South Park is about fighting orthodoxy, what this tweet calls 'earnestness'. And yes, orthodoxy needs mockery. Mockery isn't inoculation against all criticism, but criticism based on its heterodoxy is silly.
The first South Park blasphemed by having Jesus fight Santa Claus. The movie was about the "V-chip" in TV's designed to protect children from foul language. People like South Park when it mocks orthodoxies they disagree with, just get upset when it mocks their own orthodoxies.
The heroes of South Park are Stan and Kyle (Trey and Matt respectively). Cartman is not the hero. He's the embodiment of everything our culture holds evil. But instead of getting upset over evil we laugh at it. Cartman is the butt of jokes, such as getting anal probed by aliens.
Trey and Matt: "Let's make a show that challenges taboos".
Most people: "This is funny"
Orthodox people: "South Park isn't funny because it challenges taboos. Why can't we have a comedy that doesn't challenge taboos".
Most people: "This is funny"
Orthodox people: "South Park isn't funny because it challenges taboos. Why can't we have a comedy that doesn't challenge taboos".
My point is that people aren't saying that comedy shouldn't challenge orthodoxy in general. My point is that people upset over South Park are because it challenges their own orthodoxy. Obviously, we need to mock people who believe in the wrong orthodoxy.
