Just Looking ...

I had avoided seeing Borat when it originally came out and even now don’t regret not seeing it. I don’t think that it was exceptionally hard to show that Americans often say and do stupid things. Just look at Miss South Carolina at the Miss Teen USA pageant. http://youtube.com/watch?v=WALIARHHLII. I understand that the joke is not on KazakhstanBritain or Canada or Australia. but on Americans but I am wondering why Cohen didn’t have the movie take place in There are plenty of problems in all of these countries when it comes to people of other countries. Racism, sexism, misogyny and anti-Semitism are not uniquely American problems. I found this article written by God is Not Great author Christopher Hitchens http://www.slate.com/id/2153578/ who actually questions and defends the reasons some of the people reacted the way they did at the dinner party saying that “Americans are almost pedantic in their hospitality and politesse.” I understand he wants make fun of those who stand by, not calling him out on his actions, but where is the line between politeness and indifference?

While I think it is great that Borat can expose the hatred found among some people, what is done after that has happened? After appearing in the film, have they changed their views? Should they? It seemed that showing people with the same anti-Semitic view held by Borat would create a sense of comfort among the people who shared those views, not challenge those views. Americans have for years come across as stupid and ignorant. I doubt that those who appeared in the film will change their views, though some may be a bit embarrassed about having them seen and heard in a movie. What was expected of those who watched the movie? People who watched the movie might laugh at those in the film who hold those views but do they really care? Will they do something if they hear people on the street who hold those views, or simply laugh?

# posted by Jennifer Russell @ 9:49 PM