Borat Ethics

[ginkoneko]

Ok, I just got back from seeing the movie Borat, and I have a couple questions about it. Anyone can answer, it's not limited just to people who have seen the movie, but I'm especially curious about what other people who have watched it think about these things.

Question 1. - Is it acceptable to villify or demean a certain segment of the population or make jokes about a group of people if the real purpose isn't just to mock but to make it obvious that a certain culture contains a lot of racism? In the movie, the character of Borat says a lot of offensive things, making fun of Jews specifically, but the actor behind the character is actually Jewish himself and says he shows bigotry and prejudice to point out how conformity affects people and to make people face up to their own prejudice. Is it right to do that or should he have done something else?

Question 2. - How should a Christian handle it when other people say offensive, racist things or verbalize prejudice? This isn't specifically about the movie, but I thought about it during the movie. Lots of people included in the film reacted negatively to Borat when he espoused racist anti-semetic views or said offensive things, but some people didn't. Some people even clapped or expressed agreement about things ranging from support for the killing of Iraqi/Muslim people or anti-semetic views. If, as a Christian, someone starts saying these things, how should it be handled.

Question 3. - Finally, have you seen or will you see the Borat movie? Does your choice have anything to do with moral beliefs?

 

[marblehead]

The movie was okay, if people don't get it it might just be because it's hitting too close to home for them to handle.

 

[Koz]

It is comedy. It is not meant to be taken seriously

 

[ginkoneko]

It is comedy. It is not meant to be taken seriously

Obviously. What I really wanted to know though was if it is acceptable to poke fun at certain groups of people, whether for comedy or anything else, especially when the intention of the actor behind the pranks is to point out social intolerance, etc.

You comment raised another question for me though. Why is it that a movie where there is racism, anti-semitism, homophobia, paternalistic views and other offensive stuff funny? Should it be funny? Are the people in the audience laughing at the man espousing these crazy, unacceptable views or are they laughing with him and getting a kick out of someone saying the un pc things they might be thinking?

Personally, I thought the movie was pretty funny. There were parts where I was gasping and covering my eyes and other parts where I was laughing so hard. To me, what Borat was saying was so outrageous and ignorant that it was hilarious - I was laughing at his views. I just wondered what others took from it.

 

[Spherical Time]

I haven't seen it (it's not the kind of movie I feel comfortable going to), but I happen to think that he intended it to have a serious undertone. That's the contention of the people that are suing him, and I think they're correct.

Behind the laughter, Cohen revealed some serious issues with our society.

 

[Vylo]

I think the movie was brilliant and hilarious. I was amazed at what some of the people said, though I probably shouldn't be, considering what I have heard my own coworkers say.

 

[LouTheWicked]

I sort of wanna see it. People at college were going on and on about it.

 

[Allister]

I have not seen the film but i am curious to know how legitimate are the actions of the subjects. how much of the film was staged? how much of the characters words were rehearsed? how has editing been used to alter the realities of the subjects?

films, by their very nature, distort reality.

 

[ginkoneko]

I think the movie was brilliant and hilarious. I was amazed at what some of the people said, though I probably shouldn't be, considering what I have heard my own coworkers say.

The rodeo scene, where everybody was cheering and clapping about the things he said about Iraq, was kind of shocking to me. I've heard people support Iraq and say dumb things about Muslims, but I couldn't believe people were cheering. It was during parts like that when I was like, oh wow, I can't believe I'm in America.

have not seen the film but i am curious to know how legitimate are the actions of the subjects. how much of the film was staged? how much of the characters words were rehearsed? how has editing been used to alter the realities of the subjects?

films, by their very nature, distort reality.

That's true, but I've also heard a lot of people are suing him, because they got caught on camera saying a bunch of un pc things and don't like that fact. And the goverment of Kazakstan is suing him also, supposedly. If it were staged they wouldn't sue, right? Unless it's a publicity stunt I guess...

 

[bammertheblue]

The only thing that I thought could be maybe, sort of, almost, unethical was when he paid a bunch of villagers in (shoot, I can't remember the country) to put animals in their houses and pretend to be backwards and stupid. Which of course they did, because, hello, they're poor as dirt. That kind of seemed like a crappy thing to do, but really in the grand scheme of things, oh well.
Everyone else who is suing about it- shut up. You said some stupid stuff. The end.

 

[*Rob*]

brilliant film, but i can see where your coming from, it does contain a lot of racism

 

[Blackness]

The thing is movies like Borat I believe want to push the limits and to get some sort of reaction out of people (like South Park), which I like that attitude, but I have not seen Borat. But long story short, movies are just movies.

 

[rambot]

I never got the impression that the character himself was trying to be offensive. If you look at the thing with a critical eye, you realize that he is NOT berating his targets but is actually berating the pig-headed ignorant character he is playing.

That some of these people actually FELL into this trap (I'm thinking of the cowboy and the college road trip guys) is merely a testement to their own parodies

 

[*Rob*]

my wife is dead.....................HIGH FIVE!