Download South Park*s 200th

Chapter 16
Case 73
Brittney Witt
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Funny

Comedy

Satire

Vulgar
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Racist

Rude

Judgmental

Offensive
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The 200th episode of South Park featured a
bunch of characters previously satirized
 Jesus, Moses, Joseph Smith, Buddha and Muhammed

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Muhammed however was shown as a bear
instead of a person as the others were.
This caused the Islamic community to strike
back on an Islamic website
 “We have to warn Matt and Trey that what they are
doing is stupid. They will probably end up like Theo Van
Gogh for airing this show. This is not a threat, but a
warning of the reality of what will likely happen to
them.”
“They will probably end up like Theo Van
Gogh”…
 Alongside the message on the website were
photos of Van Gogh, dead on an Amsterdam
street. He was killed by an Islamic militant in
2004, while riding his bike unarmed.
 Mr. van Gogh, a Dutch filmmaker, had produced
a documentary film called Submission with the
topic of violence and abuse against Muslim
Women.
http://www.revolutionmuslim.com
Gave links to studios and homes of Trey Parker and
Matt Stone.
~creators of South Park
 The Comedy Central television network and
parent company Viacom didn’t want trouble and
bleeped our portions of part 2 of the episode a
week later.
 Both companies didn’t allow South Park to
stream the episode on its website, the
customary courtesy on the day after airing.

Primary
 The creators of South Park
 The Islamic people who watch South Park
 The Comedy Central television network
 Viacom

Secondary
 Islamic societies/organizations/groups
 Any Islamic person
South Park’s disrespectful treatment of religion
and other traditionally sacred objects has been
justified under freedom of speech according to
the creators.
 But is laughter at a neighbor’s expense morally
justifiable?
 Do television producers have any moral
obligations to respect audiences’ worldviews?
 Should there be ethical limits to free speech in
entertainment?


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Aristotle’s Mean “moral virtue is a middle state determined by practical
wisdom”
 Something is only bad if it is practiced or done in excess or extreme…
balance, fairness and equal time are recognized
Islam’s Divine Commands (Justice, human dignity, and truth are
unconditional duties)
 The second major principle in Islam is a respect for all human dignity
that is rooted in the sacredness of human nature.
Mill’s Principle of Utility “seek the greatest happiness for the aggregate
whole”
 Right is what will yield the best consequences for the welfare of
human beings.
 Preventing pain and promoting pleasures were the only desirable
ends.
Rawl’s Veil of Ignorance “Justice emerges when negotiating without
social differentiation”
 Put yourself in the other person’s shoes, taking your views out of it
and look at the case from a hidden point of view.
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Research
 http://www.mediaethicsbook.com/chapteroutline_part4/
 http://www.islampolicy.com/
 http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s14e05-200
 “Media Ethics” Cases and Moral Reasoning. Ninth Edition. Christians,
Clifford G. et al. Pearson Education, Inc. 2009. Pg. 285-287
 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/arts/television/23park.html
Pictures of South Park’s 200th
 http://www.google.com/
Videos
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG0quz3Gu8g&feature=results_vi
deo&playnext=1&list=PLE6401A4EE9F359BF
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H72zALZFgQY&feature=results_vi
deo&playnext=1&list=PLE6401A4EE9F359BF