Apu from The Simpsons Drama

[roydo]

An excerpt from an article by Rajiv Sattyal
Here's one example: in one Simpsons episode, Apu is completing an oral exam to gain American citizenship. When asked about the cause of the Civil War, he starts into a lengthy explanation about its multiple causes, yet is interrupted by the interviewer who says, "Just say slavery." Here, Apu proves he's much more than the guy pulling the handle on the Squishee machine; his is the smart, nuanced voice, juxtaposed with that of the lazy American who just wants to get the test over with.

There's also the fact that Apu has a PhD in computer science and started working at the Kwik-E-Mart to pay off his student loans, which is actually a clever commentary on a common socioeconomic problem in America. But sure, some aspects of his character are stereotypical, just like most of the characters on The Simpsons. It's a satire, after all.

Apu might have been one of the few Indian characters on television more than a quarter-century ago, but as the documentary itself points out, there's now an Indian on practically every successful contemporary show. That's incredible progress — something about which to rejoice. Let's not play the victim. Let's celebrate.

Quite.

The Apu character was The Simpsons turning their (drawn) guns on Merica. Not taking the rise out of Indian/Asian immigrants

 

[Gareth Gibson]

I'm not that familiar with The Simpsons. Is the Indian character Apu particularly immoral or stupid? If so, you could argue that the character portrays Indian people in a bad light, much like the soaps do with Scousers here in Britain.

 

[longers]

This is whats brought the subject to the forefront again btw

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Only ever heard Dingle used in reference to football and Wolves fans, and I've lived here all my life and have worked across the Black Country and Birmingham.

Work in Sutton Coldfield atm and the only Wolves fan in the office is 'Donna the Dingle' even though she's from Telford, no one ever refers to me as one even though I'm actually from Wolvo.

Back on topic though, if people cryarse over silly things like who does the voice acting for a cartoon then they should count themselves lucky at having such trivial problems in life.

I've got family from Tipton and the Tipton Baggies call wolves folk Dingles and the city Dingleeville. They're a special lot though. Sutton Coldfield is a bit more upmarket, so maybe the humour is more sophisticated?

 

[jackyboy]

I enjoyed Horst immensely. Peak Simpsons.

 

[Blue 1]

The Simpsons should've stopped quite a few years ago. It's a pathetic shadow of what it once was. We shouldn't even need to have this debate.

The first six or seven years of it are some of my favourite telly ever, mind.

 

[Prevenger17]

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.

See, this is what I don't get. There is outrage at a character that has existed for 30 years. The Simpsons' initial response is deemed inadequate, but the guy who voices him comes out with a sincere apology and ideas to correct the original offence. But now his apology is worth nothing because pffft he's worth, like, 70million now. What is it that you want out of this?

I'm of the belief that people prefer the catharsis of expressing outrage at something as opposed to having any sort of preferred outcome to work towards.

 

[Boba Fret]

Late to the party.


Racism is the most misused word in the English language.

True story. I asked a copper friend of mine this question. "If a non white person came to the station complaining of racial abuse what would you do?" Response was "set up a task force and investigate". I then asked "if I (white male) walked in complaining of racial abuse". He responded " we would look at you like you were an idiot and ask you to leave".

 

[longers]

Late to the party.


Racism is the most misused word in the English language.

True story. I asked a copper friend of mine this question. "If a non white person came to the station complaining of racial abuse what would you do?" Response was "set up a task force and investigate". I then asked "if I (white male) walked in complaining of racial abuse". He responded " we would look at you like you were an idiot and ask you to leave".

Not sure what the point here is ? The second part of your post doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the first part...

They’d probably look at you like you were mad because racism against white people in the U.K. is pretty much non existent relative to racism against minorities in this country. Obviously it’s all as bad as each other at the end of the day but I imagine it would be tougher to deal with if you’re a minority rather than the majority.

 

[Walken]

Late to the party.


Racism is the most misused word in the English language.

True story. I asked a copper friend of mine this question. "If a non white person came to the station complaining of racial abuse what would you do?" Response was "set up a task force and investigate". I then asked "if I (white male) walked in complaining of racial abuse". He responded " we would look at you like you were an idiot and ask you to leave".

No offense, but I find this post very misguided

 

[Boba Fret]

No offense, but I find this post very misguided

No offence taken.

Misguided how? I agree its an emotive subject and is considered almost taboo to discuss openly. But fail to see how my post was in any way misguided.



I have experienced so called racism from an old boss, who was Israelie, when he told me to stop being so English when pointing out some health and safety breaches. If it had been the other way round I would have been accused of all sorts.

 

[RAFUH]

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.

Depends... I live in a small city in an otherwise very rural area dominated by a university, medical school and hospital. Around here Americans would stereotype Indians as physicians.

 

[ToffeeTim]

Haven't watched the Simpsons in years and years because I got extremely bored of it.

But from memory they took the mick out of absolutely everyone.

 

[Walken]

No offence taken.

Misguided how? I agree its an emotive subject and is considered almost taboo to discuss openly. But fail to see how my post was in any way misguided.



I have experienced so called racism from an old boss, who was Israelie, when he told me to stop being so English when pointing out some health and safety breaches. If it had been the other way round I would have been accused of all sorts.

your original point is quite contradictory or at least appears so to me, you complain that the term racism is misused, yet then go on to seemingly complain that a white man in the uk complaining of racism would be ignored, so I'm really not too sure where you are landing at here, probably a mistake on my part

I actually find the idea that racism is a commonly misused word quite a dangerous notion, there is a strong attitude amongst a certain demographic that whenever anyone complains of any form of offense or harassment, is that it's 'faux outrage', 'pc gone mad'. I'm sure 40 years ago the same sort of people complained that black people are too easily offended, its only a joke etc, we only chucked a banana on the pitch, if they work as hard as me they will find the same opportunities etc etc. Hopefully in 40 years some current issues of inequality will be viewed in the same vein as certain ones years ago were and it will seem insane that it was ever in question, and society progresses. But, there is a section of todays society they act with outright anger to the offended, it's actually quite startling.

 

[obc]

people still watch/care about The Simpsons?

and gotta wonder if anyone outraged by Apu has watched an episode of South Park?

Considering the show was started with voice actors for the family, and Harry Shearer & Hank Azaria voicing the rest of the town, from now, looking back 30 years they were damned no matter what they did. Hank voices a boatload of minority characters - Apu, Carl, Lou, Bumblebeeman, Akria and more - so that's offensive now. Had the entire town been nothing but white because the two voice actors they hired to shoulder the burden were white, we'd have complaints about that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is it is time to kill the show and make everyone happy.