Borat

[twirlgrrl]

I've been seeing a bit of chat about the Borat movie, how racist it is, how it just gives white people a reason to feel smug and distance themselves from the ugliness portrayed in the film, how his targets were too easy or too easily led, etc. I'd love to hear your opinion. Mine:

I actually really like his sort of humor-cum-activism. It gives me ammo when people say "Oh, racism isn't a problem in this country anymore." Same is true for other -isms, actually. I watched it in a theater in podunk America--the place was nearly deserted, but still, everyone but us was completely squicked by the naked wrestling scene. I was laughing SO hard, but I could hear everyone else groaning and yelling. The audience was essentially "Borat-ed" then, by dint of their extreme reaction to seeing two naked men in physical contact. Reminded me of when I saw The Birdcage in a conservative part of California--in the first scene, when Robin Williams' character gave his movie-son a quick kiss on the cheek, the entire audience groaned and yelled "GROSS!"

I don't really buy the whole racism-against-Kazakhstan argument either. The idea is that Borat represents very much the Other, the Non-Western. By and large, Americans don't know enough about geography and history to locate, describe, or even remember the name of the actual country he's supposedly from. And those who do will understand it's not remotely a true representation.

Much of it was just plain goofy/stupid, of course. But I've never minded that in and of itself.

Comments

[ninjalie.livejournal.com]

hah I ssaw the movie on opening night and went back to see it again because it was so funny. I loved it I laughed the whole time and everyone in the theatre with me laughed the whole time as well. I think the only time anyone was grossed out was during the scene with the balls in the face but heh I don't think you have to be a homophobe to be grossed out by that. It was great and I think that the more we open up and laugh about the social issues in this country the less power they have.

[tellinellen.livejournal.com]

your point about kazakhstan is almost exaktly what mikhael said to me!