South Park as Parody of Society South Park began airing in 1997. The commercials that preceded it gave the impression of it being another stupid cartoon; however, when I began watching, I realized important issues were being covered through the repeated behaviors and actions of its characters, through the influences these actions could have on the viewers, through the reinforcement and rejections of certain stereotypes, through the long-term effects that could result from watching the program
spearheaded into media, and—in general South Park fashion—made into joke from episode four titled, Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride, and the recurring character Mr. Garrison. During Big Gay Al’s Big Gay Boat Ride, Stan tries to convert his homosexual dog, Sparky, into being heterosexual, but is ultimately convinced into accepting the Sparky’s sexuality after Big Gay Al explains it to him on a boat ride through his gay animal sanctuary. Although bizarre sounding, the episode was met with praise for its portrayal