Apu from The Simpsons Drama

[Tubey]

Does South Park get away with it because they just rip on everyone?

The only black kid is named Token Black. Kyle is constantly being ripped for being a Jew. Kenny is mocked for being poor white trash. Cartman is constantly ridiculed for being fat. Etc, etc, etc.

What's the difference?

There isn't one except South Park is smarter with the social commentary aspect and does it in a far more 'offensive' way.

Here's the question though - do the people moaning about this really think that people will see Apu on the TV and think every single person of that ethnicity is like that? Did they think that until they 'saw the light' and realised it wasn't? Really???

 

[COYBL25]

Does South Park get away with it because they just rip on everyone?

The only black kid is named Token Black. Kyle is constantly being ripped for being a Jew. Kenny is mocked for being poor white trash. Cartman is constantly ridiculed for being fat. Etc, etc, etc.

What's the difference?

Family Guy > all the British are ugly as sin with teeth like gravestones ( mainly true )

 

[Woolverhampton_Blue]

In the West Midlands the people of Wolverhampton are routinely called Dingles due to their unkempt poverty driven appearance and manner. Ban Emerdale. NOW.

Only Wolves fans are called Dingles. The colloquial term for people from Wolverhampton is 'yam yam'.

On topic though the whole thing is a bit silly as it plays on a stereotype that isn't overtly racist (just like the Simpsons pokes fun at lots of different stereotypes). I suppose if enough people cry about it then there's little option but to pull the character.

 

[Tubey]

Family Guy > all the British are ugly and sin with teeth like gravestones ( mainly true )

 

[longers]

Only Wolves fans are called Dingles. The colloquial term for people from Wolverhampton is 'yam yam'.

On topic though the whole thing is a bit silly as it plays on a stereotype that isn't overtly racist (just like the Simpsons pokes fun at lots of different stereotypes). I suppose if enough people cry about it then there's little option but to pull the character.

I think the argument is that they should at least have an actual Indian voicing his character, not sure anyone is asking for him to be axed. Would be a bit weird having his voice change after close to 30 years though...

 

[Toast]

The voice actor Hank Azaria is worth over £70m.

Funny he didn't pipe up being all concerned a few years back before raking in loads of dosh.

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Only Wolves fans are called Dingles. The colloquial term for people from Wolverhampton is 'yam yam'.

On topic though the whole thing is a bit silly as it plays on a stereotype that isn't overtly racist (just like the Simpsons pokes fun at lots of different stereotypes). I suppose if enough people cry about it then there's little option but to pull the character.

Not amongst my Albion supporting chums, to them yam all dingles. And yam yam is applied by Brummies to folk beyond Wolverhampton in the Black Country. Dow yow lecture me on Midlands culture, Mi Mon .

On that note they should ban Yams too.

Agree on the comedy point though. Little Britain poked fun at the upper (the Bitty loving white middle class Tory) and lower classes (Vicki Pollard) and no one gets mad. But if enough moaned they'd get pulled.

 

[COYBL25]

lol

 

[Encoder]

While I haven't seen the documentary, I believe the main issue was that in the 90's Apu was one of the only Indian/Indian American characters present on any American TV show and his characterisation as a very obvious racial stereotype was damaging for those people.

People say that other Simpsons characters are lampooned by resorting to national stereotypes such as Willie, but such jokes have been made on TV for years when it comes to those other characters.

I can see why it can be seen as problematic in this day and age, and the clip of Lisa talking to the camera was heavy handed and lacked any finesse or subtlety; characteristic of the shows now poor writing compared to earlier seasons.

That said I don't think the show should be bullied into changing because of passive aggressive tweets from starbucks so I'm placing my arse right on the fence for this one.

 

[longers]

the clip of Lisa talking to the camera was heavy handed and lacked any finesse or subtlety; characteristic of the shows now poor writing compared to earlier seasons.

Especially poor given her character is meant to be 'progressive' and would be the kind of character to stick up for such matters rather than shrug it off. Was completely out of character.

 

[chrismpw]

PC gone mad or legit complaint about stereotypes ? The Simpsons creators seem to think its pc gone mad judging by their response whereas the guy who voices the character seems to want to distance himself from the shows response and is more sympathetic towards those taking offence.



http://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2...sed-by-the-shows-response-to-apu-controversy/

Im guessing it will be hard for most non Indian people to see what the problem is but I can remember some Indian kids getting mocked at school for their accents and being called 'Apu'. Can imagine it happening a lot, especially in the US.

I can imagine some will say that other characters are also stereotyped such as the Scottish character but then others will argue that there is no targeted racism against Scottish people in the same way there is against Indian people.

Thoughts ?

People should not mistake the Simpsons for a documentary. It sends up stereotypes for the sake of humour, and the fat, stupid, white men most of all.

As a fat, stupid white man am I offended? No. I have a thing called "a sense of humour" and was born in the 60s so am not made of tissue paper.

 

[Encoder]

Especially poor given she is meant to be a 'progressive' and would be the kind of character to stick up for such matters.

I wouldn't have minded if they had taken a solid stance even if they said they weren't changing, but staring at the camera and saying 'what can you do? It used to be okay' (or words to that effect). I mean come on. At least try. Satire of this sort of thing used to be right up their alley. Doesn't help the showrunner is being a tit and not engaging with any positive dialogue either.

 

[roydo]

People should not mistake the Simpsons for a documentary. It sends up stereotypes for the sake of humour, and the fat, stupid, white men most of all.

As a fat, stupid white man am I offended? No. I have a thing called "a sense of humour" and was born in the 60s so am not made of tissue paper.

Me too.

But not fat though. Lucky genes me.

 

[SerenityNigh]

Me too.

But not fat though. Lucky genes me.

Haven’t worn Lucky Jeans since the 90s

 

[Encoder]

Me too.

But not fat though. Lucky genes me.

Saying 'oh they take the mick out of whites so its fine' misses the point though that for a lot of americans, their only reference point for someone of their culture (or one even similar to theirs) on TV is an overqualified illegal immigrant convenience store clerk voiced by a white guy doing an impression of a racist impression.