I feel bad for those whom Borat tricked into being on his movie, but I don't believe some will win their law suits for it. To me (and please tell me why you agree or disagree) it's about integrity and character. You either have it or you don't. They were being themselves.
I was tricked into an interview on D Ali G's HBO show a couple of years ago. It was very well staged and even after qualifying them with an internet search, they appeared to be legitimate. We filmed for over 3 hours and he asked very racist and sexist questions. I just responded very honestly and tried to help him understand why the questions were not the way to treat people. Then he started attacking me!! On one attack, I put him in a choke hold and took him down. That's the one they showed over and over on HBO.
I mean, I was a complete sucker! I bought it hook, line and sinker. Boy, did I feel like a fool. But, it was all in good fun and I can enjoy a good joke, even if it was at my own expense.
The episode I was on was in season 2: guide to hobbies (I think, I'll check and make sure).
You can see it by going to youtube and looking for the hobbies segment. Or, go to http://youtube.com/watch?v=Rq5lWasddGq
You can also read a follow up interview I did with his fan club at www.webgeordie.co.uk/borat/behindscenes.htm
If you're really into this, please answer me this: Do you think anyone would be interested in reading a short book or booklet about beating borat? I've written a book before about emotional self defense. It's like a book on how to develop integrity and character as well as how to spot potentially abusive relationships and physical dating self defense techniques. Anyway, I thought I could call this book: Beating Borat: The Survival of Integrity in America.
Tell me your thoughts. I really want to know. Thanks
10 comments:
I couldn't find the video at the link.
Mockumentaries show raw and at times uncensored human emotions.
Why do we have to sugar-coat everything just to hide our prejudices? Is that what we call integrity? Does America really have this?
If we beat that sugar-coat and be true to ourselves, then we can beat Borat, or Bruno, or better, Sacha himself.
I don't think you should be offended and take it so seriously. "Integrity" , "character" these are "big" words and wonderful qualities in human beings. But there are others, too: sense of humor, irony, light-heartedness, open-mindness...Besides, I think that you faced the situation nicely and with political corectness, so there weren't any really negative parts that stood out in how you responded. Unlike, for instance the Christian Republican candidate who, when asked if people choosing the Jewish religion would go to heaven or hell, responded that they would go to hell. I think this is the genius side of the "documentary". It shows that people can APPEAR very nice and polite and good and tolerant AT THE SURFACE, but when you scratch that surface a bit, prejudice, racism, anti-semitism, etc come out. They are very deep-rooted, these things, even if they are not visible and obvious on the surface. There is a great discrepancy between the image that people try to project as being themselves and their real selves. And this statement is valid for the concept of America as a whole. It may very well be one of the most developed countries in the world but that doesn't mean that its people (SOME of them) still hang on to prejudice and stereotypes. And this happens in most civilized countries to a greater or lesser extent. I don't think it should be covered up with this utopic, unreal "sugar coat" (as andy said in his comment).
In my view, the trick, as you call it, that "Borat" plays has a very important role. Paradoxically, it is a trick to reveal the ultimate honesty in people, to reveal their flaws and what lies beneath the surface. Why should someone sue anyone for showing that they have e flaw or something they need to correct in themselves? He did not put the racist statements in their mouth, the racist (and other "ist"s and "ism"s) beliefs were there, maybe consciusly or unconsciously, and when the opportunity came, they got out.
Maybe all of us have, unconsciously, all these deep-rooted prejudice and maybe I or you or others who have commented, would commit such mistakes or prove to respond in the same way.
But ultimately, what the people who were , as you say, "tricked" in this documentary should do is say "Ok. So I have this amount of prejudice and these fixed ideas, I should work on that and I should learn tolerance, but not just on the surface, but embrace it thouroughly and deep down". And this, of course, is the hardest thing to do. It is much easier to sue someone than admit that you need to change something in the way you think and judge people. If they could do that, admit that behind this very glossy image of themsleves, there are some problems, than you would have INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER. Integrity, character does not mean hiding your flaws behind a lawsuit, but accepting them and trying to change them.
Sorry but I disagree with what you think. Borat is awesome.
Thank you for leaving comments.
Torporindy, I'm sorry I got the link wrong for the clip. If you go to youtube and search borat, then select guide to hobbies, you can watch the clip.
I don't know what the next comments were as they were deleted by whoever monitors the site (and thank you for doing that).
Andy, You are so right. Your question: Does America really have this? is exactly the reason I want people to see that there is still integrity in America. (It just doesn't make for good "funny" mockumentary material).
I respect people who are honest with me, but I also believe that if we have no remorse about prejudice, then we have less chance to learn not to be prejudice. Just a thought.
Lorelei, Thank you for your comments. They are great. I would like to clarify something that I think you may have read into the blog which wasn't there. I'm not offended by any of this. I think it's hilarious. We have so much prejudice in our country and it's terrible, but I would like people to be aware of our goodness as well. I mean, I'm no saint, but God has changed me from the type of person which others have proven themselves to be.
As far as "tricked", what I mean is that the producers go through great links to make you believe it is all legitimate (at least they did with me.) For example: the young men in the movie. Some crew members took them to a bar and bought drinks, then put them in an RV and their true nature came out. As you said, no one made them say those things. That was all them, tricked or not. And I agree with you about their behavior.
As far as the politician who said Jews would go to hell. That was probably what he's been taught. There are many religious people with their titles and authority who teach others about God, when they don't even know Him themselves.
mykas0, What exactly do you disagree with? I think this man is brilliant. A twisted deviat, but brilliant. It's amazing how he can get people. One of my favorites is a night club owner in Florida who says music could prevent wars because of how it brings people together. Then, tells how he just ignores people in wheelchairs so that they will leave.
YOU were the one who chose to appear there, to sign everything and all that. If there is someone to blame here, it's YOU, not Borat!
Loved your appearnce on Borat. Hilarious!! And you were a real gentleman. A true class act.
I've been a big fan of Borat for a long time, I've always thought you handled him with more patience and class than anyone else. I think your book is a great idea but you would need to work to get it out quickly for obvious reasons.
Keep fighting the good fight and best of luck.
respects you for what you did and say in the video. really show a character. but still, i think a character like borat, is required to show the wrong in our society.
Post a Comment