“The Hobbit” episode in South Park explores themes regarding the unrealistic standards that exist in pop culture and society today. The episode begins with Lisa Burger, an overweight girl, asking Butters out on a date. He rejects her and says it’s because she is fat. Wendy, the school feminist, tries to prove to Butters what technology can do to change how people look in pictures by editing Lisa’s appearance. This only backfires when Butters sees the picture and thinks that’s the real Lisa. Also, throughout the episode there is an ongoing joke about Kim Kardashian possibly being an actual hobbit. Kanye West pops up and tries to say she is not one, but every time, he talks himself into believing she is indeed a hobbit. South Park makes a statement with its satire and over exaggerations. Common themes and messages that I noticed have to deal with unattainable beauty standards, negative perceptions of feminism, and the public’s obsession with technology.
The girls at school soon noticed the attention and popularity Lisa gained from the photo shopped picture and wanted to reap the same benefits. Society has told young girls that boys will only like them if they are skinny and look like celebrities, such as Kim Kardashian. Instead of going to an actual gym, they go to a facility to edit pictures of themselves. All the girls in school go to do this except for Wendy. Soon, all of the girls have boyfriends who don’t actually look at them in real life, but only at the edited picture. The theme that appearance is more important than someone’s mind is prevalent in this episode. All the guys talk about is the out appearance and their idea of perfection.
Another theme is the negative perception society and our culture has on feminism. Wendy tries throughout the episode to convince girls that they do not need these pictures and that something is wrong with them and not her. However, whenever she tries to talk to people about this issue, the kids and even teachers call her jealous. It even gets to the point where she is almost shunned from the cheerleading team. Her love interest even asks her to send a photo shopper picture so he too can join in with the crown and gawk at the edited pictures with his friends. Wendy is put down throughout the show because she is the only realistic one! It is sad at the end when she ultimately gives in to the societal norm and edits a picture of herself. She knows it is wrong to do this, but sends the photo out because it is the only way she will be accepted once again by her peers.
A common theme that also occurred was the public’s obsession with technology. Butters literally was walking next to Lisa and did not notice her actual appearance because he was looking at the edited photo of her on his phone the entire time. The rest of the boys in the school also did the same thing. They were looking at pictures altered to look perfect so they did not need to pay attention to the reality in front of their face. I also think the obsession with technology plays a role in the theme of pop culture shaping society. Kim Kardashian being the poster child of perfection in “The Hobbit” is an example of this. South Park exaggerates a lot in the show, but there is some truth in the numerous procedures Kim has had done so she can look the way she does. Girls in school look up to her and edit their photos so they can at least have a chance (in their mind) to look like Kim Kardashian, who is one of the few pop culture deems “beautiful.”
The creators of this story line were most likely inspired by current events in the media today. As social media grows increasingly more popular, more girls will begin to edit pictures of themselves. Sometimes it takes satire for people to realize an issue. The technology obsesses culture and anti-feminist ideologies are real problems in the world and themes in “The Hobbit.” Ultimately, I think the most important theme is the unrealistic perception of beauty and pressure put on girls. By the end of the show, Wendy had to succumb to the pressure and edit her photo to not be alienated.
