Editor's Note, 10/10

In 12th grade, my English teacher taught Voltaire’s “Candide.” We analyzed Voltaire’s use of humor, cliché, cultural criticism and most importantly, satire. Voltaire brings up his distaste with various institutions and philosophies illustrated through larger-than-life adventures of the optimistic (and eventually disillusioned) character, Candide. The objective of satire, in theory, is to illuminate social, political or cultural problems; it implicitly or directly criticizes those who are perceived culpable for creating and perpetuating those problems. Satire, in its best manifestations, moves citizens to action against a substandard norm.

A proper satire about Duke serves its purpose when it targets the perpetrators of oppression and incites progress toward a better social culture, one that is as inclusive as it is conscientious. Duke Student Broadcasting’s “S**t Duke Students Say” is a recent addition to Youtube’s immeasurably vast catalog of s**t that anyone says—for the record, it is 2013 right now.

“If you go to his formal, you have to f**k him,” explains a character in the video. Is this aiming to represent how most women at Duke feel? Is it meant to affirm this absurd and horrifying culture of sexual obligation? In this case, the lines are blurred. There is no indication that what is said is wrong, let alone changeable or indicative of a culture necessitating change.

“Trinitards,” laments another character. What happened to spreading the word to end the word? Am I naïve to expect better from the average Duke student?

Aside from its employment of a format long past the point of relevance, the video assumes a questionable position of authority. In identifying this alleged s**t, DSB does more than make reference to Duke-specific buzzwords for nods and laughs; the video’s tone is one of representation. If it is an attempt to mock the students who say this s**t, it serves a dual purpose of reinforcing these sentiments. Casual ableism, misogyny…why are these our accepted standards? I do not think it takes much additional work to make a creative piece less actively hurtful, just as it is not especially difficult to promote the usage of more sensitive and empathetic language in general.

DSB is not the only voice on campus, nor is it the objective best or worst, nor is it necessarily more or less influential than any other student-produced media. But it is a voice that makes its way around the web zone more than most. And voices with that sort of privilege owe it to their diverse and discerning population of viewers to provide more mindful depictions, or at least some indication that their s**t is offensive at worst and unamusing at best.

As a reasonably self-aware consumer of media, I seek ideals in the content I choose to absorb. I like stuff that perpetuates the belief that people’s views and experiences are worth portraying in a dynamic way even if they are not heterosexual, cissexual (male), healthful, able-bodied, wealthy and white. I like stuff that does not pander to the lowest common denominator of what can be considered entertainment, relying on cheap shots against already targeted people. I like stuff that allows marginalized groups to represent themselves.

I’m not on some high horse at the periphery of pop culture. I have listened to Miley Cyrus’s “Bangerz” more than I feel willing to admit in this context. I have seen every episode of "Flavor of Love" and every episode of each spin-off. People who know me personally are aware of how I feel about Fall Out Boy’s discography from 2003 to 2007. But creating a truly rich and satisfying zeitgeist requires more than shamelessness. It takes a critical eye and a healthy dose of skepticism.