Comments on: Borat Banned? http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/ Russia Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Sat, 17 Jul 2010 19:04:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Anonymous http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-932 Anonymous Thu, 16 Nov 2006 10:17:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-932 After seeing interviews of Borat by Jay Leno and Conan o'Brian in their respected TV-shows, I'm fully convinced that for the majority of US citizens this is a film that makes fun of Kazakhstan, not the US. Which is logical, otherwise it wouldn't get such high ratings in the US.<br />But I totally agree - Borat intentionally insults an existing country whether he has any knowledge of it or not. Sadly, most people (at least in US) will believe him and have this idiotic vision of Kazakhstan (and other countries of that area with similar names) throughout their life. Which is in any case how most Americans view foreign countries (third world?).<br /><br />Anonymous #2 After seeing interviews of Borat by Jay Leno and Conan o’Brian in their respected TV-shows, I’m fully convinced that for the majority of US citizens this is a film that makes fun of Kazakhstan, not the US. Which is logical, otherwise it wouldn’t get such high ratings in the US.
But I totally agree – Borat intentionally insults an existing country whether he has any knowledge of it or not. Sadly, most people (at least in US) will believe him and have this idiotic vision of Kazakhstan (and other countries of that area with similar names) throughout their life. Which is in any case how most Americans view foreign countries (third world?).

Anonymous #2

]]> By: Michael Averko http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-918 Michael Averko Sun, 12 Nov 2006 01:50:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-918 Wally:<br /> <br />Chappelle shows a knowledge of his ethnic targets. Much like All in the Family. Both are reasonably equal opportunity like in their jabs.<br /> <br />Borat doesn't do likewise (the knowledge part) vis-a-vis Kazakhstan. It's an unsophisticated "humor" which is especially insulting because it shows such an ignorance of the target.<br /> <br />I'm not familiar with the mentioned Z person.<br /> <br />There's some great ethnic humor (IMHO) at the link by my name in this post. Wally:

Chappelle shows a knowledge of his ethnic targets. Much like All in the Family. Both are reasonably equal opportunity like in their jabs.

Borat doesn’t do likewise (the knowledge part) vis-a-vis Kazakhstan. It’s an unsophisticated “humor” which is especially insulting because it shows such an ignorance of the target.

I’m not familiar with the mentioned Z person.

There’s some great ethnic humor (IMHO) at the link by my name in this post.

]]> By: W. Shedd http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-917 W. Shedd Sun, 12 Nov 2006 00:29:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-917 So Mike .. is Zadornov stupidly bigoted when he makes his jokes about the ignorance and obesity of Americans? Or is he just peddling Russian stereotypes (of Americans, Jews, and Russians) back to his audience? You've remarked on Dave Chappelle. I think much of his humor might also be considered bigoted, except for the fact he takes on whites, blacks, and himself. No target is safe.<br /><br />The fact is Borat only works in a vacuum of knowledge about Kazakhstan. And he uses that lack of knowledge to ridicule his unwitting straight men. The only thing I worry about is people taking his character of Borat too literally. Certainly some truly foolish people will not get 100% of the joke. But given the extent of media coverage on his character and the attention it has given Kazakhstan, I think that chance is greatly reduced.<br /><br />All comedy says more about the audience than the performers. Certainly you can make a case that Borat is a distant cousin to a minstrel show. The difference in my mind is that the "minstrel" is interacting with a live audience (as straight men) and the behavior of the live audience in itself becomes the comedy. So Mike .. is Zadornov stupidly bigoted when he makes his jokes about the ignorance and obesity of Americans? Or is he just peddling Russian stereotypes (of Americans, Jews, and Russians) back to his audience? You’ve remarked on Dave Chappelle. I think much of his humor might also be considered bigoted, except for the fact he takes on whites, blacks, and himself. No target is safe.

The fact is Borat only works in a vacuum of knowledge about Kazakhstan. And he uses that lack of knowledge to ridicule his unwitting straight men. The only thing I worry about is people taking his character of Borat too literally. Certainly some truly foolish people will not get 100% of the joke. But given the extent of media coverage on his character and the attention it has given Kazakhstan, I think that chance is greatly reduced.

All comedy says more about the audience than the performers. Certainly you can make a case that Borat is a distant cousin to a minstrel show. The difference in my mind is that the “minstrel” is interacting with a live audience (as straight men) and the behavior of the live audience in itself becomes the comedy.

]]> By: Michael Averko http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-916 Michael Averko Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:37:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-916 Let me add the continued and non-discussed English language mass media banning of Russocentric pundits.<br /><br />Pankin and Kagarlitsky are no Russocentric counterweights to the Gessens, Latyninas, Felgenhauers and Albats.<br /><br />I thank Global Voices and Russia Blog for carrying my latest article which can be accessed via the link at my name.<br /><br />Wondering why JRL and RP haven't picked it up (at least as of now). Let me add the continued and non-discussed English language mass media banning of Russocentric pundits.

Pankin and Kagarlitsky are no Russocentric counterweights to the Gessens, Latyninas, Felgenhauers and Albats.

I thank Global Voices and Russia Blog for carrying my latest article which can be accessed via the link at my name.

Wondering why JRL and RP haven’t picked it up (at least as of now).

]]> By: Michael Averko http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-915 Michael Averko Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:33:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-915 Some disagreement.<br /><br />Russia is supposedly becoming increasingly bigoted. So, the Russian government mutes (IMHO)a stupidly bigoted flick.<br /><br />I'm all for good, clean ethnic humor, which is intelligently fair.<br /><br />Borat shows little if any knowledge of his target (Kazakhstan). Come to think of it, Borat carries on like some in the American foreign policy establishment<br /><br />Much unlike Dave Chappelle and All in the Family. Some disagreement.

Russia is supposedly becoming increasingly bigoted. So, the Russian government mutes (IMHO)a stupidly bigoted flick.

I’m all for good, clean ethnic humor, which is intelligently fair.

Borat shows little if any knowledge of his target (Kazakhstan). Come to think of it, Borat carries on like some in the American foreign policy establishment

Much unlike Dave Chappelle and All in the Family.

]]> By: Sean Guillory http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-914 Sean Guillory Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:37:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-914 You're right Wally. All the people who think this is about Kazakhstan doesn't get it. It's really about ridiculing and satirizing Americans both in the movie and in the audience. The frat boys, set up or not, got caught with their true colors on display and now they are "offended."<br /><br />I happen to think that the movie and Borat in general is a great expose on American race and tolerance. You’re right Wally. All the people who think this is about Kazakhstan doesn’t get it. It’s really about ridiculing and satirizing Americans both in the movie and in the audience. The frat boys, set up or not, got caught with their true colors on display and now they are “offended.”

I happen to think that the movie and Borat in general is a great expose on American race and tolerance.

]]> By: W. Shedd http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-913 W. Shedd Fri, 10 Nov 2006 17:24:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-913 That frat boy case takes me back to my original point - who is spoofing who? Apparently the frat boys feel they are the joke. Frankly, I agree.<br /><br />And what is the harm in making fun of drunken, ignorant, conformist frat boys? That frat boy case takes me back to my original point – who is spoofing who? Apparently the frat boys feel they are the joke. Frankly, I agree.

And what is the harm in making fun of drunken, ignorant, conformist frat boys?

]]> By: Sean Guillory http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-912 Sean Guillory Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:25:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-912 I found Borat absolutely hilarious. I like this kind of guerrilla humor that is tradition of Andy Kaufman. Plus I have the sense of humor of a teenager. <br /><br />On whether the movie was officially banned or not, this is where I was confused. I read in some articles that Goskino gave recommendations and the distributor decided not to run the movie, while in others stated that Goskino didn't give a license for distribution. So yeah, I'm a bit confused as to what the real story is. I found Borat absolutely hilarious. I like this kind of guerrilla humor that is tradition of Andy Kaufman. Plus I have the sense of humor of a teenager.

On whether the movie was officially banned or not, this is where I was confused. I read in some articles that Goskino gave recommendations and the distributor decided not to run the movie, while in others stated that Goskino didn’t give a license for distribution. So yeah, I’m a bit confused as to what the real story is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-910 Anonymous Fri, 10 Nov 2006 11:11:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-910 Can anyone explain to me what is so interesting in this movie to seemingly intelligent people like you? Sorry, my sense of humour doesn't go below the waist line.<br /><br />Also, I heard Goskino can only give recommendations to film distributors, it has no rights to block or ban the releases. So I doubt there's any use to go to court.<br /><br />P.S. I'm not Kim, I'm Anonymous #2. :) Can anyone explain to me what is so interesting in this movie to seemingly intelligent people like you? Sorry, my sense of humour doesn’t go below the waist line.

Also, I heard Goskino can only give recommendations to film distributors, it has no rights to block or ban the releases. So I doubt there’s any use to go to court.

P.S. I’m not Kim, I’m Anonymous #2. :)

]]> By: johnnie b. baker http://seansrussiablog.org/2006/11/09/borat-banned/comment-page-1/#comment-909 johnnie b. baker Fri, 10 Nov 2006 08:11:00 +0000 http://seansrussiablog.org/?p=218#comment-909 Can't find the Borat DVD in Baku yet, though I already have Volver, The Departed, and the new Woody Allen (Scoop). So one of the first things I'm going to do after setting foot on American soil next week is head to the theater! Can’t find the Borat DVD in Baku yet, though I already have Volver, The Departed, and the new Woody Allen (Scoop). So one of the first things I’m going to do after setting foot on American soil next week is head to the theater!

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