Quiz 9: The F Word

In the South Park episode titled "The F Word", ontological postmodernism is displayed. This episode is about how they use the word "fag". The kids use the term not as a way to describe people for being homosexual which, in our society, is viewed as being negative, but instead are using it as a way to talk about hypermasculine bikers and used the word almost casually. It is ontological because it is a state of being and the word is being used as a performance. The word, in this episode" is used so casually that it has no true meaning anymore. With using this negative word and using it to describe hypermasculinity, it makes the word have no meaning anymore. It becomes just a word.

Guido's

Guido's have become the latest ontological postmodernism craze. "Guido" originally was a word that described working-class Italian-Americans, but is now that label for ultra masculine Italian males who abuse steroids, have blow-out hair cuts, wear tight studded shirts with chains to match, and who's attitude/habits consist of fist-pumping in the clubs, working out, and fighting anyone who effects them in any way. The fad was paved the way by MTV's Jersey Shore and has been know to cause controversy in the Italian communities.

"Ginger Kids"

"Ginger Kids" is an episode of South Park that deals with identity and the fear of minorities. Since gingers were the minority in south park, they were seen as enemy and were even related to vampires and called "day walkers". This is relevant to real life for the fact that when you are in the majority you often create misconceptions about the minority, because ginger kids are obviously not vampires.

"The F Word"

South Park always deals with important issues that are relevant in todays culture and the episode "The F Word" is no different. This episode deals with the postmodernist approach to the word fag. Instead of having the old meaning as a derogatory word for homosexuals, the word fag takes on the complete opposite meaning for someone who is a biker and overly manly. This causes the word fag not to be offensive to gays what so ever and henceforth changing its original purpose and meaning.

"The F Word"

The South Park episode "The F Word" displays ontology of postmodernism to critique homosexuality by excessively using the term "fag." Although "fag" has been used to describe many things, it is associated with a negative meaning. Up until recently "fag" has been used to categorize homosexuals. But South Park is showing the social shift being made by youth today to use the term with not a homosexual association, but rather to describe something they don't like. And since the term "fag" has flexible usage, it is an ideal example of postmodernism ontology in the case of "masculine" Harley riders.

The F Word

In the South Park episode entitled "The F Word" the show uses an ontology of postmodernism regarding the word "fag." This word is normally used as a derogatory term towards homosexuals, but the show applies postmodernism and instead makes fun of this by using the word in a different context and calling the overly-masculine biker a "fag."

This removes the negative connotation associating the word with homoesexuality and makes the word almost meaningless. Therefore, the definition of the word is practically removed, and it becomes nothing more than a word.

Gangsters

The term "gangster" has many different meanings. The meaning of a gangster has definitely changed over the course of time.The terms "gangster" and "mobster" are mostly used in the United States to refer to members of criminal organizations associated with Prohibition or with an American offshoot of the Italian mafia. Gangsters were often depicted in many American films such as The Godfather and even TV series such as The Sopranos. However, in today's society the term is commonly used by rappers in songs and is even a word that young teenage boys use to describe their style. A gangster today is stereotypically someone who wears baggy clothes, chains, and portrays a "ghetto" sense of style which in reality is kind of absurd and means nothing. There is not true meaning for this word, when someone today says they are "gangster" they are using a word with vague meaning to perform a specific identity.