The Simpsons' Apu: 'A stereotype hiding in plain sight'

BBC News ^ | November 6, 2017 | Christian Blauvelt

[EdnaMode]

“After a while, you’d watch The Simpsons on a Sunday and you’d get a sense of how you’d be made fun of at school on Monday, based on what Apu did in the latest episode.”

Hari Kondabolu doesn’t mince words about the impact the character on the long-running animation had on his own life. “Kids in the playground would always mimic the accent and say ‘Thank you, come again!’ or ‘Hello, Mr Homer!’” the Indian-American comedian tells BBC Culture. “Sure, growing up in New York City everyone tries to be funny. If you grow up there you learn to make jokes and how to make comebacks, but it’s hard to counter an accent – what’s your comeback for an accent?”

For years Apu Nahasapeemapetilon was the only person of South Asian descent depicted on US TV at all – a problem because he is a broad stereotype whose clownishness is his singular purpose. He exists to provoke a laugh. He is a cartoon literally and figuratively. What’s especially troubling about Apu as a stereotype is that, until recently, very few viewers in the US outside of the Indian-American community have addressed, talked about, or even recognised that Apu is a stereotype. “I used to write for [African-American comedian] W Kamau Bell’s show Totally Biased and he told me, ‘No one’s discussed Apu. You and your community have discussed this for two decades, but no one else in America thinks Apu is problematic.’”

[EdnaMode]

Racism is everywhere, even where it isn't!

[BenLurkin]

This reminds me of the time a prominent politician claimed that she/he couldn’t go to a convenience store within being served by someone from India.

Now who was that.........?

[freedumb2003]

I am in IT and thus have a LOT of Indian friends and, through them have seen their literature, blogs, newspapers, etc.

It does indeed boil down to: “No matter what we do, to Americans we are all Apu.”

Kinda cracks me up.

[Lurkinanloomin]

Stay in India, then we can’t make fun of you.

[ifinnegan]

Nelson laughs at ultra liberal Simpsons creators for getting hoisted on their own petard.

[brianr10]

Apu is funny. Whiners aren’t.

[Celerity]

Maybe these people want to address the whole “Pooping in the streets” thing, then we’ll talk about not making fun of them.

[left that other site]

EVERYBODY on the Simpsons is a stereotype!

Homer, Marge, Bart, Maggie, Lisa, The Reverend, Ned Flanders, Crusty the Clown, Moe, Apu, Mr. Burns, etc.

Every last one of them is a stereotype of SOMEBODY.

(((And that is precisely what makes it so funny!)))

[headsonpikes]

Just have a Curry Squishee and chill out!

After all, Ganesh is an elephant god...

[Larry Lucido]

"Get the hell out of my store and come again!"

[heterosupremacist]

left that other site wrote ~ EVERYBODY on the Simpsons is a stereotype! Homer, Marge, Bart, Maggie, Lisa, The Reverend, Ned Flanders, Crusty the Clown, Moe, Apu, Mr. Burns, etc. Every last one of them is a stereotype of SOMEBODY. (((And that is precisely what makes it so funny!))) Exactly! The leftists are utterly incapable of understanding that, and they are programmed to find offensiveness/racism/sexism/white privilege everywhere in the USA...

[Mr. K]

Aw grow a sack you wuss!

[heterosupremacist]

[Mr. K]

It goes both ways. They stay together at work, and conspire to get all their friends hired...

[Tallguy]

“...the Indian-American comedian tells BBC Culture.”

BBC, The Guardian... whatever. Their default is to depict Americans and American culture as inferior to “High Brit” (even though the term “Paki” is a unique insult for any South Asian in Britian.)

[right way right]

He’s looks pretty darn American in that picture.
(Armed and defending)

[left that other site]

I Protest!

This Heartless, Callous, Bigoted, Biased, Mean-Spirited, Racist, Sexist, Offensive, Stereotypical Portrayal of A White, American, Male, Cisgender Energy-Providing, Provider of Free Market Energy Production and Employment Opportunities!/s :-)

[Chainmail]

Everybody is a caricature on the Simpsons; it's a comedy, for gosh sakes!

It's been on for decades and NOW they find offense? Oh, please.

[Sarah Barracuda]

Liberals see racism everywhere..liberals also have NO LIFE and NO SENSE OF HUMOR

[VanDeKoik]

The character has a doctorate in computer science. Opened his own store to pay off the student loans, rather than default, is married, takes care of his many children, believes in the 2nd amendment, runs a well-respected business and loves being an American (doing so legally).



Jesus, I remember when the Simpsons was considered to be "edgy" by the same people that call it racist.