Is Seeing Really Believing? Understanding Videography and Ethics Behind "Borat 2"

CHAPTER 8 – When it comes to satires in the film industry, we often disregard its credibility and effectiveness - focusing on the comedic aspect. Whether it be satirical films or viral YouTube videos, most of us can say we either cringed or laughed out loud at the fictitious plot/characters. However, can we argue that they served a larger purpose? Many find it difficult due to fictitious nature.

However, what happens when fiction and reality intertwine? The popular Borat films raise this ethical questioning into play.

When Borat 2 premiered on October 23, 2020, the film drew attention - on a larger scale - affecting and influencing social media and professional journalism. Most of us would never associate fictitious comedy films with having an effect on reality - causing conflict and discussion in the "real world." However, Sasha Baron Cohen, the mind behind Borat, made this a reality.

In a digitally modernized age of technology, anyone can be a journalist - even an amateur film character like Borat. Borat 2, which tackled American culture and political issues, caused turmoil and confusion in the newsrooms (and political circles). Additionally, many more citizens yearn to see more video content within their news - newsworthy content meeting reality. A very controversial scene with the President's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, and Borat's character's daughter led to this type of content. Considering the way an amateur film could take over the newsrooms so quickly is quite astounding. With the rise of social media and movies like Borat, we, as a society, feel more inclined to question if the power of "open-source journalism" from everyday people is legit. We ask: "Can we trust this amateur film?"

Considering the premiums of accuracy, fairness, and originality regarding the controversial scene with Giuliani in Borat 2, it is plausible to view this piece of comedy as a reputable piece of journalism, despite much dispute.

In many interviews, Sasha Baron Cohen stated that he did not intend to be a piece of legitimate journalism when scripting the scene. He staged many scenes that allowed the American people to establish their individual opinion about their culture.

On the idea of interpretations of videos and photographs, Arthur Berger notes that the variables in photography - from camera angles to focus - a picture/video is "always an interpretation of reality, not reality itself." This raises ethical questions behind the film's controversial scene. By interpreting the scene on its own, we will never really know what exactly Giuliani's motives were. However, this "interpretation" is precisely what Cohen wanted his audience to see. He wanted the audience, the American people, to see the reality of American politicians - unfiltered. Is this ethical? Many have disputed over this.

The ethical dispute over this film, which Giuliani and Trump had a lot to say about, has cultivated a culture and discussion of Cohen's well-known character's ethics. While Trump has noted Cohen to be a "creep," Louise Hodges would argue that videos/photos 'in bad taste,' like in Borat 2, have and can never truly be defined. Hodges sees that issues in visual journalism "that appear to be lapses in ethics are differences in opinion over matters." In this case, Trump's opinion differentiates from Cohen's; however, it does not constitute the film to be done 'in bad taste.' His opinion is strong but does not shape the film's legitimacy and quality of information. The film works because everyone has their own opinion.

Reflecting upon the number of times I have seen the original Borat films, I also question how or if Cohen's Borat films brought about a more extensive social good? While I would never want to be made fun of in a satirical way for my beliefs, I also understand how Cohen's approach to understanding American culture from a perspective like no other journalist could provide. Borat's, or should I say Cohens's approach to investigative exposure of the American culture through a film like this, asks us question principles of Utilitarianism… Calling us to question if there was a greater good (informing all the American people of the American culture we think we so well know) over one individual concern (Giuliani).

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Have you seen Borat 2? What did you think of the controversial scene? Share you thoughts in the comments below!