Apu from The Simpsons Drama

[roydo]

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.

I am sure most Mericans take the Simpsons for what it is. A funny, observational, cartoon.

 

[Prevenger17]

It's dumb. Naval gazing of the most smh kind. The Simpsons made fun of everyone, and a fine job they did too

 

[Encoder]

I am sure most Mericans take the Simpsons for what it is. A funny, observational, cartoon.

Perhaps not these days!

I mostly agree, but i think theres a genuine argument here that doesn't deserved to be swept under the rug.

 

[Huyton Layne]

Harry Enfield should be jailed for the Scousers. Only two of the actors were from Liverpool and it played on stereotypes.
/sarcasm

 

[ilikecheese]

I remember watching Bugs Bunny cartoons and realizing as I got older some of the overtly racist stuff going on.

I mean most of those cartoons were made almost 40 years before I ever watched them, so at the time I suppose it was acceptable. Doesn't change the fact that some of it simply isn't acceptable today.

 

[The binman chronicles]

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.

He plays about 19 other characters so I'm sure he will be ok until someone points out they are all bad stereotypes too.

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Just dont get why a cartoon character that speaks in an accent close to real life in Merica is offensive.

I have given up remembering how many times I have been the butt of scouse based "observations", and been asked to "Calm Down".

In an absolute gash attempt at a Scouse accent too boot.

 

[roydo]

I remember watching Bugs Bunny cartoons and realizing as I got older some of the overtly racist stuff going on.

I mean most of those cartoons were made almost 40 years before I ever watched them, so at the time I suppose it was acceptable. Doesn't change the fact that some of it simply isn't acceptable today.

You want to watch Bob the Builder mate. The jokes and references in that are obviously way over the kiddies heads, but I dare say a female voice cement mixer mimicing an orgasm to a suggestion Bob or the bulldozer made would have the "Outrage" forums in meltdown.

I kid you not.

 

[roydo]

In an absolute gash attempt at a Scouse accent too boot.

I hardly have a trace left myself. Just mates knowing where you are from, or wearing an EFC T Shirt for work usually does the trick.

Arsed.

 

[The binman chronicles]

This has left me in a quandary. Is it still ok to educate my children by getting them to watch the Simpsons while I tell them that this is the exact way people behave and should behave?


Damn I suppose I'll also have to bin my Short Circuit DVD

 

[Groucho]

I think the criticism of Apu is OTT myself.

But I’m not Asian so I can’t tell others how to feel. Just seems silly to me after he’s existed without incident for nearly 30 years.

 

[longers]

I think the criticism of Apu is OTT myself.

But I’m not Asian so I can’t tell others how to feel. Just seems silly to me after he’s existed without incident for nearly 30 years.

As i've said previously in this thread, there have been complaints about his character for close to 20 years now. This one just caught more attention because the creators responded to it and basically brushed it off as people being too precious, which ended up winding some people up even more.

 

[Groucho]

As i've said previously in this thead, there have been complaints for close to 20 years now. This one just caught more attention because the creators responded to it by brushing it off.

Ah I see.

However, just to wonder out loud, is Groundskeeper Willie not equally stereotypical, yet exists without complaint?

 

[LouReedwalkonthewildside]

Might as well ban telly full stop, probably 75% of the programmes on now will have something in it that some will find offensive. I remember reading someone saying that they found an episode of Coronation street offensive.

 

[longers]

Ah I see.

However, just to wonder out loud, is Groundskeeper Willie not equally stereotypical, yet exists without complaint?

I think Encoders response covers this quite well

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.