seth macfarlane racist?

jonnyonenut · 06-11-2008, 07:06 PM

am i the only one who thinks seth macfarlane is getting more racist all the time?

Topanga · 06-12-2008, 05:16 AM

The show is definitely pushing the envelop on societal weaknesses but then so was the 1970s hit, "All In The Family" the show that Family Guy sort of mimics as with the opening credits. Both features a dysfunctional family with an ignoramus as a main character. I think the undercurrent of "Family Guy" is the same as "All In The Family" in that they are trying to show us just how ridiculous social ignorance and prejudices really are. We can laugh at Peter because we can see how inappropriate he is. When a person sees that it's wrong and it's inappropriate, that's a good thing.. its an issue of social awareness. It's when a person doesn't see it than we have a problem. Peter's character is right out there to the extreme so it's hard not to be aware of how truly stupid he is and through that awareness, we might just start to notice things about ourselves that require some work. I can't imagine that there are too many people, even those who are bigots, who think Peter Griffin is somebody they want to be like yet there are a lot of "Peter Griffins" out there who need a kick in the pants. We recognize them and place a low value on their attitude and opinion because we are shown just how ridiculous they are. Hopefully people will recognize the social inappropriateness of Peter Griffin's behavior and choose to be better than that.

jonnyonenut · 06-12-2008, 04:15 PM

i can appreciate what you're saying and i don't have a problem with anyone making fun of ignorant stereotypes which i think family guy used to do. now it seems like they just point them out, exaggerate them, and don't have a punch line so they move on.

Topanga · 06-12-2008, 05:17 PM

I guess I just don't think there always needs to be a punch line on the show because making fun of ignorance, intolerance and bigotry isn't necessarily a joke. The joke isn't what Peter is doing. The joke is Peter.

jonnyonenut · 06-12-2008, 06:14 PM

it's not all peter though they have brian, stewie, and others doing/saying racially insulting things and sometimes it has nothing to do with any of the regular characters or (what seems like) the rest of the script for the episode.

example: in one episode stewie gets hurt for some reason and right before he passes out he says something like "don't let me get a black doctor."

how is that taking a shot at ignorant beliefs or at all funny for that matter?

to me it just seems insulting.

Topanga · 06-13-2008, 06:49 AM

Did you think it was inappropriate that he said it? Yes? Then that's taking a shot at those types of ignorant beliefs and the people who have them. It's certainly insulting that people think that way but the fact is there are people out there who DO think that way. Family Guy takes a shot at them. If they didn't do it in a comedic way, then you'd just be watching Dateline or the evening news. This gets the point across, or at least tries to get the point across, in a medium people will watch. It's kind of like Schoolhouse Rock only it's a lesson on bigotry and hatred.

The fact that you're upset about it means the message is being received loud and clear. It's is shocking.. but that's the point. Those ideals are shocking.

imsaynn · 10-27-2009, 10:20 AM

Yeah, he is a racist and I think he should quite with the racist joke while he can! You don't need to offend a nation of people to make someone laugh with a "not-so-funny" joke. However as long as he is on Fox which is terribly racist he will have a job.

06-11-2008, 07:06 PM	#1
jonnyonenut Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3	seth macfarlane racist? am i the only one who thinks seth macfarlane is getting more racist all the time?

06-12-2008, 05:16 AM	#2
Topanga Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 345	The show is definitely pushing the envelop on societal weaknesses but then so was the 1970s hit, "All In The Family" the show that Family Guy sort of mimics as with the opening credits. Both features a dysfunctional family with an ignoramus as a main character. I think the undercurrent of "Family Guy" is the same as "All In The Family" in that they are trying to show us just how ridiculous social ignorance and prejudices really are. We can laugh at Peter because we can see how inappropriate he is. When a person sees that it's wrong and it's inappropriate, that's a good thing.. its an issue of social awareness. It's when a person doesn't see it than we have a problem. Peter's character is right out there to the extreme so it's hard not to be aware of how truly stupid he is and through that awareness, we might just start to notice things about ourselves that require some work. I can't imagine that there are too many people, even those who are bigots, who think Peter Griffin is somebody they want to be like yet there are a lot of "Peter Griffins" out there who need a kick in the pants. We recognize them and place a low value on their attitude and opinion because we are shown just how ridiculous they are. Hopefully people will recognize the social inappropriateness of Peter Griffin's behavior and choose to be better than that. Last edited by Topanga : 06-12-2008 at 05:18 AM. Reason: typo

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06-12-2008, 04:15 PM	#3
jonnyonenut Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3	i can appreciate what you're saying and i don't have a problem with anyone making fun of ignorant stereotypes which i think family guy used to do. now it seems like they just point them out, exaggerate them, and don't have a punch line so they move on.

06-12-2008, 05:17 PM	#4
Topanga Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 345	I guess I just don't think there always needs to be a punch line on the show because making fun of ignorance, intolerance and bigotry isn't necessarily a joke. The joke isn't what Peter is doing. The joke is Peter.

06-12-2008, 06:14 PM	#5
jonnyonenut Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 3	it's not all peter though they have brian, stewie, and others doing/saying racially insulting things and sometimes it has nothing to do with any of the regular characters or (what seems like) the rest of the script for the episode. example: in one episode stewie gets hurt for some reason and right before he passes out he says something like "don't let me get a black doctor." how is that taking a shot at ignorant beliefs or at all funny for that matter? to me it just seems insulting.

06-13-2008, 06:49 AM	#6
Topanga Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 345	Did you think it was inappropriate that he said it? Yes? Then that's taking a shot at those types of ignorant beliefs and the people who have them. It's certainly insulting that people think that way but the fact is there are people out there who DO think that way. Family Guy takes a shot at them. If they didn't do it in a comedic way, then you'd just be watching Dateline or the evening news. This gets the point across, or at least tries to get the point across, in a medium people will watch. It's kind of like Schoolhouse Rock only it's a lesson on bigotry and hatred. The fact that you're upset about it means the message is being received loud and clear. It's is shocking.. but that's the point. Those ideals are shocking.

10-27-2009, 10:20 AM	#7
imsaynn Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 1	Yeah, he is a racist and I think he should quite with the racist joke while he can! You don't need to offend a nation of people to make someone laugh with a "not-so-funny" joke. However as long as he is on Fox which is terribly racist he will have a job.