South Park and An Open Society

            The article “South Park and an Open Society” written by David Valleau Curtis and Gerald J. Erion talks about open society and how a society needs to be open to thrive and grow. The article begins by talking about South Park and how it promotes an open society because the creators are allowed to say or do pretty much anything they want. This allows the show to present extremist views to the public in a non extreme way. Too many South Park takes it over the line and often offends people but they article says that you have to get beyond the crude humor and look at what the show is really trying to say. South Park makes the Audience think about what is going on in a Society using humor to attract viewers. South Park’s crude humor however makes it a target for haters who want to take it off the air or limit what the characters say or do.

            The Article then talks about Karl Popper who was a Philosopher born in Austria in 1902. Popper made major contributions to thinking about totalitarian governments and open societies. Popper talks about Open and Closed societies and explains how closed societies are resistant to criticism which means they cannot adapt and change. If we lived in a closed society shows like South Park would not exist. South Park challenges beliefs and criticizes race, religion, government and political figures which would not be allowed in a closed society. Popper believes that an open society will thrive and change. Popper believes that the key to a healthy democracy is intolerance. He believes that if people challenge the everyday norm then they will grow in a positive way.

            I agree with this article mainly because I believe in a free open society where someone can rise from nothing to achieve what many call the American dream. Open societies that give their people freedom to dictate their own lives usually provide their people with a better quality of life when compared to communist or socialist governments. I enjoy shows such as South Park and Family Guy because they present the viewer with radical views and critique the government and different laws while still entertaining the viewer. I am not a supporter of socialist or communist governments mainly because of the fact that the people who live under those governments are not really free. They cannot say or do what they want when they want and in my opinion life is not worth living if you are not free.