Anyone else think the ‘Horton hears a Who’ domestic violence joke in Family Guy tonight was disgusting, or is it just me?
I consder myself a fan of the show and can normally laugh at the questionable or cringeworthy stuff because its usually couched in actual jokes based on unprovable stereotypes (that in most cases are intended to take the piss out of the stereotype itself).
This one was just in bad taste. There is no humor in the issue ‘joke’ ineptly referenced.
What does anyone else think?
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2008.
I stopped watching that lame ass show when they started making pedo and bestiality jokes. No matter what context those jokes are made in, they still aren’t funny.
You watch Family Guy and were offended by the domestic violence joke? So what do you find funny on Family Guy? Is it the homophobic jokes, the racial jokes, the handicap jokes? I mean, if your are a watcher of Family Guy then you would know that taboo is the name of the game. Nothing is off limits. People can find humor in the most of darkest places.
i agree with ya completely ….i even said to my bf that was really awkward not even funny….it could have been just a little less detailed and it would have slipped under the radar but there was no need of it ….
I’m sorry but joking about taboo or touchy subjects is pretty much the basis of Family Guy. It gets everything out in the open via delightfully witty dialogue! If you find any of it offensive, don’t watch it…stick to the Simpsons, much less controversial. 🙂
OP here. Tommyboy, in my post I said that most of the really bad jokes are based on stereotypes that saavy people know to be untrue or unprovable. As such, its easy to laugh at them. That’s the point of the show IMO.There is no stereoytpe surrounding domestic abuse that justifies it being made fun of. If FG aired a scene wherein the old pedophile dude was heard (say, through a wall) raping a little boy would you be able to defend it? Worse, would you think it was funny?Stop and use your brain; just because something is broadcast on a show where there are supposedly no limits doesn’t mean you should blindly accept it as funny if it is offered as humor. I guess if you really did find it funny then that’s your issue…so do you think it was funny and why?
Seems to me that Family Guy has succeeded in challenging someone’s moral code and made them think about where they draw their lines between what’s funny and what’s offensive. I think Seth McFarlane would be pleased to know that.
“Use the force Luke, or your brain and give it a shake”. Yes it was in bad taste. But c’mon! It was “Horton Hears a Who” for christ’s sake, that is what made it a bit funny. If you don’t “get” the show, then don’t watch it.
I thought it was funny because no one was actually getting beat up because it’s a cartoon, so it’s OK to laugh at a fake fight. I also think it’s funny when cartoon elephants from my childhood are put in awkward adult situations. I also think it was a good scence because it made me think about how many people actually DO what Horton did and ignore domestic violence that happens in the next apt. All in all…good stuff. Everone has buttons. I think the pedophile jokes go too far and stopped being funny for me a while ago. When you push boundries of decency, you are sure to cross over once in a while. Forgive the occasional “too far” joke and you are still left with a quality comedy show.
If you “get” the show then explain it to me. Further, you failed to answer the question I asked you.You say it was a “bit” funny, but why (other than the inclusion of Dr. Suess’ character)? Why is it funny?
It was uncomfortably funny on a couple of different levels. First, as Miles pointed out, it shows a cartoon character from your childhood in an awkward adult situation. Second it exposed the normally unspoken “elephant in the room” that many many otherwise good people do indeed ignore domestic abuse all the time because they “don’t want to get involved”. It did what FG and South Park both do best, and pointed a finger at hypocrisy of our so-called evolved society that still lets this sort of thing go unreported.I was personally more grossed out by Stewie’s apparently sexually motivated stroking of Brian’s gums and then sticking his finger in his mouth with a shiver. Creepy.
Holy fuck Luke are you for real? Yes that is what I’m saying, that domestic violence is fucking hilarious! Is that what you wanna hear? You’re an idiot.
Here’s a slight twist Luke. It wasn’t making fun of domestic violence. It was ripping a new one for the people who ignore it. Like Miles already pointed out. I’m just really into repeating Miles today.
I think that while Family Guy has its moments of actually being funny, most of it has come down to taking a joke, and going too far with it so that it’s no longer funny. Either they let the joke run for like 3 minutes, which in TV time is way too long, or they just take it too far in content. The worst part of the show for me is that they use really controversial subjects to cover up the underlying prejudices they put in every show. Both FG and American Dad are extremely sexist, in that the dominaant male character is always the focus, always comes out on top and is constantly encouraging anti-female behaviours. The female characters are there for looks, to serve, and be belittled and actually beat on by their male counterparts.You may say, well Peter is shown as a fat, stupid slob, so men aren’t being treated any better, but you rarely see Peter in an inferior position to either Lois or Meg. He is rewarded for being fat dumb and lazy.Its these underlying behaviours in every show that are rubbing off on young kids, making boys think its ok to treat women badly, and girls think they’re inferior and that its normal to be treated badly.
I agree with Jammie.Luke, of course no one thinks REAL domestic violence is funny. No one probably thinks REAL pedophiles or racists are funny either. The point of comedy is to offer interesting takes on reality. Sometimes that happens by putting funny characters, like Horton, in unusual and unexpected situations, like witnessing domestic violence. It wouldn’t have been funny if Horton just picked up the phone and dialed 911….that would be a public service announcement. It may have been funny if horton, busted down the wall and strangled the abuser with his trunk and then got laid by his grateful spouse. That could have worked too, but I guess violence of any sort is wrong and shouldn’t be laughed at.
it made you stop and have your mouth drop open thats what made it funnybut thats family guy pushing the limits