Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk Writer Dana Schwartz: “It Seems Impossible To Overstate The Cultural Damage Done By South Park”
Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk writer Dana Schwartz took to Twitter to criticize Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s South Park claiming “it seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by South Park.”
Schwartz wrote, “In retrospect, it seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by SOUTH PARK, the show that portrayed earnestness as the only sin and taught that mockery is the ultimate inoculation against all criticism.”
In retrospect, it seems impossible to overstate the cultural damage done by SOUTH PARK, the show that portrayed earnestness as the only sin and taught that mockery is the ultimate inoculation against all criticism
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
In subsequent tweets, Schwartz added, “Smugness is not the same as intelligence; provocation isn’t the same as bravery. The lesser of two evils aren’t the same.”
Smugness is not the same as intelligence; provocation isn’t the same as bravery. The lesser of two evils aren’t the same.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
She then claims that South Park is trying to reckon with her criticisms.
It seems lie South Park has been trying to reckon with this—I admit I haven’t been watching the show in recent seasons, but I’m fascinated to see this: https://t.co/xjdhGE514y
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
After criticizing the show, Schwartz revealed her main complaint was actually with fans of the show specifically the “boys” who watched it. She wrote, “to be clear, I don’t blame the show itself as much as I do the generation of boys who internalized it into their personalities. Which maybe isn’t the show’s fault!”
To be clear, I don’t blame the show itself as much as I do the generation of boys who internalized it into their personalities. Which maybe isn’t the show’s fault!
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
She elaborated writing, “My point was that South Park seemed to teach that it was cooler to be reactionary and contrarian, and anyone who criticizes anything is “offended” and that’s the *real* problem. Wonder if that’s the message these fans absorbed….”
My point was that South Park seemed to teach that it was always cooler to be reactionary and contrarian, and anyone who criticizes anything is “offended” and that’s the *real* problem. Wonder if that’s the message these fans absorbed…. pic.twitter.com/myccXjG3CN
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 14, 2020
She then took issue with the show for it’s no holds bar approach to criticism. Schwartz writes, “People saying “they make fun of everyone!!!” — that is my point. South Park IS a political show, but one whose message is: both sides are equally terrible so the only correct thing to do is nothing, while mocking it all from your position of intellectual superiority.”
People saying “they make fun of everyone!!!” — that is my point. South Park IS a political show, but one whose message is: both sides are equally terrible so the only correct thing to do is nothing, while mocking it all from your position of intellectual superiority.
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 14, 2020
In separate threads on Twitter, she would target South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker based on their wealth and skin color, “Matt and Trey are rich white guys and they convinced a generation of scared, vulnerable young men that irony will never hurt them.”
Matt and Trey are rich white guys and they convinced a generation of scared, vulnerable young men that irony will never hurt them. https://t.co/kXVAGLAaTd
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
Schwartz would continue to attack Parker and Stone with her main point being about their wealth.
She wrote, “You’re right. They mock anyone who cares about ANYTHING. And they present “mockery” as a worthwhile an ideological position when it’s really only stasis. Perfect for two rich white guys.”
You’re right. They mock anyone who cares about ANYTHING. And they present “mockery” as a worthwhile an ideological position when it’s really only stasis. Perfect for two rich white guys. https://t.co/r8HbWsPJeU
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
She then takes issue with the fact that South Park is a comedy instead of fixing the United States political system.
Schwartz writes, “Nope, the two part system IS a mess. But instead of proposing real solutions or putting in the work to make things better, SOUTH PARK decided the answer was making fun of anyone trying.”
Nope, the two party system IS a mess. But instead of proposing real solutions or putting in the work to make things better, SOUTH PARK decided the answer was making fun of anyone trying. https://t.co/zgIgeXgDwe
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
Related: Marvel Studios Announces She-Hulk, Moon Knight, and Ms. Marvel Shows for Disney+
She continues writing, “Not many cartoon comedies are as explicitly political as South Park, nor have they been as influential in shaping young viewer’s ideologies.”
Schwartz adds, “In that sense, I would argue that South Park actually DOES offer a solution, but their solution is just laughing at everything.”
Not many cartoon comedies are as explicitly political as South Park, nor have they been as influential in shaping young viewers’ ideologies.
In that sense, I would argue that South Park actually DOES offer a solution, but their solution is just laughing at everything. https://t.co/QZpbGKiyYU
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
Schwartz then claims the problem with laughing at everything is that it “is a privilege of people who have never faced systemic discrimination.”
Scwhartz writes, “Not taking anything too seriously is a privilege of people who have never faced systemic discrimination. Ironically, dismissing genuine issues as “people being offended” is pretty cowardly.”
Not taking anything too seriously is a privilege of people who have never faced systemic discrimination. Ironically, dismissing genuine issues as “people being offended” is pretty cowardly. https://t.co/Lvc0rWPKsP
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
Interestingly enough, Schwartz didn’t apply her own criticism to herself as she mocked those who criticized her take on South Park.
If you are offended by this tweet I’m sorry you’re so easily triggered!!!!!!!!
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 13, 2020
Related: Graphic Artist Imagines The Mandalorian Star Gina Carano as She-Hulk
These tweets do not bode well at all for Marvel Studios upcoming She-Hulk series. Schwartz makes it very clear in her criticism of South Park that shows should be solving real or at the very least perceived real world problems rather than being entertainment or escapism.
She also seems to have major issues with men, and specifically white men, as she makes sure to include that multiple times in her criticism of South Park.
Not only that, but over the past couple of years, she’s also expressed that she has an issue with men in other tweets.
For some reason I keep thinking about all the guys in 2016 who hated Hillary and told me, “I would LOVE a female president, I wish Elizabeth Warren was running!”
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 12, 2020
Some of the worst men I’ve ever encountered are nerds who didn’t get girls when they were younger, then became successful and now see them as commodities they’re entitled to
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) June 15, 2018
If you’re a guy who’s mad that he can’t “flirt” anymore:
how about instead of getting mad at women, you get mad about the men who abused “flirting” to turn it into assault and rape
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) July 12, 2018
Related: She-Hulk Rumor: The Abomination and The Leader to be Featured Villains
The bar for men is on the ground. https://t.co/F1ulOwEOMf
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) February 9, 2019
ME: I enjoyed this movie!!!!
5,000 MEN ON TWITTER WITH ANIME AVATARS: incorrect clearly you need to watch the youtube video that explains why you actually did not enjoy it
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) October 11, 2019
Have you MET most men under 30? https://t.co/lM0Yj26iIk
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) March 29, 2019
Related: Rumor: She-Hulk to Appear in MCU in Spider-Man 3
She’s also seems to have odd opinions about conservative men.
Conservatives are so weird about sex. It’s somehow either a magical gift from god directly to the marriage bed, or a sanitized economic good that must be doled out like vitamins lest men go on murder sprees
— Dana Schwartz (@DanaSchwartzzz) May 2, 2018
What do you make of She-Hulk writer Dana Schwartz’s criticism of South Park? Does it make any sense? Do you think this bodes ill for the upcoming She-Hulk series?
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