Anti-Semitism in Borat: Cultural Learnings

There have been some recent criticisms of the new Sacha Cohen film “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” which suggest that the film is anti-semitic. In particular Slate writer Ron Rosenbaum recent article and Jody Rosen’s article which compares the Borat film with early 20th century Jewish vaudeville acts.

The film opens with Borat in his hometown in Kazakhstan. According to the film credits, and imdb, these scenes were filmed in Romania. I expect that the typical viewer will accept these scenes uncritically as an accurate portrayal of Kazakhstan despite a stereotypical Eastern European feel. These scenes that contain stereotypical depictions of the ‘backwards’ Kazakh lifestyle. Who or what is the subject of ridicule with this opening sequence? Is this the people of Kazakhstan or the moviegoer who accepts such depictions without skepticism? Immediately comes the first layering of satire. Borat, in his capacity as a local correspondent, reports on the local festival: the “running of the jews” in which the female jew lays an egg that is immediately attacked by local children before it has the opportunity to hatch. This scene pokes fun at two things. First at American perceptions about the beliefs of citizens of third world countries and those citizens naive prejudices, and second at perceptions that anti-semiticism is limited in form to such perspicuous displays.

The editing of the film suggests that Sacha Cohen intends to criticize anti-semitism. The sequence that deals with Borat’s anti-semitic views most directly begins with Borat asking some African American youth “How can I dress like you?” and “How can I talk like you?” Of course this is an obvious satire of the co-option of Arican American youth cultural memes. In the next scene Borat enters a hotel with his pants down and speaking in the recently learned colloquial manner. He is immediately rebuke by the hotel owner. Borat seeks shelter at a bed and breakfast. The door is opened by an older couple; the man wearing a yarmulke. Here the viewer is in on a joke on Borat since he is apparently ignorant enough about Jews to not know what the yarmulke signifies. He only discovers the identity of his hosts after asking about a painting hung in the charming home. Borat’s reaction is ridiculous, particularly since the Jewish hosts are depicted most sympathetically of any of the characters in the film.

Borat is a brilliant critique of mainstream American perceptions of the third world which manages to be funny at the same time. One could not easily imagine a serious film about the same subject matter receiving such a large reception. There is a recurring theme throughout the film where Borat expresses obviously prejudices. This prompts two types of responses: either a helpful correction, or agreement of some form. In the first case this indicates that the American in question actually believes that the foreigner Borat holds such strange views. In the attempt to rectify Borat’s views one is often left to wonder if the person who chides Borat actually disagrees with him, or simply feels uncomfortable with having such views openly expressed in any form in front of a camera, even if they hold the view in private. In any case it is surprising that anyone takes Borat’s remarks at face value, in particular given their extremity. This leads the viewer to question the perceptions of the person being interviewed by Borat.

The film leaves the viewer with a particularly poor view of American perceptions about the rest of the world and an even poorer view of the south. Throughout it manages to poke fun at American stereotypes, preoccupations and materialism. While doing so the film is deceptively entertaining.