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I think this is a very uncharitable interpretation of the people who get “duped” by Borat. They’re racist because they don’t immediately suspect this strange pe
by jquery 6y ago
I think this is a very uncharitable interpretation of the people who get “duped” by Borat. They’re racist because they don’t immediately suspect this strange person is actually an actor? Even when they do, that gets edited out. What exactly about American behavior would you have change that would make a Borat-like film impossible?
IIRC Ali G was originally filmed in Britain and the same sorts of antics were pulled off easily... I don’t think “going along to get along” is unique to Americans, although as a multicultural country I am sure we have a bit more than average.
- erulabs 6y agoFor sure the reasonable responses are edited out - It would take one hell of a world to make a Borat-like film _impossible_ - but that doesn't mean the current one isn't effective. I'm not sure I'd _change_ anything, but Borat is a tour-de-force in speaking up when you see something questionable or ridiculous. Ali G is the same way - you'd have to think street kids are absolutely insane if you can look at Ali G and try to keep a straight face. To take Ali G seriously is the same as admitting you have no idea whatsoever what the youth culture looks like.
- jquery 6y ago> speaking up when you see something questionable or ridiculous. I wish this was encouraged more, but unfortunately our society is moving in the opposite direction. Speaking up gets you labeled as a malcontent, at best, unless it’s of the “50 Stalins”[1] variety of critique. https://sanerthanlasagna.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/50-stalins/ https://sanerthanlasagna.wordpress.com/2016/02/01/50-stalins...