It’s "Impossible to Overstate the Cultural Damage Done by South Park," Says Writer

South Park is a well-known show that’s no stranger to public scrutiny and criticism. Sift through the internet and you’ll see many think pieces, essays, and rebukes against the show.

Author Dana Schwartz is one of the many people who has recently voiced her opinion on South Park’s cultural impact—and the damage the show has caused.

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1228019211311562752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1228019211311562752&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgod.dailydot.com%2Fdana-schwartz-south-park%2F

That’s true. The show is well-known for mocking almost everyone: world leaders, minorities, the people who oppress minorities, celebrities, and cultural fads.

Here is yet another point the author makes:

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1228019577541419008

But Schwartz also tries to give South Park credit for its recent apology.

https://twitter.com/DanaSchwartzzz/status/1228063591560925184

The show also had to apologize to China for how it was portrayed. But Schwartz also tried to respect the fact that some of the show’s damage is also on the fans themselves. She’s right in pointing out that TV has a big influence on people, but audiences do choose what they take seriously and internalize.

some very normal well-adjusted south park fans! pic.twitter.com/ggfs0SieYr

— Dana Schwartz – on hiatus (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 14, 2020

The author then went on to clarify her position to both people who wanted to have a real discussion, and the many trolls that descended onto her timeline.

My point was that South Park seemed to teach that it was always cooler to be reactionary and contrarian, and anyone who criticizes anything is “offended” and that’s the *real* problem. Wonder if that’s the message these fans absorbed…. pic.twitter.com/myccXjG3CN

— Dana Schwartz – on hiatus (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 14, 2020

Schwartz also criticized the show for making it popular to “do nothing” about the world’s potential problems—and be smug about it.

People saying “they make fun of everyone!!!” — that is my point. South Park IS a political show, but one whose message is: both sides are equally terrible so the only correct thing to do is nothing, while mocking it all from your position of intellectual superiority.

— Dana Schwartz – on hiatus (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 14, 2020

And though there were many trolls who were angry at Schwartz, others provided some insight.

I submit that it's the result of denying that age-appropriate content matters, especially with regards to satire.

I remember my brother's friends thinking beavis & butthead were so cool, & always impersonating them.

No! You're supposed to laugh *at* them! pic.twitter.com/b4yZtST5eR

— Happy Dork (@jettblk_k) February 13, 2020

Another Twitter user shared his point of view as well.

It's the "Watchmen" and "Dark Knight Returns" issue in comics. While neither are perfect (and many aspects didn't age well), the issue isn't with them as works of art/fiction.

It's people took the wrong lessons away from them and it's taken decades to get past that.

— matt bernius (@mattBernius) February 15, 2020

Schwartz definitely made some good points about South Park and its fans. Even if you disagree with it, dissecting a show’s influence on popular culture always makes for an interesting debate.

Where do you stand? Did South Park influence boys (and some girls) negatively or it just a satire?

We’ll happily entertain your opinion in the comments section.