Satire Expert Believes That ‘South Park’s True Goal Is a Trump Lawsuit

Donald Trump’s Wikipedia page has more references to lawsuits than the complete works of John Grisham. But for some reason, the overly-litigious Trump has yet to sue Trey Parker and Matt Stone, even after they’ve continued to ridicule the U.S. president and his microscopic manhood on a biweekly basis. 

While a lot of people would avoid engaging in a legal battle with the country’s commander-in-chief, at least one expert is suggesting that Parker and Stone may actually be courting such an experience. 

The Guardian recently spoke with Dr. Adam Smith from York St. John University’s Research Unit for the Study of Satire. According to their website, the YRUSOS “draws together researchers and satirists to historicise, problematise, theorise, teach and perform satire and satirical material,” and are endeavoring to “lead a national conversation about the form, function and future of satire.”

On the subject of the most recent season of South Park, Smith argued that cartoons, unlike live-action, can communicate their message in a “split second.” And he observed that the show’s previous attempt to satirize Trump through the character of Mr. Garrison, rather than an explicit Trump caricature, was a more “traditional” form of mockery that can be traced back to the 1700s.

“A lot of satire as we understand it today relies on allegory or double entendre,” Smith explained. “This evolved in the 18th century in response to libel laws. It’s a way to critique the thing without being prosecuted for the thing.”

But now, with Trump 2.0 (who is, technically, Trump 4.0) South Park isn’t obfuscating their satirical target in any way. Not only is the character literally named “Donald Trump,” his face is animated using real-life photos of Trump, including his mugshot. Sure, this is a callback to how the show depicted Saddam Hussein back in the ‘90s, but it’s also very possibly part of a concerted effort to provoke the real guy. 

“What they’re doing now is the opposite of how satire normally works,” Smith noted. “It’s almost like they’re trying to get prosecuted, isn’t it? The satirical act of this new series is the baiting of Donald Trump. If they can get the president of the free world to try to sue them, it reveals that he’s not got a good sense of humour. It reveals he’s petty. It reveals that he’s ridiculous. So the critique will actually be in the way he responds.”

Obviously this wouldn't be the first time that Parker and Stone have dared someone to sue them, lest we forget how the Scientology-skewering episode "Trapped in the Closet” ended.  

Trump, so far, has yet to threaten any legal action, possibly because he doesn’t want to be deposed about cartoon micropenises in open court. But Smith’s theory that the show’s “critique” is partly defined by real world responses has been borne out so far by the right’s awkward attempts to both smear and co-opt South Park’s messaging.

Which has been almost as entertaining as the show itself, to be honest.