Editing South Park (section)

==Premise==
===Setting and characters===
{{Main|List of South Park characters|l1=List of ''South Park'' characters}}
''South Park'' centers around four boys: [[Stan Marsh]], [[Kyle Broflovski]], [[Eric Cartman]] and [[Kenny McCormick]]. The boys live in the [[List of fictional towns in animation|fictional small town]] of South Park, located within the real-life [[South Park (Park County, Colorado)|South Park basin]] in the [[Rocky Mountains]] of central [[Colorado]],<ref name="statesman">{{cite news|first=Eric|last= Griffiths|title=Young offenders|work=[[New Statesman]]|date=June 21, 2007|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/books/2007/06/south-park-sex-studies|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627133812/https://www.newstatesman.com/books/2007/06/south-park-sex-studies|archive-date=June 27, 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> approximately a one-hour drive from [[Denver]].<ref>{{cite episode|title=[[City People]]|series=South Park|season=25|number=3|airdate=February 16, 2022|network=[[Comedy Central]]|quote=We're up in the mountains, about an hour from Denver.}}</ref> The town is also home to an assortment of other characters, including [[List of students at South Park Elementary|students]], [[List of South Park families|families]], [[List of staff at South Park Elementary|elementary school staff]], and other [[List of South Park residents|various residents]].<ref name="nytimesmorals">{{cite news|last=Heffernan|first=Virginia|title=Critic's Notebook; What? Morals in 'South Park'?|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 28, 2004|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/critic-s-notebook-what-morals-in-south-park.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=January 17, 2012|archive-date=November 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116002847/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/28/arts/critic-s-notebook-what-morals-in-south-park.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}}</ref> Prominent settings include South Park Elementary, various neighborhoods and the surrounding mountain range, actual Colorado landmarks, and the businesses along the town's main street, all of which are based on the appearance of similar locations in [[Fairplay, Colorado]].<ref name="statesman"/><ref name="nytimesmorals"/> As one of the few television programs set in the [[Mountain states|Mountain West]] region that takes place outside the urban core of Denver, ''South Park'' frequently features the unique culture of the region, including cattle ranchers, Old West theme parks, snowy climates, mountaineering, [[Mormons]], real-life Colorado locations such as [[Casa Bonita]] and [[Cave of the Winds (Colorado)|Cave of the Winds]], and many other regionally specific characteristics.

Stan is portrayed as an average American boy; however, he has many mishaps throughout the series. In the first 22 seasons, Stan lived in South Park, but in the episodes during and after [[South Park season 22|season 22]], Stan resided in Tegridy Farms. Kyle is [[American Jews|Jewish]], and his portrayal as one of the few such people in South Park is often dealt with satirically.<ref name="growsup2">{{cite magazine |author=Jaime J. Weinman |date=March 12, 2008 |title=South Park grows up |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131 |magazine=Maclean's |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321172805/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/entertainment/article.jsp?content=20080312_115131_115131 |archive-date=March 21, 2008 |access-date=October 24, 2010}}</ref> Stan is modeled after Parker, while Kyle is modeled after Stone. They are best friends, and their friendship, symbolically intended to reflect Parker and Stone's friendship,<ref name="time">{{cite news|author1=Jeffrey Ressner  |author2=James Collins |name-list-style=amp |title=Gross And Grosser|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=March 23, 1998|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,988028-2,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090821033347/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,988028,00.html|archive-date=August 21, 2009|url-status=live  |access-date=February 21, 2022}}</ref> is a common topic throughout the series. Cartman (as he is commonly referred to) is amoral and increasingly [[psychopathy|psychopathic]], and is commonly portrayed as an [[antagonist]]. His staunch [[antisemitism]] has resulted in a progressive rivalry with Kyle.<ref name="growsup2" /><ref name="NPR">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|title=Eric Cartman: America's Favorite Little $@#&*%|access-date=October 25, 2008|last=Rovner|first=Julie|date=April 5, 2008|work=[[NPR]]|archive-date=May 24, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524070427/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89375695|url-status=live}}</ref> Kenny, who comes from a poor family, tightly wears his [[parka]] hood to the point where it obscures most of his face and muffles his speech. During the first five seasons, Kenny died in almost every episode before reappearing in the next with no definite explanation. He was killed off in the [[South Park (season 5)|fifth season]] episode "[[Kenny Dies]]", before being reintroduced in the sixth season finale, "[[Red Sleigh Down]]". Since then, Kenny is depicted as dying sporadically. During the first 58 episodes, the children were in the [[third grade]]. During the [[South Park (season 4)|fourth season]], they entered the [[fourth grade]], where they have remained ever since.<ref name="faq-11jan2005">{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/354077 |title=FAQ: When will the boys be in the fifth grades? |date=January 11, 2005 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308071721/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/354077 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref><ref name="faq-8oct2008">{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/fans/faq/354892 |title=FAQ: Are the boys still in 4th grade? |date=October 8, 2008 |publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308071258/http://www.southparkstudios.com/fans/faq/354892 |archive-date=March 8, 2012 }}</ref>

Plots are often set in motion by events, ranging from the fairly typical to the supernatural and extraordinary, which frequently happen in the town.<ref name="whois">{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980522/kyle.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815135956/http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980522/kyle.shtml |archive-date=August 15, 2012 |title=Who is Andrew Philip Kyle? |access-date=February 4, 2009 |author=Raphael, Rebecca |date=May 22, 1998 |work=[[New Voices (magazine)|New Voices]] |url-status=dead }}</ref> The boys often act as the voice of reason when these events cause panic or incongruous behavior among the adult populace, who are customarily depicted as irrational, gullible, and prone to overreaction.<ref name="statesman"/><ref name="cornell">{{cite news|author=William Cohen |title=Respect Its Authoritah! |work=[[The Cornell Review]] |date=November 4, 2005 |url=http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100129195812/http://www.cornellamerican.com/article/109/print/ |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |access-date=May 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> They are frequently confused by the contradictory and hypocritical behavior of their parents and other adults, and often perceive them as having distorted views on morality and society.<ref name="nytimesmorals"/><ref name="tvamerica">{{cite news|author=Randy Fallows|title=The Theology of South Park|publisher=The Institute for the Study of American Popular Culture|date=January 2002|url=http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=May 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513135108/http://www.americanpopularculture.com/archive/tv/theology_southpark.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Themes and style===
{{see also|Subject matter in South Park|label 1=Subject matter in ''South Park''}}

Each episode opens with a [[tongue-in-cheek]] [[all persons fictitious disclaimer]]: "All characters and events in this show—even those based on real people—are entirely fictional. All celebrity voices are impersonated.....poorly. The following program contains coarse language and due to its content it should not be viewed by anyone."<ref name="reason">{{cite news|url=http://reason.com/archives/2000/05/01/goin-down-to-south-park/singlepage|title=Goin' Down to South Park: How kids can learn from 'vile trash'|magazine=[[Reason (magazine)|Reason]]|date=May 2000|publisher=Reason|access-date=January 17, 2012|last=Fagin|first=Barry S.|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405020750/http://reason.com/archives/2000/05/01/goin-down-to-south-park/singlepage|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://southpark.cc.com/about/show_disclaimer.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080727005040/http://www.southparkstudios.com/about/show_disclaimer.php |archive-date=July 27, 2008 |title=Show Disclaimer|publisher=Comedy Central |access-date=May 22, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''South Park'' was the first weekly program to be rated [[TV-MA]],<ref name="psu">{{cite web|url=http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/12/12-12-97tdc/12-12-97d05-004.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040921095557/http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/1997/12/12-12-97tdc/12-12-97d05-004.asp |archive-date=September 21, 2004 |title=South Park stirs up controversy, laughs |date=December 12, 1997 |publisher=Daily Collegian |access-date=May 22, 2009 |last=Antonacci |first=Christopher |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is generally intended for adult audiences.<ref name="nytimescarter">{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=Comedy Central makes the most of an irreverent, and profitable, new cartoon hit|work=The New York Times|date=November 10, 1997|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=November 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104130401/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/10/business/media-broadcasting-comedy-central-makes-most-irreverent-profitable-new-cartoon.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nydailyratings">{{cite news|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-16/entertainment/18071326_1_south-park-highest-rated-program-usa-network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730151751/http://articles.nydailynews.com/1998-04-16/entertainment/18071326_1_south-park-highest-rated-program-usa-network |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title='South Park's' Still Top Dog On Basic Cable |date=April 16, 1998 |work=New York Daily News|access-date=May 22, 2009 |last=Huff |first=Richard |location=New York |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="sfrubin">{{cite news|author=Sylvia Rubin |title=TV's Foul-Mouthed Funnies |work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |date=January 26, 1998 |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/TV-s-Foul-Mouthed-Funnies-South-Park-kids-3014688.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316012321/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fchronicle%2Farchive%2F1998%2F01%2F26%2FDD58819.DTL |archive-date=March 16, 2012 |access-date=February 21, 2022 }}</ref> The boys and most other child characters use strong profanity, with only the most taboo words being [[Bleep censor|bleeped]] during a typical broadcast.<ref name="nytimesmorals" /> Parker and Stone perceive this as the manner in which real-life small boys speak when they are alone.<ref name="avr">{{cite news|first=Abbie |last=Bernstein |title=South Park – Volume 2 |publisher=AVRev.com |date=October 27, 1998 |url=http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515045446/http://www.avrev.com/dvd-movie-disc-reviews/tv-shows/south-park-volume-2.html |archive-date=May 15, 2013 |access-date=April 30, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="abc4">{{cite news|author1=Jake Trapper|author2=Dan Morris|name-list-style=amp|title=Secrets of 'South Park'|publisher=ABC News|date=September 22, 2006|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=March 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220319073834/https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/Entertainment/Story?id=2479197&page=4|url-status=live}}</ref>

''South Park'' commonly makes use of [[carnivalesque]] and [[absurdist fiction|absurdist]] techniques,<ref name="blame">{{harvnb|Johnson-Woods|2007|pp=89–103}}</ref> numerous [[running gag]]s,<ref name="fortune">{{cite news|author=Devin Leonard|title=South Park creators haven't lost their edge|publisher=CNN|date=October 27, 2006|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=November 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107220939/https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/10/30/8391792/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="crude" /> [[Graphic violence|violence]],<ref name="crude">{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/crude-violent-but-quite-brilliant-1045072.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/crude-violent-but-quite-brilliant-1045072.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Crude, violent – but quite brilliant|date=January 5, 1999|work=The Independent|access-date=February 21, 2022|last=Blacker|first=Terence|location=London}}</ref><ref name="augusta_trash">{{cite news|url=http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/05/05/ent_227452.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523164646/http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/05/05/ent_227452.shtml |archive-date=May 23, 2013 |title=The growth of trash TV concerns media watchers |date=May 5, 1998 |newspaper=[[The Augusta Chronicle]] |access-date=January 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[sexual content]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:82697|title=Screens: TV Eye|work=The Austin Chronicle|date=August 17, 2001|access-date=May 27, 2009|last=Acosta|first=Belinda|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402183529/http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/column?oid=oid:82697|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enquirer.com/columns/kiese/1998/05/052098jki.html|title=South Park' way crude for kids|date=May 20, 1998|publisher=Cincinnati Enquirer|access-date=May 27, 2009|last=Kiesewetter|first=John|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303224502/https://www.cincinnati.com/}}</ref> offhand pop-cultural references, and satirical portrayal of celebrities.<ref name="lowbrow" />

Early episodes tended to be [[shock value]]-oriented and featured more slapstick-style humor.<ref name="augusta_trendy">{{cite news|url=http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/03/01/ent_223336.shtml|title=South Park: Funny, crude ... and a trendy favorite|date=March 1, 1998|newspaper=[[The Augusta Chronicle]]|access-date=January 17, 2012|last=Kligman|first=David|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130523173806/http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/03/01/ent_223336.shtml|archive-date=May 23, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> While social [[satire]] had been used on the show occasionally earlier on, it became more prevalent as the series progressed, with the show retaining some of its focus on the boys' fondness of [[Toilet humour|scatological humor]] in an attempt to remind adult viewers "what it was like to be eight years old".<ref name="growsup2" /> Parker and Stone also began further developing other characters by giving them larger roles in certain storylines,<ref name="growsup2" /> and began writing plots as parables based on religion, politics, and numerous other topics.<ref name="nytimesmorals" /> This provided the opportunity for the show to spoof both extreme sides of contentious issues,<ref name="loudlewd2">{{cite news|author=Frazier Moore|title=Loud and lewd but sweet underneath|work=[[The Age]]|date=December 14, 2006|url=https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath-20061214-ge3saj.html|access-date=February 21, 2022|location=Melbourne|archive-date=February 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220221180551/https://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/loud-and-lewd-but-sweet-underneath-20061214-ge3saj.html|url-status=live}}</ref> while lampooning both [[liberalism|liberal]] and [[conservatism|conservative]] points of view.<ref name="nytimesmorals" /><ref name="cornell" /><ref name="rs1">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9519810/park_life |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071005095418/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9519810/park_life |archive-date=October 5, 2007 |title=Park Life |date=March 24, 2006 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=January 17, 2012 |last=Hancock |first=Noelle |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rebecca Raphael described the show as "an equal opportunity offender",<ref name="whois" /> while Parker and Stone describe their main purpose as to "be funny" and "make people laugh",<ref name="mcfarland1" /><ref name="wilonsky" /> while stating that no particular topic or group of people be exempt from mockery and satire.<ref name="cornell" /><ref name="lowbrow">{{cite news|author=Dennis Lim|title=Television: Lowbrow and proud of it|newspaper=The Independent|date=March 29, 1998|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/television-lowbrow-and-proud-of-it-1153256.html |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=May 9, 2009|location=London}}</ref><ref name="mcfarland2">{{cite news|first=Melanie|last=McFarland|title=Oh my God, 'South Park' killed a decade!|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=September 29, 2006|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Oh-my-God-South-Park-killed-a-decade-1216016.php|access-date=February 21, 2022|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227122725/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/Oh-my-God-South-Park-killed-a-decade-1216016.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nytimesconserv">{{cite news|author=Frank Rich|title=Conservatives ♥ 'South Park'|work=The New York Times|date=May 1, 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=January 8, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108083620/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/01/opinion/01rich.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cityjournal">{{cite news|author=Brian C. Anderson|title=We're Not Losing the Culture Wars Anymore|publisher=[[Manhattan Institute]]|year=2003|url=http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html|access-date=May 3, 2009|archive-date=January 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118080938/http://www.city-journal.org/html/13_4_were_not_losing.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Parker and Stone insist that the show is still more about "kids being kids" and "what it's like to be in [elementary school] in [[United States|America]]",<ref name="rocky">{{cite news|author=Saunders |title=At 10, 'South Park' still bites |work=[[Rocky Mountain News]] |date=July 17, 2006 |url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0,2777,DRMN_23962_4848796,00.html |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104070024/http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/spotlight_columnists/article/0%2C2777%2CDRMN_23962_4848796%2C00.html |archive-date=January 4, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> stating that the introduction of a more satirical element to the series was the result of the two adding more of a "moral center" to the show so that it would rely less on simply being crude and shocking in an attempt to maintain an audience.<ref name="mcfarland1">{{cite news|first=Melanie|last=McFarland|title=Social satire keeps 'South Park' fans coming back for a gasp, and a laugh|work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]]|date=October 1, 2006|url=https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/On-TV-Social-satire-keeps-South-Park-fans-1216014.php|access-date=February 16, 2022|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217025551/https://www.seattlepi.com/ae/tv/article/On-TV-Social-satire-keeps-South-Park-fans-1216014.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="wilonsky">{{cite web|url=http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2001-07-26/culture/it-happens/1|title=It Happens|date=July 26, 2001|publisher=Broward Palm Beach New Times|access-date=May 22, 2009|last=Wilonsky|first=Robert|archive-date=July 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708101559/http://www.browardpalmbeach.com/2001-07-26/culture/it-happens/1/|url-status=live}}</ref> While profane, Parker notes that there is still an "underlying sweetness" aspect to the child characters,<ref name="loudlewd2" /> and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' described the boys as "sometimes cruel but with a core of innocence".<ref name="time" /> Usually, the boys or other characters pondered over what transpired during an episode and conveyed the important lesson taken from it with a short monologue. During earlier seasons, this speech commonly began with a variation of the phrase "You know, I've learned something today...".<ref name="philo">Arp and Jacoby, p. 58</ref>