Perpetuating Stereotypes

Rating: 1/10 (4 November 2006)

How would Americans, particularly American movie critics, react to this film if it featured a Muslim man perpetuating the most offensive of Jewish stereotypes? Or if it showed a white man making fun of the black community, using clichés we haven't seen since the 1950s? Because that's what "Borat" is to the people of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Particularly to the poor people of those regions.
This movie exposes a lot of bigotry, both intentionally and unintentionally. From the film, I have learned that some Americans are insensitive to ridicule aimed at Jewish people. And from the reaction to the film, I have learned that almost all Americans are insensitive to ridicule targeting the Third World. But maybe it's all good. Maybe we all just need to lighten up, right? You make fun of me, I make fun of you, we make our jokes as offensive and hurtful as possible, laugh and move on. No harm done. But I think we've learned, from our own history, that it can do harm, which is why I find the enthusiastic reviews for this movie puzzling. Not to mention hypocritical.