Sasha Baron Cohen | Harmless Fun or Criminally Offensive

[Smoke]

I'm not a fan at all. I hated Ali G and fell asleep during Borat.

As for Eminem, he may be a jerk but he's an immensely talented jerk, and I'll overlook a lot if you're talented enough.
If SBC has any talent, he's hiding it well. His humor strikes me as unfunny and (sorry Don) adolescent.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

No... but to deem him a loser because you think he's offensive, in my opinion, says you missed the point, regardless of whether or not you think it's funny.

To be honest I don't think his point is to be funny at all, I think he enjoys hurting people. Nobody has said that the people he fools weren't hurt, only that they deserved it. Whether they deserved it or not, the fact that Cohen enjoys other peoples pain is offensive to me and yes, I think he is a loser because of it.

 

[Circle_One]

I'm not a fan at all. I hated Ali G and fell asleep during Borat.

As for Eminem, he may be a jerk but he's an immensely talented jerk, and I'll overlook a lot if you're talented enough.
If SBC has any talent, he's hiding it well. His humor strikes me as unfunny and (sorry Don) adolescent.

I agree one hundred percent with all of this. I find SBC extremely unfunny. I got through ten minutes of Borat before turning it off with a roll of my eyes. He drives me completely nuts.

I also agree with Eminem being a jerk, and an incredibly talented one.

 

[Caladan]

And... if I'm not mistaken, the movie did incredibly well in Kazakhstan.

Heh, some say that Borat has placed Kazakhstan on the map.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Heh, some say that Borat has placed Kazakhstan on the map.

Yeah, sad that Borat rates so far above the Cosmodrome.

 

[Caladan]

Yeah, sad that Borat rates so far above the Cosmodrome.

Arent you making the Kazakhs seem much more fragile and sensitive than they really are?

Americans in general wouldnt know where Kazakhstan is located, let alone hear about the Cosmodrome. in that regard Borat has educated millions.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Arent you making the Kazakhs seem much more fragile and sensitive than they really are?

Americans in general wouldnt know where Kazakhstan is located, let alone hear about the Cosmodrome. in that regard Borat has educated millions.

Why does me being sad that Borat gets more press than the Cosmodrome equate to Kazakhs being too fragile and sensitive? :sarcastic Maybe I'm just a space nerd but I had heard about the Cosmodrome ages before Cohen was around.

 

[Caladan]

Why does me being sad that Borat gets more press than the Cosmodrome equate to Kazakhs being too fragile and sensitive? :sarcastic Maybe I'm just a space nerd but I had heard about the Cosmodrome ages before Cohen was around.

Being that you grew up during the space race, thats hardly surprising.

and you do seem to play advocate to the Kazakhs, personally I dont think there is a need. the Kazakh administration might be making a mockery out of their nation by their obsessive defensive attitude against Cohen, but im sure many of the average Kazakhs got over real quick.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

Being that you grew up during the space race, thats hardly surprising.

Are you saying I'm old? I resemble that remark!

and you do seem to play advocate to the Kazakhs, personally I dont think there is a need. the Kazakh administration might be making a mockery out of their nation by their obsessive defensive attitude against Cohen, but im sure many of the average Kazakhs got over real quick.

I do feel a bit closer to the Kazakh issue because of my time over there, I admit that. Borat felt like a personal insult to my friends, they don't need my defense but that doesn't change the fact that I don't like my friends being spit on.

 

[Caladan]

Are you saying I'm old? I resemble that remark!

No, just that you grew up during decades of witnessing remarkable things [/dodge]

I do feel a bit closer to the Kazakh issue because of my time over there, I admit that. Borat felt like a personal insult to my friends, they don't need my defense but that doesn't change the fact that I don't like my friends being spit on.

well I understand what you're saying. but realistically, there are so many groups and cultures who are insulted on daily basis, that im positive that many have a thick enough skin.
you know, there's a trend among third generation Israelis to voice holocaust-jokes in chain, I mostly resent that, but im learning to accept it to the point of making some myself. keep in mind that many of us come from families of holocaust survivors.
what im saying is that 99% of comedy material around the world is focused on humilation and the poor state of others. and if the target of comedy is taking it too seriously, it only makes it worse.

 

[monta]

I am a fan of SBC and I still think he went too far, if it was country that was stongly represented in the worlds consciousness it would be different but when the film first came out it did feel to me like the rich kid picking on the poorer kid for being poor, if it hadn't have been a predominantly Muslim country I wonder if people would have been as tolerant of his victimisation.

Kazachstan is not a rich or powerful country and I still think it wouldn't have made any difference to have fictional country in it's place, I get he was showcasing peoples stereotypical view of Eastern Europe and Muslim countries, but it was done with obvious glee and made me very uncomfortable.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

what im saying is that 99% of comedy material around the world is focused on humilation and the poor state of others. and if the target of comedy is taking it too seriously, it only makes it worse.

I get that, but I also think it's important to speak up when someone crosses the line, if for no other reason than to point out that some people don't appreciate it. Also, if taking the comedy too seriously makes it worse, then why do I have to go to yearly sensitivity classes? These are mostly race and gender based, should blacks and women just shut up and deal with it? It's just a joke after all.

Nice dodge by the way. :yes:

 

[Don Penguinoini]

Heh, some say that Borat has placed Kazakhstan on the map.

So true!

 

[Nepenthe]

I don't think SBC's characters are bullies at all. SBC places himself in real situations and simply gives the unwitting participants plenty of rope to hang themselves. The subjects of his humor are really hoisted by their own petard; SBC simply gives them the match and they themselves light the fuse.

I think Borat's portratal of Kazakhstan was a brilliant parody of how Western Europe sees Eastern Europe: degenrate inbred hicks that are undeserving of EU confirmation. It's the same humor that SBC, a practicing Jew, uses to portray Borat as a moronic anti-semite. It's humor meant to expose hypocrisy and ignorance. It's funny, and it works. I wouldn't defend SBC so emphatically if he weren't willing to subject himself to the same degree of humiliating humor. He places himself in actual physical danger and humiliates himself far more than anyone else in the Borat film (except maybe his producer). I don't think SBC would subject anyone to anything he himself wouldn't also find funny.

Humor works best when it's biting, offensive, and exposes you to an aspect of your culture you aren't comfortable confronting. Dr. Strangelove is funny because it's uncomfortable and bleak and portrays the U.S. military as dangerously incompetent; the Simpsons is (was) brilliant satire when it held up a mirror to the stupidity of American culture while paradoxically celebrating the unique bond between married couples and their children; the South Park movie is hilarious because it tackles big issues like censorship and racism and war and never allows the viewer to be comfortable with what they're watching. Discomfort is funny.

And I think it's fairly well established at this point that the Marshall Bruce Mathers III/Bruno incident was well rehearsed and staged. I can't think of anyone less talented than Eminem more deserving of the attention from Bruno anyway.

 

[Enoch07]

Well I am a fan of Sacha Baron Cohen. I loved his Ali-G show when I was living in Europe, and I bought a copy of Borat the day it was released here. I am also a fan of Eminem. If it was not staged, which I think in all likely hood it was...........Then Eminem's delicate sensibilities are just way too delicate. As much as he pokes fun at everyone else, he should be able to take a little heat himself. Sacha and Eminem hail from a brand of comedy where they make fun of any and everyone. I am sure both realize this about the other as well.

 

[Magic Man]

I generally can't stand him. I didn't like Borat at all, and it was quite painful at time. I haven't seen any of his other stuff, like the Ali-G stuff, but if it's the same sort of "comedy", I doubt I'd enjoy that either. I did like him in Talladega Nights, but that's because he was doing something that actually resembled comedy, rather than just making people very uncomfortable.

 

[Caladan]

I get that, but I also think it's important to speak up when someone crosses the line, if for no other reason than to point out that some people don't appreciate it.

Sure, people are always free to say what they do appreciate and what they dont, however, did Cohen really cross the line with his parody of Kazakhstan? I personally dont think so, it just gets better (or worse) as Kazakh elements get defensive and even make counter propaganda.

Also, if taking the comedy too seriously makes it worse, then why do I have to go to yearly sensitivity classes? These are mostly race and gender based, should blacks and women just shut up and deal with it? It's just a joke after all.

personally I believe there is a big difference between the cases, mainly because no one would dare insulting a black man if they want to finish the day, nor would they insult women, if they dont want to go to sleep hungry after surviving a hectic day
but seriously though, Kazakhstan is no longer a subjugated Soviet territory (at least not physically), its economy is building up, its status in central Asia is well established, Cohen shouldnt give them a run for their money, and if he does, then it gives credibility to his parody.

I have to say, that im bringing these points, despite the fact, that I have a hard time with many of Cohen's methods and scenes. despite his aggressive methods, he does pull off some priceless scenes, and only because he himself is willing to go to great lengths. he is willing to get burned just as much as his unsuspecting objects of satire.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

I have to say, that im bringing these points, despite the fact, that I have a hard time with many of Cohen's methods and scenes. despite his aggressive methods, he does pull off some priceless scenes, and only because he himself is willing to go to great lengths. he is willing to get burned just as much as his unsuspecting objects of satire.

I appreciate your position without agreeing with it. How very UU of me. While I take a personal dislike to the Kazakh elements of his humor because I consider the Kazakhs my friends, I still find the rest of his humor distasteful, bordering between disrespectful and spiteful. I truly think he enjoys the pain he inflicts and chooses the victims according to those he thinks he can get away with rather than any social agenda. He likes to see people squirm and enjoys their discomfort. I can't enjoy that kind of humor, no matter who its directed at.

 

[Caladan]

I truly think he enjoys the pain he inflicts and chooses the victims according to those he thinks he can get away with rather than any social agenda. He likes to see people squirm and enjoys their discomfort. I can't enjoy that kind of humor, no matter who its directed at.

I have to disagree, Cohen has made a spectacle out of a variety of racists, neo nazis, fundamentalists and otherwise different colorful mobs who could lynch him.
in his upcoming 'Bruno' movie there is a scene of Cohen making a run from ultra-ultra-orthodox Jews in one of the hardcore neighborhoods in Jerusalem.

 

[3.14]

personaly i think he's a retarded Mr Bean,

i can devecate on a fetus legaly, i might even get milliones of views from it, but there are just some line's you do not cross


yep thats one of them