I was reading an article over at American Princess today about a new movie that Borat guy is making. I don't really know what the movie is about (and don't care enough to find out), but apparently it's just supposed to shock us American Christians. But Emily asks an intriguing question in her post: "does shock value really work anymore?"

It's intriguing because while the answer is yes, shock value does work, but nobody is actually shocked by it. And those who are actually offended are going to ignore it and go on with their life. When the purpose is to shock and offend, but most people's reaction is exasperation and confusion over why someone would degrade themselves like Borat does, you have to wonder why shock value still works.

I don't know anybody who actually gets worked up about stuff like this. Many of my friends are disgusted and dismayed by the deliberate offenses that are given under the guise of art, but none of them complain to the press or write their congressman or otherwise do anything that would be noticed beyond their friends.

And yet every time something like this happens, I hear about somebody who is offended and outraged by it and wants something done. And often times there is a non-profit involved. I really have to wonder if they are actually offended, or are just making noise to justify their existence.

I am going to put the blame squarely on the media for this one. They are the ones who make the big deal about it. They find someone who is shocked (or at least willing to say they are) and then trumpet this as a popular view among Christians. They go looking for the view that most caricatures Christians and then they play it for all to see.

So of course shock value still works. It's free advertising for whoever is doing the shocking, it allows liberals to tell everyone Christians are still close minded bigots, and it allows 'experts' on the shocked group to stay employed.