Watching people violate cultural norms is incredibly challenging. We are embedded from birth with an injunction to follow the rules of behavior and social etiquette to such an extent that violating them does not come naturally. This is what makes Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, aired November 3, 2006, such an almost seemingly difficult film to watch. However, the satire used in this film is remarkably enlightening on Americans as Borat addresses the existence and enforcement of cultural norms. Borat Sagdiyev is a TV reporter of a popular show in Kazakhstan as “Kazakhstan's sixth most famous man and a leading journalist” (Borat). He is sent to America by Kazakhstan’s government to make a
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In numerous accounts throughout the movie, Borat puts real people in America into situations that exemplify their beliefs. The majority of the movie takes place in southern United States, as Borat chases after Pamela who resides in Los Angeles. The people in the film are filmed under false pretenses without the realization that Borat is an actor, and their reactions and thoughts that you see in the movie, are genuinely theirs. With this in mind, many of the situations and scenes in the movie reflect poorly on American culture as a whole. That is why it is shocking to view things such as a group of University of South Carolina fraternity guys who tell of their less than modern views on women to Borat, who they believe shares their beliefs. Another great example is of a southern man Borat meets at a rodeo. After initiating a conversation about gays, Borat tells that in Kazakhstan, they hang homosexuals. With this, the American responds, "We're trying to get that done here, too!" (Borat) By acting like a homophobic bigot, Borat entices an actual American homophobe into admitting his homophobia and bigotry in front of the camera. Countless times, Borat does the complete opposite of what is socially acceptable by going somewhere and doing exactly what you are not suppose to do. By doing this, he shows what our cultural assumptions actually are, making us laugh uncomfortably at their violation while we start to question their legitimacy, and then reveals the punishment inflicted for violating
In numerous accounts throughout the movie, Borat puts real people in America into situations that exemplify their beliefs. The majority of the movie takes place in southern United States, as Borat chases after Pamela who resides in Los Angeles. The people in the film are filmed under false pretenses without the realization that Borat is an actor, and their reactions and thoughts that you see in the movie, are genuinely theirs. With this in mind, many of the situations and scenes in the movie reflect poorly on American culture as a whole. That is why it is shocking to view things such as a group of University of South Carolina fraternity guys who tell of their less than modern views on women to Borat, who they believe shares their beliefs. Another great example is of a southern man Borat meets at a rodeo. After initiating a conversation about gays, Borat tells that in Kazakhstan, they hang homosexuals. With this, the American responds, "We're trying to get that done here, too!" (Borat) By acting like a homophobic bigot, Borat entices an actual American homophobe into admitting his homophobia and bigotry in front of the camera. Countless times, Borat does the complete opposite of what is socially acceptable by going somewhere and doing exactly what you are not suppose to do. By doing this, he shows what our cultural assumptions actually are, making us laugh uncomfortably at their violation while we start to question their legitimacy, and then reveals the punishment inflicted for violating