Borat and the hypocricy of morality
By: heretic (Aashish Dutta Koirala)
It's offensive to women. It's offensive to Jewish people. It's offensive to homosexuals. It's offensive to the people of Kazakhstan. Some parts of it are certainly disgusting, even for someone like me. It's become a huge hit, and has already earned its lead actor a Golden Globe. For everything that can be said about the movie Borat, one statement is undeniable: it's funny as hell. I could not ...
stop laughing throughout the entire movie. I don't personally know any Jewish people, or homosexuals, or Kazaks. I would love to get feedback, however, from women that have seen or at least heard about this movie -- on whether they found it funny. I'm sure they would be offended, but did they find it funny?
This leads me to a question about our species. We say it is wrong to laugh "at" people. But we do it all the time and love doing it. We enjoy it while we're doing it. Then why do we say that it is wrong? If we enjoy it, it certainly has been hardwired that way into us -- either socially or biologically. Why then do we need to say that something is "wrong", and then enjoy it anyway, and then pretend to feel guilty about it? The hypocricy of morality really baffles me.
There are quite a number of things that I like that would be considered morally questionable. I cannot openly admit to liking them, nor can I disclose what they are -- for this would make my life in society quite inconvenient. But do I need to feel "guilty" about liking these things? If I do, then I clearly do not belong -- because I don't feel guilty.
Morality, therefore, is a sham. It is the heart of such social elements as religion and censorship. I have already denounced all of these. That is why I can say that I enjoyed Borat to the fullest. I am not ashamed of it, nor will I pretend to be. Does this make me sexist, racist or a bigot? No, it does not. All it makes me is human. If you think it does, I would like to state for the record that you, sir/madam, are a hypocrite. The real bigots are out there making decisions, taking action and performing atrocities. That is where your anger should be focused – not on me, and not on Borat.
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Comments
I don’t know much about Borat . Just watched some clips and know only that it is being a great success despite/ because of being offensive.
It is offensive. Offensive to women . but I too find it funny.
I guess the main theme of Borat is making joke of the morality itself. (correct me if I am wrong) my friend pointed out that by offending women, he is also exposing the offensive attitudes of people.
"Borat essentially works as a tool, by himself being anti-Semitic, he lets people lower their guard and expose their own prejudice, whether it's anti-Semitism or an acceptance of anti-Semitism.... "
As I donot know much about Borat , I will talk more on myself.
For me, humor gets the first priority . i think some things are so funny that they transcend the offence and things donot appear offensive at all. There was a guy in our college who had a very funny way of teasing girls. I didn’t feel offended but enjoyed his funny comments and ultimately we became good friends and TT mixed doubles partners too.
But again, there are more complex issues as well.
In jokes, proverbs, terminologies there are subtle and very effective means for offence and oppression of some sex, race , nationality…
Like in nepali comedies, newari and madhesi accents are made a mater a fun.
Such shows may make people of those ethnicities get ashamed of their own accent.
And I was really furious to hear a comedian making comment ‘women claim for 33% seats , so they are wearing only 33% clothes’ in gaijatra.
Sometimes jokes are not simply jokes… here I see a denial of the women rights , offence on their sexuality.
I also don’t find it very funny when some poor rural people and their adversities are ridiculed for fun.
Such offence is an easy but cheap means of humor.
But again, Humor, offence, morality, political correctness… all depends on people, perspective, personal taste and scenario.
I too love making fun : of me and my surroundings. But many times, people have been offended by my jokes…even though I meant the jokes to be harmless. And I find making joke of myself the funniest. It is the safest way. The most popular way and a chance of relieving yourself with the heavy burden of seriousonia : peoples’ general tendency to present self as serious sensible person.
By: dovan | January 18, 2007 01:38 AM
People in D2 who want to watch Borat can find the DVD at \\akoirala\BoratDVD.
By: heretic | January 18, 2007 07:15 AM