David Kronke: Cartoon wars update
In the context of the episode, the censorship of the image felt like meta-irony, criticizing the criticism of something by doing the exact opposite of what one is advocating. (I hope that makes sense.) In a way, the censorship was all the more effective in driving home the episode's point. It's a fascinating area for satirists to explore: Presenting something that has been proven crazies will riot over, but doing it in a fashion that also further provokes by bringing the potential of riots and other overwrought responses into the mix. That's a real knife's edge Parker and Stone are dancing upon, because the people they're provoking clearly don't have much of a sense of humor and aren't likely to appreciate the nuances of South Park's sensibility.
And anyway: Comedy Central wouldn't allow Muhammad to be shown, but the image of Jesus pooping on George W. Bush was just fine. Jeez.
What do you think? Was Kyle right when he said of satirical targets, "Either it's all OK, or none of it is?" Or, given today's edgy political climate, should artists back off subjects that'll just cause more trouble?
