South Park deemed educational
Kelda Senior
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: News
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While some may find the Comedy Central hit South Park a source of comedic entertainment, the show is also thought to serve the purpose of educating viewers.
David Koepsell, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, spoke to about 50 students in the Pegasus Ballroom Monday night about how the religious satire of South Park is actually beneficial for its viewers.
"[South Park producers] want people to be critical thinkers; don't buy everything you hear," Koepsell said. "I think they're good at teaching us how to do that."
During the hour-long presentation, Koepsell showed PowerPoint slides of various South Park episodes and explained how each one criticized a certain religious group.
"This is a show that was born from blasphemy," Koepsell said, while showing a clip of Jesus wrestling with Santa Claus in the snow from one of the first South Park episodes.
Audience members laughed as images of Muhammad, Buddha and Jesus teamed up as "super best friends" flashed across the projector screen.
The show criticizes many organized religions including Catholicism, Scientology, Islam, Judaism and Mormonism.
Koepsell said that even some atheists were offended by the episode of South Park that mocked their beliefs. The show depicted a future where no one believed in God and everyone argued over what the groups should be called, in what Koepsell called "unholy wars."
He added that no one is exempt from being criticized about their religion or lack of.
"That's part of public forum," Koepsell said. "You will get mocked and you will get ridiculed. Just get used to it."
Koepsell said that the reason he believes South Park is effective in getting people to think critically is that it explains the background of religions like Mormonism and Scientology.
"South Park is quick to point out personal hypocrisy and is happy to show just how weird certain belief sets are," Koepsell said. "They're not interested in attacking people who are actually good people."
David Koepsell, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism and professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo, spoke to about 50 students in the Pegasus Ballroom Monday night about how the religious satire of South Park is actually beneficial for its viewers.
"[South Park producers] want people to be critical thinkers; don't buy everything you hear," Koepsell said. "I think they're good at teaching us how to do that."
During the hour-long presentation, Koepsell showed PowerPoint slides of various South Park episodes and explained how each one criticized a certain religious group.
"This is a show that was born from blasphemy," Koepsell said, while showing a clip of Jesus wrestling with Santa Claus in the snow from one of the first South Park episodes.
Audience members laughed as images of Muhammad, Buddha and Jesus teamed up as "super best friends" flashed across the projector screen.
The show criticizes many organized religions including Catholicism, Scientology, Islam, Judaism and Mormonism.
Koepsell said that even some atheists were offended by the episode of South Park that mocked their beliefs. The show depicted a future where no one believed in God and everyone argued over what the groups should be called, in what Koepsell called "unholy wars."
He added that no one is exempt from being criticized about their religion or lack of.
"That's part of public forum," Koepsell said. "You will get mocked and you will get ridiculed. Just get used to it."
Koepsell said that the reason he believes South Park is effective in getting people to think critically is that it explains the background of religions like Mormonism and Scientology.
"South Park is quick to point out personal hypocrisy and is happy to show just how weird certain belief sets are," Koepsell said. "They're not interested in attacking people who are actually good people."