Fashioning the Body: Versions of the Citizen, the Self, and the Subject

I love watching South Park late on weeknights, and since we have discussed Brechtian theory, I have noticed how much South Park emulates the ideals of Brecht’s epic theatre. This especially hit home for me in an episode in which God is portrayed as a monster with fur and a hippo face with a snake tongue and a lion's tale. It pretty much got across the idea that our Occidental depictions of the abstract theory of God are ridiculous. For hundred of years God has been visualized as an aging old man with a white beard. Isn’t it just as silly to depict God as a man virtually on his deathbed as it is to make him into a strange, humorous monster? Without saying a word about the choice of depiction, a social subject was addressed by the animators. It is not just this one particular epidode; the creators of South Park seem to use Brechtian theory in many, if not all episodes.

I decided to research this online and see if I am the only person who feels this way. In doing so, I found that I am not alone. If you are interested, check out this website:

< http://storymind.com/dramatica/armando/17.htm>

I think it is awesome that Brecht is alive and well within entertainment!