe, religious group, party, social group, etc.) in a sustained chorus of bashing directed at the “enemy’. And so this scene in America, most ludicrous, remains laughable —were it not so pathetic. I would admit these fools are not suffered “gladly” and that I, an American, do spit into their eye.
What kind of friend is it that: Acting alone in direct contradiction to formal agreement would conclude a separate peace treaty with the mutual enemy; this, after bankrupting his friend thru loans and direct military assistance ? Try the Jay Treaty.
My reply in answer to the first paragraph re bashing is: What do you expect ?
You forget him but it is thanks to French if the étas-close of America exist, then stop your bullshit that you read in American press.
#14 was a fking terrible post, pardon my French..
lol. Why can’t you create your own TV shows and movies instead of wanting the USA to make a pro French show? I’m currently watching IRIS, a Korean show, made in Korea, only language is Korea, and subtitles are available from volunteers only. Or The Man From Nowhere, great action flick, better than Bourne in my opinion. Both of those have Korean actors, neither of them are made in the USA. I very much doubt that most USA’ians would even know they existed. Stick up for yourselves.
Which leaves me to the second point, stop whining. I know, I know, it’s annoying when people say bad things. But why do you care? Why does the opinion of France by people who can’t locate France on a map matter to you?
Some people like France, some don’t. I’m one of those that do, and a tip on finding people who like French culture is go down to your local Alliance Francaise. French language classes, cultural notes, French cinema for those who are interested and promotion of all things French. Parisian jazz is more my interest which isn’t really their thing (in my local one), but they can usually point you in the direction of a website, jazz club or even traveling performer over from France. You should care more about our opinion than those of people who are generally racist towards all.
#14 was a fking terrible post, pardon my French..
This post ?
“”Barney hasn’t left the building Says: April 24th, 2009 at 7:43 pm ^^^^ You’re right, André, but how ? I think there needs to be some male French role models on US TV shows and in Hollywood movies. A Frenchman kicking ass and taking names so to speak. I guess there was Jean Reno recently in the Pink Panther movies. But then again he was only playing the sidekick of a clumsy, arrogant Clouseau. As far as US Tv shows and movies are concerned, I can think of plenty of traitors, cowards, arrogant, pompous French characters but other than that I can’t think of a single instance where a Frenchman was portrayed somewhat positively or god forbid acted heroically in the last 20 years on an American Tv show or in a Hollywood movie. I’m really a huge consumer of American Tv shows and Hollywood movies and it’s come to the point where I cringe whenever the French are mentioned, and believe me it happens quite often, because I know exactly what’s coming. It really pisses me off. The people whose sole exposure to the French is television and movies have almost no choice but to hate us. I can hardly blame them since they have literally never seen a nice and brave Frenchman in their lives. It’s a real problem.””
lol. Why can’t you create your own TV shows and movies
lol indeed.
Some people like France, some don’t. I’m one of those that do
Of course you are…
Lol, I am French, but the jokes make me laugh on us. But what hurts me is that you think all French arearrogant and slutty. I understand you just because you think all French are parisians.. You know there are big differences between the southern French and Parisian. I come from a small country of France(Ardèche) and when I go to Paris, I found people really disrespectful to me (not all, thankfully), it shockedme was how Paris is different from the rest of France, they are like in their little world and they feelsuperior.
And stop saying we do not like people from other countries, where I am really we accept people of allcountries and cultures (it is for her that France is a land of reggae). It is in the south of France has the largest immigrant because there is more acceptance of different cultures. When we meet people on the street we say hello, whether foreign or not.
You know, we can also say that Americans are idiots who eats burgers while watching TV, but we knowthat this is a “legend” and fortunately they are not all like her =). But if you tried to hatred of the French, it is because you watch too much TV and the media.
I am French, I love my country and my culture, but I love all other countries, meet people from around the world is a great thing =), without you we would be nothing, Our differences are our strengths.
Sorry for my very bad english x) (but it’s true that we are really bad at speaking other languages ^ ^ ‘)
Peace =)
I love the way American people insist so much about us ! (french people) Actually it shows how much we are important to you , and how much (and i’m sorry about that) we broke your heart. You are a sensitive country and we disapointed you , as a best friend who’s been unfaithful. I can understand this hatred …. love
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