Compiled South Park

Greed

Perhaps one of the things that South Park makes the most fun of is the greed element of many of its primary characters. Cartman is perhaps the worst offender, frequently becoming excited by the idea of stealing or receiving gifts. For example, in episode 4, season 9, Cartman is seen making up a story about Kenny, stating he did not want to be fed by a feeding tube in order to get Kenny’s belongings after his death. He is even seen licking his fingers. The children, while perhaps not particularly greedy, tend to be a little self- absorbed. For example, in episode 5 it is noted that the children do not play basketball for themselves, and instead do so only because of their parents and that they would rather lose their games so that the season ends earlier so they can play video games.

Self-loathing While not overtly stated – many characters do not admit they hate who or what they are – but there are cases where characters look at their prior selves and discover they would have hated who they have become, or that they hate how they were. For example, in episode 2, the Marshes (the parents) reminisce how they were when they were hippies in the 70s, and how proud they were. But then they discover how much they hate hippies. The most obvious example of self-loathing occurs in episode 1, season 9, when it explores the feelings of three characters who feel as if they should be something different than how they appear. For example, Kyle hates “being small and Jewish,” Mr. Garrison hates being a man and Mr. Broflovski (Kyle’s father) wants to be a dolphin.

Hypocrisy

What is interesting about South Park is not just the remarks it makes on general sins, but also the remarks it makes on society, generally presenting society as doing irrational things. For example, a large crowd gathers in episode 4, season 9, that argues that Kenny, while on life support, should be kept alive through feeding tubes because God would want those measures to be taken. This runs counter to the idea that God decides the fate of life and death, not medical equipment. Another group portrayed as being hypocritical are the hippies presented in episode 2, season 9. The hippies, who protest against the government and corporations, take a great deal of drugs. The episode portrays hippies as zombies, people who mindlessly follow an agenda (despite their statements that they are fighting the agenda). Many individual characters also go against what they believe – for example, archangel Michael in episode 4, does drugs (sniffing markers) while talking about condemning the devil’s army. Mr. Brovloski (Kyle’s father) speaks openly about how teachers (Ms./Mr. Garrison) should not be doing “different” things, such as having a sex change, however, when he discovers that the plastic surgeon can operate on him and turn him into a dolphin, he immediately goes for it.

Ignorance

Ignorance in South Park is frequently apart of susceptibility to ideas. For example, in episode 4, season 9, after Cartman convinces everyone he is Kenny’s best friend with a planted “BFF necklace,” the necklaces become an obsession – displaying the fact that the market is easily persuaded by the ideas or lives of others. Another (more obvious) example comes in the same episode when the Republican leader repeats what the gremlin tells him to say in his ear, word for word. However, perhaps just as frequently, people misconstrue what is said, or what the reality is about what they are advocating or fighting for. For example, in episode 4, season 9, the crowd that argues that Kenny should be kept on life support argues for, “Tomato Kenny,” which refers to the comment by the doctor, who stated that Kenny would live his life like a tomato after being revived two days after death. Perhaps one of the greater markers of ignorance in South Park is the immaturity of the characters. For example, in episode 4, season 9, we see the archangel Michael talk in a more immature fashion, using slang (“Only this time its for reals”) and even sniffing markers (episode 4; 6:00) while talking about military strategy. South Park’s ignorance might also be partially rooted in violence. For example, during Cartman’s speech promoting violence against a group is rooted in discriminatory stereotypes in episode 2, season 9. This speech is designed to help get his way to eradicate the group – and in the background is music that could be found in any action film. Not only does this represent the ignorance of Cartman, but also the group that ends up following Cartman’s crazy plan to attack relatively peaceful people. The other brand of ignorance stems from perceived kindness. Generally the characters who can be the kindest, or most giving, are seen as being ignorant of the ways of the world (naivety) or even stupid. For example, Cartman’s mom is frequently seen being manipulated by Cartman so he can get what he wants. Or an old woman in episode 2, season 9, has an infestation of hippies in her home. She states that she did not see why it was so harmful at first.

Additional Observations: Episode 5 – South Park

(8:20 – 8:27) – Randy tries trash talking the Spanish-speaking little league team from the Hispanic town by poorly reading words out of a Spanish-English dictionary to insult them

(0:36 – 1:12) - Randy can’t comprehend going to a little league game without getting into a fight. He constantly drinks beer and picks fights with other dads in a formulaic manner at every single game.

Race portrayals

Blacks

There are only a handful of blacks in South Park, including Chef (who is also in charge of public safety and the elementary school’s chef), and Token and his family. What is interesting is that while Chef, who has a very strong Ebonics accent (as evident in episode 2, season 9), he tends to have a great deal of cultural knowledge. Chef is frequently the man the kids turn to for help. Token, on the other hand, while he is the “token” black kid on the show, comes from a rich family has none of the problems stereotypical black people on the show seem to have when race is discussed. Chef frequently has the power of common sense, and it becomes particularly obvious in episode 2, season 9, that Chef does not agree with the white leaders of the city, but he always ends up following the plan and orders. Chef is not without faults, after becoming a town hero in episode 2, Chef is seen with two prostitutes. This isn’t the only time that blacks are seen as highly sexualized. For example, in episode 6, a black plumber asks for sex from Cartman’s mom as payment. The writers make a comment on how frequently black characters are scarified by having Cartman say about their mission in episode 2 that they need a team of “a scientist, an engineer and, of course, a black person who can sacrifice himself in case something goes wrong.” This immediately means Chef goes onto the mission – despite not really wanting to do it. There are frequently generalizations made about blacks, such as blacks are the only good players of basketball, which is such a strong belief in all of the characters that Kyle ends up having a “negroplasty” in order to become black. However, athleticism isn’t the only talents blacks seem to have in South Park, Cartman also notes that Token can sing because he is black (“Of course he sings, he is black.”)

Whites

While South Park seems more likely to talk about political or religious affiliations over race, there are some noticeable, silent portrayals of race roles. For example, most of the people in South Park are white (which is why it is ironic that one of the children is called “Token” because he is the token black character). Whites dominate the students, town leaders, the media, and even the hippies and rednecks. Also, the white and pure heaven that is presented in episode 4, season 9 is purely populated by white people. There appears to be a dichotomy for the white people – the smart and ignorant. For example, Kenny’s white-trash family frequently yell and swear at each other, as well as making overgeneralizations (indicating ignorance), by saying things like, “Just like your father!” (episode 4, Season 9). There is also a distinct difference in the environment, such as the house being dirty and rundown, with open wine bottles on the counter. The family has thick country accents, and frequently are dirty or have bruises. And the McCormicks do not appear to be alone in this classification, the sports announcer in episode 5, season 9, indicates that the residents of South Park are hicks, “Scrappy-redneck dads up here.” Another example is the political divide – for example in episode 4 we see the Republicans as the devils playthings – all of whom are white – and repeats verbatim what the gremlin tells him to say.

Perceived Benevolence

As noted earlier, in episode 2, Chef was involuntarily elected to join the mission because the mission needed a black man who would “sacrifice” himself if something went wrong. When something does indeed go wrong, Cartman, despite Chef not volunteering, states, “No, Chef! I am not going to let you go out there!” This perhaps insinuates that the writers were insinuating that while whites see the blacks as sacrificial, they try to appear to be benevolent. Apart of this benevolence also appears the desire to not make waves. For example, they tend to be silent and un-confrontational. The white coaches in episode 1 struggle to tell Kyle why he can’t play basketball.

Hispanics While Hispanics are not commented on too frequently in South Park, in episode 5 it is noted that the Hispanic basketball team’s name is “The Pueblos” and they do not seem to speak English.

Asians

Asians are generally presented by one liners. For example, episode 4, season 9 has an angel stated, “Japanese people don’t have souls.” Chinese, however, are portrayed a bit differently. Although shown as related to the mafia (episode 3), the Chinese appear to be far more benevolent and less manipulative. What is interesting about the Chinese is the difference in facial expressions. For example, Lu Kim (the owner of City Wok) is seen as always having his eyes “closed.” But beyond that, there are certain stereotypes seen in episode 3. For example, a mafia member has sweat stains on his shirt, the jelled back hair, but also the fact that Lu Kim is seen as domineering and abusive to his wife. When the mafia claims ownership over Lu Kim’s wife, they tell the boys that she will be working at a “massage parlor.” Wing, Lu Kim’s wife is generally very submissive and follows orders from her frequently yelling husband. For example, she is able to survive in a boxing ring despite being badly beaten. She is also noted to never really eat. What is also fascinating is that whenever Chinese are seen in episode 3, a traditional erhu is playing in the background. The dialect difference is also interesting in South Park, for example, Lu Kim pronounces “City” as “shitty,” so whenever he says “City Chicken” or “City Beef” it truly sounds like, “shitty chicken” and “shitty beef.”

Gender Roles

Females

Females, in general, are not seen as particularly weak or dysfunctional. Women occupy high positions in the town, such as the mayor or local engineer. Perhaps the largest comment on women is sexuality. For example, when Mr. Garrison has a sex-change operation and attempts to act like a woman (episode 1), she is seen as talking a great deal about her vagina, sex and reproductive issues such as getting her period, getting pregnant and having an abortion. She also talks a fair bit how women are mistreated by men (particularly after she is dumped by Mr. Slave) by saying things such as, “As a woman I am a bit against those chauvinistic pageants (episode 3),” as well as how women are so dainty (her example being how girls sit on the toilet when they urinate). This appears to be very much the case when the girls, who are mostly doing their make up and hair, run out of the bathroom when Ms. Garrison ends up fluctuating quite loudly in the bathroom. At the same time, women are depicted as promiscuous, and use sex to get their way or to show gratitude. At the same time, these women defer to men for decision making (as seen in episode 6.)

Males While the stereotypes of males in the episodes watched did not talk too much about male stereotypes, there were a couple of instances that show men as living vicariously through their sons. In episode 5, the men are seen drinking beers and commenting on their sons’ ability to play basketball.

LBGTQ

A few lesbian and gay are made, generally with one of the characters remarking, “That’s gay.” However, there are instances of characters being gay or commenting on sexual preferences – most specifically the Devil being gay, as well as “Mr. Slave,” and Mrs. Garrison originally being a heterosexual male, then transitioning to a homosexual male, then to a heterosexual female and eventually a homosexual female and finally back to a heterosexual male during the course of the series. This could very easily propagate the stereotype that you can grow out of being gay. What is also interesting is that it seems that woman are far less accepting of Ms. Garrison’s sex change compared to men. Men throughout episodes, besides Mr. Broflovski’s initial comment of it being too different for a teacher, seem to ignore the sex change. However, the principal in episode 3, refers to Ms. Garrison as only Mr. Garrison. What is also interesting about Ms. Garrison is that while Ms. Garrison was previously gay, and was with Mr. Slave, Garrison frequently refers to homosexuals as “fags.”

Universal Emotions

Episode 6, Season 9

Joy: (13:56) Butters and Cartman set about making fruit baskets to give atone for Cartmans sins. *There is an upbeat gospel style song, with tambourine and clapping, sung by Cartman in which he says “I’m gonna make it right. I’m gonna take some time to set things straight. I’m paying for my sins and it sure feels great. … I now know what the good Lord in heaven wanted from me all along.”

Sadness: (01:20) Stan & Kyle (Kenney crying) looking at chicken with all the skins eaten by Cartman. (03:21) Cartman is crying when he hears his mom moaning. He thinks she is sad but really they are the sounds of her having sex with the plumber. (08:41) Cartman cries when he has Butters tell his mother that he loves her.

Anger: (01:18) Stan, Kyle, Kenney: Stan, “I can’t believe that fat asshole!” Kyle: “Can’t believe it? He does this shit all the time?” (07:02) Cartman is angry that Butters is attempting to ignore him and won’t help him. (09:35) Kyle to Butters about Cartman “there were no good times and if he really feels bad he can just tell me himself!”

Fear: (05:23) & (05:26) Butters screaming “aaaaaghghg!” and running away from Cartman when he tells butters he is dead. (07:02) Butters is scared and trying to duck under the covers “Go away you aren’t real” he says to Cartman.

*Music Cues – Fear/Suspense – (02:56 – 03:15) As Cartman leaves the bus stop fearful that he is dead he sees the plumbers leaving the house with a large box. The music is dramatic and low indicating a tragic occurrence.

Surprise: (03:02) Cartman runs to the front of his home and sees the plumbers carrying out a rectangular box. He shocked and surprised and thinks his body is in the box especially because he hears one of the plumber’s say, “what happened did they say?” the other plumber responds, “apparently there was so much chicken skin in the system it ruptured the system” (03:24). (05:00) Cartman at hearing butters say “hi Eric” after he felt he was “doomed to walk the earth all alone for all eternity.”

Disgust: (03:50) Kyle expressing why they have chosen to ignore Cartman “because he’s a fat, racist, self-center, intolerant, manipulating sociopath.” Episode 4, Season 9

Fear (17:56) fear. Surprise (20:31) surprise

Episode 2, Season 9 Joy 8.22. Hippies are happy because their jam festival just started. 20.16. Locals celebrate the hippies are running away because the mission succed.

Sadness 1.35. An old woman is sad after realizing the “hippies’ infection” is real. 10.50. The major is sad when she realizes she has done wrong allowing the hippy festival. She tries to kill herself.

Anger 3.21. Cartman is talking to Hippies, who he consider disgusting. 7.56. Cartman just discovers the major has sign a permission for the hippies to do a festival. He is at jail. Very good shot!

Fear 10.08. Butter´s family is scare when they realized how big is the hippie issue. 10.41. Stan´s father is scare because he does not find Stan in the hippie crowd.

Surprise An old lady Cartman’s visits discover she has hippies at her place. 5.06. The Local Government just listened Cartman´s plan against hippies. They don’t believe him. 6.25. Cartman is surprised when he discovers his friends being hipppies. 14.00. Locals realize how big is going to be the hippy population if they don’t stop the festival soon.

Episode 3, Season 9 Joy – 19:52, everyone is happy at the wedding.

Sadness – 10:45 – Lu Kim cries after mafia destroy his food.

Anger – 9:19 – eyebrows furrowed, eyes usually get closer together.

Fear – 9:33 – Lu Kim (eyes usually glued shut) opens them for a rare glimpse, but only when he is scared. Episode 1, Season 9 Joy Kyle when he “understands” about change operations (music also a cue here) [6:24]

Sadness Kyle after being cut from the basketball team (sad piano music a strong element here) [2:55]

Anger n/a Fear n/a Surprise n/a Disgust Episode 5, Season 9 Anger: Mr. Marsh (13:45)

Fear: Mr. Marsh (11:18)

Cultural Context

Episode 6, Season 9

Super-AIDS Butters father to Butters, telling him that his imagination made up the ghost and that “there’s no reason to be afraid of things that aren’t real. There are plenty of real things to be scared of like super-AIDS. A new form of AIDS that is resistant to drugs. Just a teaspoon in your butt and your dead in three years” (06:26).

In December 2005 there was a “super-AIDS” scare in New York City where a rapidly progressing drug resistant strain of the virus had been discovered. According to wiki the term “super-AIDS” is usually used in informal discussion and in entertainment.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/pr/pr016-05.shtml http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_AIDS

The Sixth Sense (1999 movie): Butters “I’m like that kid in the movie. I’m seeing dead people. … I saw a ghost” (05:57).

The Sixth Sense is a 1999 movie in which a young boy see’s dead people and helps them carry out what they need to do so their souls can be at peace and move on from the earthly world. Butters attempts to help Cartman carry out what he needs to do in order to go to heaven.

Cartman rattles chains at Butters bedside (07:05) Reference perhaps to Charles Dickons’s A Christmas Carol and the ghost Jacob Marley? Marley also carried about chains “he unknowingly forged himself in life, as a result of his extortionate behavior” (Wiki: Jacob Marley) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Marley

Episode 4, Season 9

Keanu Reeves-- Kenny is compared to Reeves in reference to the Matrix (bringing down the system). After Kenny beats devil army, he is awarded a golden statue of Reeves.

“My god this is even bigger than the final battle in the Lord of the Rings movie. It’s like ten times bigger than that battle.” --Archangel Michael

Episode 2, Season 9 Hippies. The hippie (or hippy) subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The word 'hippie' came from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into New York City's Greenwich Village and San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district. The origins of the terms hip and hep are uncertain, though it may have come from the word hemp, By the 1940s both had become part of African American jive slang and meant "sophisticated; currently fashionable; fully up-to-date". The Beats adopted the term hip, and early hippies inherited the language and countercultural values of the Beat Generation. Hippies created their own communities, listened to psychedelic rock, embraced the sexual revolution, and some used drugs such as cannabis, LSD, and magic mushrooms to explore altered states of consciousness. In January 1967, the Human Be-In in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco popularized hippie culture, leading to the Summer of Love on the West Coast of the United States, and the 1969 Woodstock Festival on the East Coast. Hippies in Mexico, known as jipitecas, formed La Onda and gathered at Avándaro, while in New Zealand, nomadic housetruckers practiced alternative lifestyles and promoted sustainable energy at Nambassa. In the United Kingdom, mobile "peace convoys" of New age travellers made summer pilgrimages to free music festivals at Stonehenge and later (in 1970) the gigantic Isle of Wight Festival with a crowd of around 700 000 people. In Australia hippies gathered at Nimbin for the 1973 Aquarius Festival and the annual Cannabis Law Reform Rally or MardiGrass. "Piedra Roja Festival", a major hippie event in Chile, was held in 1970. Hippie fashions and values had a major effect on culture, influencing popular music, television, film, literature, and the arts. Since the 1960s, many aspects of hippie culture have been assimilated by mainstream society. The religious and cultural diversity espoused by the hippies has gained widespread acceptance, and Eastern philosophy and spiritual concepts have reached a larger audience. The hippie legacy can be observed in contemporary culture in myriad forms, including health food, music festivals, contemporary sexual mores, and even the cyberspace revolution.

Song sang by Stan Marsh. Hippie song of the 70´s, where it is denounced the control over population, exactly as Cartman is doing. FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND "Signs" And the sign said "Long-haired freaky people need not apply" So I tucked my hair up under my hat and I went in to ask him why He said "You look like a fine upstanding young man, I think you'll do" So I took off my hat, I said "Imagine that. Huh! Me workin' for you!" Whoa-oh-oh Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign? And the sign said anybody caught trespassin' would be shot on sight So I jumped on the fence and-a yelled at the house, "Hey! What gives you the right?" "To put up a fence to keep me out or to keep mother nature in" "If God was here he'd tell you to your face, Man, you're some kinda sinner" Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign? Now, hey you, mister, can't you read? You've got to have a shirt and tie to get a seat You can't even watch, no you can't eat You ain't supposed to be here The sign said you got to have a membership card to get inside Ugh! [Lead Guitar] And the sign said, "Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray" But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn't have a penny to pay So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign I said, "Thank you, Lord, for thinkin' 'bout me. I'm alive and doin' fine." Wooo! Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign? Sign, sign, everywhere a sign Sign Sign, sign

When Hippies talk against corporations and so, there are background mysterious music.

Zombie invasion, by zombies. Folk music, since they are hippies.

Slayer. Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California in 1981 by guitarists Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman. Slayer rose to mainstream fame with their 1986 release Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Anthrax. Slayer's sales are in the estimated high 20 millions, although they have never publicly announced their sales worldwide. However, between the years 1991 and 2004, Slayer sold over 3.5 million albums in the U.S. Slayer's musical style involves fast tremolo picking, double bass drumming, riffs in irregular scales and shouted vocals. In the original line-up, King, bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Jeff Hanneman contributed to the band's lyrics, and most of the band's music was created and arranged by King and Hanneman, with additional help from drummer Dave Lombardo and sometimes Araya. The band's lyrics and album art, which cover topics such as serial killers, necrophilia, Satanism, religion, anti-religion and warfare, have generated album bans, delays, lawsuits and criticism from religious groups and the public. Their music has been highly influential, often being cited by many bands as an influence musically, visually and lyrically. Since their debut album in 1983, the band has released two live albums, one box set, six videos, two extended plays, a covers album and ten studio albums, four of which have received gold certification in the United States. The band has received five Grammy nominations, winning two of them. One in 2007 for the song "Eyes of the Insane", and one in 2008 for the song "Final Six" (both from 2006's Christ Illusion). Slayer has played music festivals worldwide, including Unholy Alliance, Download and Ozzfest.

The Death Metal song that makes away all the hippies is Reign in Blood, from Slayer.

Reign in Blood (1986–1987) Following the success of Hell Awaits, Slayer was offered a recording contract with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin's newly founded Def Jam Records, a largely hip hop-based label. The band accepted and with an experienced producer and major label recording budget, the band underwent a sonic makeover resulting in shorter, faster songs with clearer production. Gone were the complex arrangements and long songs featured on Hell Awaits, ditched in favor of stripped down, thrash metal influenced song structures. Def Jam's distributor, Columbia Records, refused to release the album Reign in Blood due to its graphic cover art and themes. For example, "Angel of Death" detailed Holocaust concentration camps and the human experiments conducted by Nazi physician Josef Mengele. The album was distributed by Geffen Records on October 7, 1986. However, due to the controversy, Reign in Blood did not appear on Geffen Records' release schedule. Although the album received virtually no radio airplay, it became the band's first to enter the Billboard 200, debuting at number 94, and the band's first album certified gold in the United States. In October 1986, Slayer embarked on the Reign in Pain world tour, with Overkill in the US, and Malice in Europe. The band was added as the opening act on W.A.S.P.'s US tour, but just one month in, drummer Lombardo left the band: "I wasn't making any money. I figured if we were gonna be doing this professionally, on a major label, I wanted my rent and utilities paid." To continue with the tour, Slayer enlisted Tony Scaglione of Whiplash. However, Lombardo's wife convinced Dave to return in 1987. At the insistence of Rubin, Slayer recorded a cover version of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" for the film Less Than Zero. Although the band was not happy with the final product, Hanneman deeming it "a poor representation of Slayer" and King labeling it "a hunk of shit", it was one of their first songs to garner radio airplay.

What movie is about heading to the core of the earth with a drill???

Episode 3, Season 9 6:01: Token is like young Michael Jackson 12:40 Sylvester Stallone – boxer, very slow in speech, difficult to understand. Needs a translator Episode 1, Season 9 Cosmetic surgeries Around this time, there was buzz of legislation regarding cosmetic surgery at the time including “vanity taxes” on botox and cosmetic surgeries, etc.

Abortion conversation... “a woman has a right to choose” The abortion debate continued to be a central topic of discussion in 2005 with the then president of Planned Parenthood resigning and the re-election of pro-life president George W. Bush both taking place within three months before this episode’s airing

Episode 5, Season 9 The kids are shown using a baseball bat signed by baseball player Barry Bonds Only months before this episode aired, Barry Bonds was thrown into the media spotlight for use of steroids

The state championship game is played at Coors Field Perhaps a suggestive reference to the beer brand since beer is continually portrayed as the catalyst for Mr. Marsh’s drunken fights?

Religious Comments

Frequently Cartman takes out his anger or frustrations on Kyle, the most common “insult” that he gives Kyle (episode 4, episode 3, Season 9) is usually along the lines of, “You’re such a stupid Jew.” Jews also seem to be picked on for sports and other things, for example, it is noted in episode 1, season 9, that “Jews can’t play basketball.” Cartman is by far the worst offender when it comes to commenting on stereotypes (e.g., “Oh, wow, a Jew asking for money… That’s a new one,” to Kyle when he asks to borrow milk money in episode 6.) Cartman, in particular, seems to truly hate Jews, and believes they do not have a place in heaven, “If God forgave the Jews, he should be able to forgive me!” However, Jews are not the only members of a religion that people make comments on – Mormons are a frequent example. For example, “For ages only Mormons were allowed in Heaven,” is stated in episode 4, season 9, it is implied that they were too obnoxious after a while. Heaven seems to be discussed at some length, for example Cartman has a very distinct image of what heaven is, as revealed in episode 6 when he reveals hat blacks do not get into heaven, and that it is “eternal bliss, divine rest, and $10,000 in cash.”

Characters

Eric Cartman Appearance: Eric is heavy set with fat rolls hanging over the side of his pants. He wears a red jacket, brown pants, teal beanie, and yellow gloves. Cartman is your material-obsessed child. He tends to emphasize status, money and toys – which is ironic due to the fact that he is raised by a single mother on a fixed income. Generally Cartman spends his time mocking or teasing his friends – frequently unprovoked. For example, Cartman said, “That’s not Kenny. Kenny sniffs paint and sets things on fire,” in episode 4. In order to “wake” Kenny, Cartman tries to wave a dollar in Kenny’s face because Kenny is from a poor family. Cartman has been shown to be incredibly cruel. In episode 2, season 9, Cartman claims his price for doing a task is getting a remote control helicopter – but also banning his friend, Kyle, from ever getting the toy as well as having him be forced to watch Cartman play with the helicopter. In episode 3, when Token is seen as never really getting a music career as he had hoped and is stuck waiting tables so he can earn enough money to get back to South Park, Cartman rubs it into his face. Cartman seems fully aware of his cruelty, particularly to Kyle, although it seems to be attention seeking behavior. For example, Cartman decides to pick on Kyle in episode 1, season 9, after Kyle is told he cannot play basketball because he is not black. He states, “Kyle, I am totally ripping on you at a totally inappropriate time,” and even goes so far to say, “because Jews can’t play basketball!” When Kyle states he knows, and that he is right and that he won’t fight against what Cartman is saying, his reaction is, “Jeez, that’s no fun.” Although, in episode 1, Cartman was also seen as trying to be supportive of Kyle and his decision and attempts to be a basketball player. In this fashion, Cartman does to try to atone for some his cruelty, but frequently he has an ulterior motive. For example, in episode 6, Cartman tries to make up for his faults, and notes how many people has harmed, stating, “I broke Mr. Anderson’s fence … took a crap in the principals purse, seven times … convinced a woman to have an abortion so I could build my own Shakey’s pizza. I pretended to be retarded and joined the Special Olympics. I tried to have all the Jews exterminated last spring … there’s this one kid whose parents I had killed and made into chili, which I fed to the kid.” The other side to Cartman is his use of manipulation. For example, in episode 3, Cartman decides to become an agent for singers, actors, etc. He decides the best way to appear genuine is to pretend to have a phone conversation with someone really famous (although he stupidly decided to use Abraham Lincoln as his famous person). He also states that they need to have a large fountain in the foyer. Perhaps the only thing that Cartman is truly sensitive to is his weight, as he frequently retaliates to anyone who calls him a fatass or makes a comment regarding his health habits (such as eating all of the skin off of the KFC chicken that Stan’s mother brought home for the boys in episode 6). It should be noted that these comments are generally accurate, Cartman is seen as the only boy who truly can’t handle a gun in episode 3, and he lacks general fitness.

Episode 4 - :53-- Cartman (narcissist) skips a long line to get into a store first. Uses Kenny as a reason to skip

Episode 4 - 10:40 -- Cartman (narcissist) licks his lips and fingers as the lawyer tells him Kenny left him his PSP and other belongings in his will

Kenny McCormick Appearance: Orange pants, orange jacket with hoodie firmly pulled about his head. Kenny is frequently looked down upon by his friends, it isn’t clear if this is due to the actions of his parents, or their income. Generally Kenny is seen as having little talent, Stan even saying, “Yeah, he finally found something he is really good at,” close to Kenny’s death. Perhaps part of this is because he frequently follows along with what the group is doing. For example, in episode 2 Kenny becomes a hippie with Stan and Kyle. Kenny, on the other hand, tends to be loyal to his friends, calling Stan and Kyle his best friends. Perhaps what is most unique about Kenny is his inability to die – which Kenny frequently alludes to, but everyone forgets about. For example, in episode 3 he is killed in a gunfight with the Chinese mafia, only to return in episode 4. In episode 4, upon Kenny’s death, they discovered a will, which read, “In the highly likely event of my death…” Acknowledging that Kenny indeed knows he dies frequently.

Stan Marsh Appearance: Round face, blue and red beanie, blue pants, brown coat, red mittens. Stan tends to stand up against hypocrisy, rather than standing up for any cause like Kyle frequently does. In episode 2, Stan revealed a very critical voice against the hippies from the University even after joining them. He joined due to the desire to change things, and after nine days of just partying at a festival, Stan argued that they weren’t changing the world just by smoking and listening to music. “It’s been nine days… Is there something more self than doing nothing and listening to music all day long?” In episode 3, Stan also stands up against Cartman when he realizes that being an “agent” to people is like being a leech. However, Stan was perhaps the person who was most onboard with becoming an agent to make money, calling the plan “genius” and saying it was fair to become agents because, “we are too smart to be talented.”

Kyle Broflovski Appearance: Round face, green winter cap, green pants, and green mittens. Kyle frequently stands opposite to Cartman. For example, Kyle becomes a hippie despite the fact that Cartman is working against them. Kyle is frequently depressed or angsty. For example, in episode 1 we see how Kyle is not satisfied with his race or ethnicity (Jew and white) when he reveals that he feels like a tall, black man because he wants to play basketball. He also tends to find the suffering of others as unsatisfying. For example, in episode 3, while Cartman is particularly happy making money off of other people while working as an agent, Kyle is the one that first notes that isn’t very satisfying.

Mayor McDaniels The mayor is an interesting character because she seems to be designed to comment on corruption, although sometimes with good intentions. For example, she expels Cartman from a government meeting and throws him in jail because he did not say what she wanted him say. She wanted to have a hippie festival in town in order to promote tourism and possibly boost the local economy. When the festival grows too large to control she nearly commits suicide.

The Marshes Randy and Sharon Marsh are very “typical” American parents. They talk a bit about how they were as a kid, frequently discussing the benefits (such as when they were hippies, episode 2). However, when their children become involved they frequently become very protective. For example, while they were proud of being hippies, they realized that the agenda of hippies is usually to drink, make/do drugs and have sex, which are all things they do not want their son, Stan, near. Randy then goes on the “mission” to rescue the town, despite not being truly suited for the task. Randy Marsh is frequently seen as being reckless, in episode 5 he is seen as drinking a lot of beer and getting into fights, and even being arrested multiple times over the course of one episode.

Chef Chef is the frequently marked as different due to his racial identity (black). While he follows orders (such as in episode 2), that doesn’t mean he agrees with what he is told to do. Chef is used frequently by the other characters.

The Broflovskis

In episode 1 we see Mrs. Broflofski trying to explain to Kyle about tolerance and accepting the desires of others when explaining Ms. Garrison’s sex change operation. In the background there is the uplifting, almost Mr. Rogers style music playing that abruptly ends when Kyle decides he wants to be black because he is told only blacks can play basketball.

Butters Stotch Appearance: Round face, messy yellow hair. Often seen in this episode in blue shirt and green pants. Later he is put into a hospital gown when he goes to the mental facility. Interests: In this episode he is coerced into helping Eric Cartman’s “spirit” move on to heaven. Mannerisms: Butters is soft spoken and has a babyish sounding voice that often expresses hesitation and doubt. Representations: In the episode Butters is depicted as rather naïve believing that Eric Cartman is really dead without inquiring as to whether or not anyone else can see Eric. He is easily bullied into doing what Cartman wants him to do. He is very submissive to adult authority, not questioning what they tell him, or want him to do. A good example is when he is at the Mental Center and being anally probed.

Sound and Music Cues

Mood/Ambiance

Episode 5 – South Park

(1:22 – 1:40) – Upbeat, happy music plays as the boys celebrate not having to play baseball anymore (or so they think) because the season is now over

(3:42 – 3:50) – Building orchestral strings signal a dramatic moment as Randy says he’s going to begin training to fight other dad’s at the little league games; it also serves as a sort of scene change music

(9:20 – 9:40) – sentimental piano music plays (somewhat ironically) when Randy is dreaming about and talking up the great opportunity of the state championship...for him to be able to fight other drunken dads there

Episode 4 – South Park

1:50 -- up-beat 80’s style music plays with montage of Kenny winning video game

4:54 -- while in heaven, a dramatic drum heavy lick plays while the angels discuss the prospect of a war against hell

7:00-- ethereal noises play anytime the kingdom of heaven appears. When the video game “the golden PSP” is presented to Kenny, the sound plays again

7:50-- sentimental music plays when the doctor announces he has brought Kenny back from the dead

8:10-- mysterious piano sounds play while the doctor describes how Kenny is trapped in his own body.

10:52-- tribal, drum sounds play as Satan’s army marches to battle

13:43-- sentimental music plays again as Cartman tells the court he is Kenny’s BFF

Episode 3 - South Park

2;14 montage song (rock/metal) stting up the talent agency

7:34 Horror/Suspense music when Token is taken away from their agency

7:44 Sad music when the kids are depressed about Token leaving them

8:08 Traditional erhu music (chinese) when Wing comes down the stairs

10:06 – 10:12 Lightning strike and ominous music when Chinese mafia comes in

10:13 – Ominous music turns into traditional action-film Chinese music

13:01 Music that is found in action competition shows as the show that the boys signed Wing up to was actually a fighting show.

13:11 Gladiator style music as Wing is put into the ring as the fight begins.

15:34 Ominous music when they discover that they lost Wing

15:48 Mourning, middle-eastern style sounds after the Chinese mafia take her and when the Chinese mafia house is presented (16:14)

16:20 Chinese music – erhu

17:04 Glorious music when they see the gorgeous fountain

17:17 Ominous music when the Chinese mafia come down

18:30 – Sudden music change when Kyle finds Kenny dead

19:30 Sudden “realization” music when Stan gives a speech about how being agencies is like being a leech.

Scene change music

Episode 5 – South Park

(1:00-1:05) – Carnival music sets the opening scene as they arrive at the pier

(2:15 – 2:17) – South Park has trademark banjo music that serves as a musical transition between a number of scenes

Episode 3 – Southpark

9:31 – Chinese music behind the normal scene change music

Background music

Episode 5 – South Park

(6:45 – 8:45) – Joe Esposito’s 1984 hit “You’re the Best” (made famous in the movie The Karate Kid) plays as a part of a montage of the South Park little league time playing (and throwing the game) against a variety of teams

Episode 3 – South Park

8:38 Wing singing “Time of your life”

20:35 – “Sing a song” in a Chinese, opera style.

Sound Cues

Episode 4 – South Park

2:52 -- ethereal music plays right before kenny’s soul emerges from his dead body. The music changes as he floats up into space. A woman’s voice comes in, the music sounds more like Gospel. It continues until the gates of heaven open up.

Episode 3 – South Park

17:40 Cartman’s voice changes to a more Chinese accent