South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary

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[Poll]

South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary

South Park

52% (11)

The Simpsons

14% (3)

I prefer some other inferior programme (eg Family Guy)

33% (7)

Total Votes : 21

(last vote on : 11/10/2007 1:27:08 PM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

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South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 12:28:59 PM

LadyEllen

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Lots of us enjoy South Park and The Simpsons - both have provided years of entertainment and laughs.

But, which provides the best social commentary on our times? Which one will be viewed a hundred years from now (assuming we're still here as a species) by students of the late 20th and early 21st century?

I'm divided on the question; on one hand, The Simpsons gives us a good view of life today and sometimes deals with some important issues - on the other hand, South Park is less concerned with cultural accuracy but deals with important issues every time.

So, what do you think?

E

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 1:37:40 PM

Shawn1066

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South Park, in my humble opinion, is vastly superior to the Simpsons when it comes to commentary. Mostly because they attack EVERYBODY with equal zeal and do a good job of pointing out hypocrisy within just about everything. Also, they recently hit me over the head with a Nostalgia Bomb with the Imaginationland Saga.

That owned so much.

I didn't start watching SP until about a year and a half ago, simply because I thought it was just vulgar, crude, and stupid. Obviously I never watched an episode before. It may be vulgar, crude, and kind of stupid sometimes...but it's also often very intelligent, heartfelt, and thoughtful.

< Message edited by Shawn1066 -- 11/3/2007 1:38:18 PM >

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 1:47:10 PM

rubberpet

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I agree with shawn here. South Park doesn't really care who they piss off or offend. That's what is so cool about them. Besides, there's something about a good ol' anal probin' that makes you laugh and hunger for at the same time

You can eat Bart's shorts, but he's never been probed like Cartman.

Respect my authority!!!

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 1:48:27 PM

BloodLuna

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I totally agree with you Shawn! I love the fact that Matt and Trey said that when they come across the one thing they are unwilling to target they will stop making shows. The Imaginationland Trilogy was AWESOME!!!! Although my favorite episode has to be Cartman and the Chili episode. (where he feeds some boy chilli with his parents ground up in it) The N Word Episode was a good social commentary as well!

"Cartman, I am NOT going to suck your balls!"

Lady Luna

edited for spelling, which probably didn't help anyway

< Message edited by BloodLuna -- 11/3/2007 1:49:04 PM >

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 3:04:54 PM

Alumbrado

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You can't leave out 'King of the Hill', it is every bit as pointedly critical of society as the other two, and a lot funnier than SP.

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/3/2007 7:19:23 PM

Shawn1066

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Oh...I do -love- King of the Hill...

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/4/2007 2:45:19 PM

EvilGenie

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I voted South Park and find King of the Hill a vast waste of my time.

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/4/2007 3:14:02 PM

Alumbrado

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Hits too close to home, hmmmm 'Rusty'?

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/4/2007 7:32:17 PM

slaverosebeauty

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Never seen South Park, don't plan on ever seeing it. I broke up with someone who insisted on watching it before our dates [and suggesting that we watched it, as a 'couple activity']. I think Family Guy is ok and the Simpsons were the original, so the other shows are a off of that; you can't beat an original, that's still going strong, the lousy movie aside.

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RE: South Park vs The Simpsons as social commentary - 11/5/2007 5:57:01 AM

petdave

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i think South Park hits a lot harder when it comes to social commentary. The Simpsons features a lot more apolitical episodes, and they're a lot less likely to "go there" if it will offend a lot of people. South Park goes out of their way to offend, and the more volatile the issue you hit, the better it works, so by the nature of the writing it tends to offer more social crit.

Family Guy is funnier than either one, but i think the heavy reliance on cultural and entertainment references give it a relatively shorter shelf-life... and they're also less political and more absurd.

i mean, the episode last night with Meg walking into the bathroom with a package of hot dogs- "I'm going to pretend you're the New York Knicks!"... i absolutely lost it

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