TV: South Park

[XanBcoo]

I'm not a fan of the "anything goes" interpretation of art, because it isn't a position that allows for any discussion. It becomes an, "Everyone is a Right," environment.

Overall, I think this episode was very successful. It got this discussion started, which is precisely what can't be done when, "everyone is right," about their particular interpretation.

Well I think you're misunderstanding the objective of interpretation. It's not so much "anything goes" as "everyone's interpretation is viable given enough insight". I'm not advocating saying "everyone is right and let's leave it at that", I'm saying that despite the author's intent, anybody's analysis or interpretation of a work of art is meaningful and real (even if only to them). It's not a case of "adding in meaning" it's a case of "seeing meaning".

How can you not agree that such a thought process is the only way to have insightful and creative discussion? Taking everyone's opinion and interpretation into account is the arguably the only way to have good discussion. Your circle example is great. Someone who looks at a perfect circle and makes that kind of connection is arguably more intelligent and creative than someone who merely says "Yep, that certainly is a circle." Obviously it's not accurate to the creator's intent, but is it devoid of meaning and insight? No.

I'd rather have Archangel waltz in here talking about how this episode was clearly about the recent Health Care vote in America by backing it up with strong arguments rather than have another 4 posts of "Heh it was funny when they puked." I'd certainly be impressed if he did so and was able to back it up convincingly. Then we'd have a discussion going. Maybe we'd agree or disagree with him, but through discussion I think we'd all be richer for it.

Mark David Chapman's only sin was murdering John Lennon, not seeing (or adding, in your words) a meaning that wasn't there. I think it quite obviously it was there or he wouldn't have been so convinced of it. Salinger didn't intend for him to come to such a conclusion, but by virtue of its effects, it was a meaning that was "there" (again, if only to MDC).

Looking back to my school days, every english teach would assign a book and then ask you to write about how the author was using this and that as a metaphor, or as the innocence of youth or all that stuff....when in reality thats just you're guess. Maybe the author just wanted to tell an interesting story.

You weren't given those assignments to guess what the author was trying to do, you were meant to think critically and creatively. Of course it's a guess, that's the point of the exercise. It's about the interpretations and context you bring to it as a reader, and the critical thinking techniques you employ to get there.

[Assassin]

You weren't given those assignments to guess what the author was trying to do, you were meant to think critically and creatively. Of course it's a guess, that's the point of the exercise. It's about the interpretations and context you bring to it as a reader, and the critical thinking techniques you employ to get there.

That critical thinking bullshit may work in college, and may not even be bullshit in certain courses, but as far as highschool is concerned (and that is the period when you're asked to examine literary works the most) its a simple matter of whether you 'get' what they want you to get. That is to say, if your analysis and critique doesn't agree with what the rest of academia (and i use that term lightly) thinks, then its wrong. At the very least you wont be getting a 90% on your paper, and thats a fact.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

assasin's right. but only if its a blunder of a teacher, which I came across more often than not teaching me literature class.

this episode was so clearly about the health care reform i cant believe no one else mentioned it by now. the liberals finding so much hope in this one bill and that if it passes we can always just lean on the government for everything. The conserv's are thinking, or at least want you to think, that if it happens its gonna be the start of socialism communism and every other ism. They want you to believe theres some giant hidden meaning behind all of it that the government is using this as a means of gaining power over the people.

loved this episode, at first the puking was like ehhhh dumbness. it got really funny when the asian was reading it, then really dumb and old when the tv people were doing their elongated version. F U MDC, although I laughed out loud when cartman hit that king of all hippes crack.

[Assassin]

this episode was so clearly about the health care reform i cant believe no one else mentioned it by now. the liberals finding so much hope in this one bill and that if it passes we can always just lean on the government for everything. The conserv's are thinking, or at least want you to think, that if it happens its gonna be the start of socialism communism and every other ism. They want you to believe theres some giant hidden meaning behind all of it that the government is using this as a means of gaining power over the people.

Now, see i wouldn't agree with you there....but i think that was precisely the point of the episode. You find relevant meaning with whatever issues are on your mind at the time. Kage thinks it had to do with health care, someone else thinks it was about the war while another person might think it was about the pope or nazis......things often take a double meaning to fit your life and way of thinking if you read too much into it.

and yes, the king of hippies crack was awesome....cartman and butters are the best part of the show.

[Kagemane_no_Jutsu]

nah i didnt actually see that meaning behind this ep, just thought it be funny to try and make the argument.

i love how matt and trey are always on the same level as me, this episode especially with the "kill the phonies" aka "kill the kardashians" i feel like watching it again just for that part.

[Assassin]

Yahtzee!

[Archangel]

Lol, a south park episode tastes all the sweeter when you despise the target of its mockery

In this case yeah, fuck facebook and myspace and all that crap

[Penner]

Yeah, i only made a Facebook page cause all my friends did, now all kinds of people i havent even spoken to in like 15 years and my sisters ex, who i talked to like 2 times wanted me to add him...

I also get spammed by shit tons of Trees, flowers, plants, teddybears for Farms and stuff, and invites to join whatever groups... god damnit, i got sucked into facebook.

[The Heretic Azazel]

I mean it's totally true, I don't have a profile of my own but I was skimming a friend's site, spammed with pictures of their accomplishments in Mafia Wars and freakin farming. And if it's not that, it's Myspace profiles spammed with pictures of drinks. Azazel... I'm sending you a dirty buttery anal cornhole delight. WHO CARES??

[XanBcoo]

Wow, tonight's episode breaks the streak of awful episodes this season. So many great callbacks, it's so quotable.

I can't imagine that it will be resolved next week. It will either never be resolved, or we'll have a repeat of the bridge from season 1 to season 2.

I love it.

[Assassin]

lol, this episode was epic!

[XanBcoo]

I was really impressed with the Mecha-Streisand. The animation in South Park has come a long way from it's humble beginnings:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0S-YxU3i5A

[Archangel]

Lol, holy shit that really was epic

[Sapphire]

Apparently one of the guy's chugs Dayquil to keep awake?! He needs some five hour energy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi9qx...eature=related

[Alhuin]

To quote Xan, 200 had so many nostalgic moments, I couldn't help but remember the good ol' days of South Park. It was great seeing some of the celebrities again get mocked, even if a few of them were relatively recent. Along with some new ones (lol Tim Burton). Still no news of if it's going to be concluded this coming week or not, though.

[UChessmaster]

Well, on the site is confirmed there is a part 2, so everyone can rest now

[Raven]

At the very start when Kyle and Cartman were insulting each other in the oldskool way I was thinking "come on, at least use some original insults". It only took a second to realize what was going on, haha.

[Penner]

South Park creators "Warned" by radical Muslim site

So.. Trey and Matt is pretty much on the radical muslims "hitlist" O.o

[XanBcoo]

Jesus Christ.

Scott Tenorman's brother...

I can't believe th-beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep

[The Heretic Azazel]

So when they were talking about the head ginger did anyone else think it would be Bobby Flay?