[TV] Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Valid criticism of South Asian racial stereotyping or just Generation Snowflake over-thinking things to the point of disappearing up it's own ars* yet again?

Well?



'The Simpsons addresses Apu racial stereotype controversy'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-43699224

 

[deletebeepbeepbeep]

Does he play up front or is he more of a false number 9?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Does he play up front or is he more of a false number 9?

Not sure, but he's pretty useful on the counter-attack

 

[brightn'ove]

To be fair, when I was young a few of the asian kids at school used to get bullied with Apu catchphrases. I imagine in the US where Apu is the only reference people have of south asians, the bullying/racial abuse was probably a lot worse.

I don't think this is 'generation snowflake', I think this has come out because people that were bullied as children for looking or sounding like Apu are now adults and have a platform. An example of someone that has spoken out against the Apu character in the past is Kumail Nanjiani, it's quite interesting to read his perspective on it.

 

[Brovion]

TBH I'm surprised it's taken this long for the Permanently Outraged to turn their fire on the Simpsons - and obviously it was going to be Apu rather than the white stereotypes (Fat Tony or Groundskeeper Willie for two examples) who would trigger it.

Ah well, I hope Groening doesn't just roll over, but once the forces of intolerance go on the march little seems to stop them nowadays.

 

[studio150]

Sounds like someone using the Simpsons to create a fuss and increase their profile.

 

[lost in london]

Hank Azaria nailed it: "uniformly offensive without being outright hurtful."

They have stereotyped everyone, just watch the episode where the Simpsons go to Australia.

 

[TSB]

The Simpsons is nothing but stereotypes:

Hillbillies are inbred
Italian Americans are gangsters
Kids have ADHD
Americans are fat
Alcoholic teachers
Comic Book Guy
Hispanic tv with bumblebee man
Whenever the show 'Soccer' there's a South American commentator screaming about nothing

Who the **** cares.

 

[Easy 10]

Hank Azaria nailed it: "uniformly offensive without being outright hurtful."

They have stereotyped everyone, just watch the episode where the Simpsons go to Australia.

Exactly. And whenever the British are referenced, we always have horrific teeth. Its just satirical observational humour, with a heavy dose of stereotyping thrown in. Its a cartoon, its not supposed to be taken seriously by anyone. But then some people do seem to go out of their way to get offended by something, anything.

 

[seagulls4ever]

To be fair, when I was young a few of the asian kids at school used to get bullied with Apu catchphrases. I imagine in the US where Apu is the only reference people have of south asians, the bullying/racial abuse was probably a lot worse.

I don't think this is 'generation snowflake', I think this has come out because people that were bullied as children for looking or sounding like Apu are now adults and have a platform. An example of someone that has spoken out against the Apu character in the past is Kumail Nanjiani, it's quite interesting to read his perspective on it.

That's a good point. I remember similar occurrences when I was at school.

 

[wellquickwoody]

It's a cartoon........meh!

 

[pearl]

The Simpsons is nothing but stereotypes:

Hillbillies are inbred
Italian Americans are gangsters
Kids have ADHD
Americans are fat
Alcoholic teachers
Comic Book Guy
Hispanic tv with bumblebee man
Whenever the show 'Soccer' there's a South American commentator screaming about nothing

Who the **** cares.

You forgot Sideshow Bob

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

It's a cartoon........meh!

IMHO you'd need a heart of stone not to chuckle heartily at the laid-on-ridiculously-thick stereotyping in The Simpsons Go To Australia/France/England/etc

 

[Badger]

Hank Azaria nailed it: "uniformly offensive without being outright hurtful."

They have stereotyped everyone, just watch the episode where the Simpsons go to Australia.

"That's not a knife, that's a spoon"

 

[hart's shirt]

 

[Thunder Bolt]

To be fair, when I was young a few of the asian kids at school used to get bullied with Apu catchphrases. I imagine in the US where Apu is the only reference people have of south asians, the bullying/racial abuse was probably a lot worse.

I don't think this is 'generation snowflake', I think this has come out because people that were bullied as children for looking or sounding like Apu are now adults and have a platform. An example of someone that has spoken out against the Apu character in the past is Kumail Nanjiani, it's quite interesting to read his perspective on it.

This.

Yes, but there are other white characters. Apu is the only one of his type regularly in it. That makes a difference.

And this.

Unless you have been intimidated for your skin colour, or place of birth, you cannot know what it is like for those who have.

 

[Brovion]

Yes, but there are other white characters. Apu is the only one of his type regularly in it. That makes a difference.

Groundskeeper Willie is the only one of his 'type' in it, and I think Fat Tony is the only Italian-American regularly in it.

 

[Tekanne]

This.



And this.

Unless you have been intimidated for your skin colour, or place of birth, you cannot know what it is like for those who have.

Is this a case of privileged white people telling (traditionally) underprivileged people that they shouldn't be offended by something that they have and will never experience?

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Is this a case of privileged white people telling (traditionally) underprivileged people that they shouldn't be offended by something that they have and will never experience?

I was just reminded of the Old Native American saying Don't criticise a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.

 

[Tekanne]

I was just reminded of the Old Native American saying Don't criticise a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.

Or woman. Obvs.