Of course, not everyone might appreciate the jokes the show uses towards the vets or the memorials, but most are willing to let it slide due to the nihilistic style the show represents. Yet it does two distinct things to benefit these landmarks. The first is that it is interesting to watch clips like these because to a degree, it actually helps the memorials stand out. You might have heard of the memorials before going to Washington and seeing them in person, but many more people have not. I remember that before we read Maya Lin's recollections about designing the Vietnam memorial, I had never even heard of the landmark before. Then I remembered; wait a minute, yes I have, in that one Family Guy episode. The second is that making fun of something is a way that helps people move on from the experience. People were concerned with making light of JFK, when he was assassinated. Then it was Vietnam. Recently, 9/11 and the Afghan/Iraq war. Yet it is important to put issues like these in the past for people, so that they can move on in their lives, which is exactly what the purpose of memorials are for.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Post for Week 8: Memorials
This week we discussed memorials, aside from the presidential campaign. Memorials are a big part of letting people remember and move on from large scale tragedies, such as war, terrorist attacks, plagues, etc. They are important landmarks for a nation or culture, whether you support them or not. They are also sometimes of the topic of jokes in various forms.
This is a clip from popular animation, Family Guy, where the characters visit Washington DC and pass by the various memorials. The first memorials they pass are the Washington Memorial, to which they create a fictitious Obama Memorial that is the same as the white memorial, but far larger, a joke on men's genitalia. The second involves the Vietnam Memorial, where a Vietnamese is mocking the veterans who are paying their respects.
Of course, not everyone might appreciate the jokes the show uses towards the vets or the memorials, but most are willing to let it slide due to the nihilistic style the show represents. Yet it does two distinct things to benefit these landmarks. The first is that it is interesting to watch clips like these because to a degree, it actually helps the memorials stand out. You might have heard of the memorials before going to Washington and seeing them in person, but many more people have not. I remember that before we read Maya Lin's recollections about designing the Vietnam memorial, I had never even heard of the landmark before. Then I remembered; wait a minute, yes I have, in that one Family Guy episode. The second is that making fun of something is a way that helps people move on from the experience. People were concerned with making light of JFK, when he was assassinated. Then it was Vietnam. Recently, 9/11 and the Afghan/Iraq war. Yet it is important to put issues like these in the past for people, so that they can move on in their lives, which is exactly what the purpose of memorials are for.
Of course, not everyone might appreciate the jokes the show uses towards the vets or the memorials, but most are willing to let it slide due to the nihilistic style the show represents. Yet it does two distinct things to benefit these landmarks. The first is that it is interesting to watch clips like these because to a degree, it actually helps the memorials stand out. You might have heard of the memorials before going to Washington and seeing them in person, but many more people have not. I remember that before we read Maya Lin's recollections about designing the Vietnam memorial, I had never even heard of the landmark before. Then I remembered; wait a minute, yes I have, in that one Family Guy episode. The second is that making fun of something is a way that helps people move on from the experience. People were concerned with making light of JFK, when he was assassinated. Then it was Vietnam. Recently, 9/11 and the Afghan/Iraq war. Yet it is important to put issues like these in the past for people, so that they can move on in their lives, which is exactly what the purpose of memorials are for.
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This is a good point about humor, but I must admit, I find this clip of Family guy baffling - it is patently offensive. I wonder what would happen if this was done about 9/11 memorial - or perhaps the question is, could it have been done about the 9/11 memorial. And if not, why not?
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