On Demand
Et Tu, Apu?
Thursday, July 26, 2007
In a promotion for The Simpsons Movie, opening tomorrow, 7-Elevens have been transformed into the show's Kwik-E-Mart convenience stores run by the Indian-American character Apu. But some find the character offensive. Manish Vij, author of the blog Ultrabrown, explains why.
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When will some people ever get it? Manish Vij has to "explain" why? Ignorance is alive and well in the 21st century.
Being Indian myself, I find Apu’s Character on the Simpsons to be hilarious! Apu is very much integrated into Springfield society as an
Indo-American. Homer accepts him unequivocally as a friend, as do the residents of Springfield.
YOU CALLED IT THE QUIL E MART ON WNYC'S FRONT PAGE. IT'S KWIK E MART ALSO, I THOUGHT HE WAS PAKI ALSO, JUST BECAUSE A STUPID LITTLE BROWN MAN WHO'S CULTURALLY UNAWARE OF ANYTHING BEYOND HIS PRIZED BEEF JERKY WHILE HE HIMSELF DOESN'T EAT COW, WHY IS THAT RACIST? THEY MADE HIM JUST AS STUPID AS HOMO-R
of course Indians don't tend to work in convenience stores, or have thick accents. what if the stereotype is true??
Oh please go home PC thug... The Simpson’s have no sacred cows, they make fun of everyone. That’s what’s so great about them. Do we have to sterilize everything on TV?
Apu is by far the most level-headed character on the Simpsons.
I don't think many people are laughing at the Apu character. In fact, I don't know many people who have laughed at the Simpsons at all for almost 10 years now, the show has gone down hill.
Your guest is taking this way too seriously. The idea of the simpsons is to make fun of everyone. even the simpsons themselves are a parody of a white trash family.
Am I to infer that the guest feels "Fat-Tony" and his mob and "Bumble-Bee" man's accent isn't stereotypical?
Common sense, why are you so rare?
Soo tired of people who are always treading
on moral ground; the world your guest advocates is a world where people are so afraid of offending or saying the wrong thing that they prefer to keep to themselves. And THAT is the way you curb mutual exchange and understanding.
i understand his feelings but i think he is going too far and taking things too seriously
it really is pretty funny - no one in their right mind thinks that all indians act exactly like apu
the whole conversation is really silly
What about the Flanders? The whole reason they're funny is that they are a parody of highly devout Christians. They are even more integral to the Simpsons landscape than Apu. Sure, they aren't a minority, but many Christians complain often that they are made fun of openly under cover of being so common. Is it ok, according to your guest, to make fun of a group of people if they aren't a minority?
I live in INdia
the accent is right on
almost exactly
this guy is dead wrong
indians there do sound like this
there is a slight accentuation
Oh for crying out loud! It is a satirical cartoon. You were expecting accuracy? The stereotypes employed are over-the-top in order to let the viewers know that it IS a false character. For the record, as a Simpsons casual watcher, I have always considered Apu to be the closet thing to "normal" of all the regular characters with the exception of Marge. This show zings everybody, but no one more-so than the suburban white male. They even manage to zing, on several occasions, my home state: Delaware. It is satire. Embrace it.
THis guy is dead wrong
In India this accent is accurate
listen to jackie mason
this guy is dead wrong
too sensitive
and youre wasting another show doing this
singling out a sect of society
laugh laugh laugh
I'm not sure how "positive" the Apu character is, as his Kwik's Mart's business practices constantly involve over-charging for items and selling outdated/spoiled food.
Could it be that people are people calling fowl on these stereotype cases as a means to get there 15min?
What about other ethnic communities stereotyping? Maybe you should do a show about this specific subject becasue it is so pervasive in the media and since so many are taking thier culture from the media it makes them think that all they see is the real thing about one or other culture?
this guy has an inferiority complex
a psychiatrists opinion
oh - come on - ride an elephant to work?
no one really thinks that - they are just being silly
Many years ago when the English Comedian Peter Sellers portrayed an Indian Doctor in “Goodness Gracious Me” he was asked how he thought Indians felt about his portrayal. Sellers replied that he’d heard from an Indian Door-to-Door Carpet Salesman that since Sellers had been doing this accent the Salesman’s job had never been easier.
I think this is a lot of fuss about nothing.
The white devil will get his.
As a white American who has married an Asian American, I have come to realize that white people have no leg to stand on when it comes to labeling something "racist". My husband is generally very forgiving of the portrayal of Asians, laughed at the Kim Jong Il puppet in "Team America." But cross that line is extremely hurtful. For this reason, we will NOT see "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" because of the racist portrayal of the Japanese priest that Rob Schneider does. It's not funny when you hurt people.
I did not think of the 7-11 promotion as racist until this show. When explained to me by someone who was hurt by this, it has changed my mind.
I think the characature of Apu is not crossing any more of a line than any of the other characatures on the show, however a 7-11 promotion encouraging people to dress as Apu and act as Apu is demeaning and demoralizing to Asian Americans (and yes people from India ARE Asian). The fact that we don't realize this or call people from the Indian sub-contintent Asian shows how little contact we have or what little we know of Indian/Pakistani/Bangali people and the reason we know so little is because they are a new minority in the fabric of American life. Therefore I think the fact that Apu is portrayed as a convenience store clerk is more accurate than perhaps Manish Vij is willing to admit. It takes many new minorities more than a generation to rise in a new culture. Indian people living in Britain have a longer history there and therefore are seen in more prominant and more educated careers such as doctors, teachers, lawyers. I don't watch the show much anymore, but my most affectionate memory of Apu is when he is going for his citizenship and launches into vast oratory explanations of US History and demostrates deep knowledge of the Constitution and the US legal system before being told "Just a 'Yes' or a 'No' is fine." I think this is perhaps an exaggeration of how hard and how seriously people from other parts of the world work when they come to America to benefit their children and the generations to follow, or is it? Of course, I am not Indian, but I think the presence of this character here shows an emergence of Asian-Indians in American society. The portrayal of this character in 7-11 stores across the country to appeal to American suburbanites as some crass marketing ploy to get them into this film, is going WAY TOO FAR!
I am amazed at how peaceful Manhattan is compared to my 60's childhood. I have often wondered how much political correctness contributed to this pleasant turn of events; on the other hand I have often declared that P.C. is "linguistic book burning" and a poor substitute for a healthy sense of humor and the ability to ask questions when experiencing uncomfortable feelings.
Oh and I agree 100% with Rebecca re: the Flanders. Now THEY are worse than Apu.
I am from Israel and have been asked in parts of the country whether they drive cars over there -- the idea being that they ride mules (seriously). I won't argue with someone else's feelings of being stereotyped, but think the elephant question mostly demonstrates the vast ignorance of the American public. The Simpsons actually appears to be run by people who are well-informed -- it's ironic that they should be singled out for perpetuating a stereotype.
"I find Apu’s Character on the Simpsons to be hilarious!"
He's both funny and racist.
"of course Indians don't tend to work in convenience stores, or have thick accents. what if the stereotype is true??"
Damn lazy comedy writing to lean on a stereotype for laughs. Might as well make fun of lazy X's or money-grubbing Y's.
"Oh please go home PC thug..."
Ah yes, the last refuge of someone without an argument.
"The Simpson’s have no sacred cows, they make fun of everyone."
Where's the Jewish, black or Mexican character in a stereotypical profession?
Where's there any other relatively unknown minority as a crude ethnic caricature?
"the world your guest advocates is a world where people are so afraid of offending"
No, the world is one where you think about it. Sorry, did you grow up Indian-American or are you just talking out of your radio mike?
"no one in their right mind thinks that all indians act exactly like apu"
And yet you get treated like it. Try being a convenience store employee, a blue collar worker, an Indian-American teen growing up during wartime. Takea look at the rank ignorance outside cities like NYC.
"What about the Flanders?"
We all know xtians in real life. Most Americans don't know personally know Indian-Americans.
"I live in India, the accent is right on"
Err... thanks for that contribution, Glenn. Very few Indians speak in singsong, and Azaria's version (via Peter Sellers) is so crude as to be ching-chongy.
"You were expecting accuracy?"
Nope-- just non-lazy, non-stereotypical comedic writing. The guy playing Krusty gets much closer to a Jewish accent than Azaria doing Apu.
"Could it be that people are people calling fowl on these stereotype cases as a means to get there 15min?"
Actually, I've been writing about this since '94.
"this guy has an inferiority complex"
First my friends have heard of it :)
"oh - come on - ride an elephant to work?"
Actual question. And on ABC (Australia's Beeb) they noted that Americans have asked, unironically, whether they ride about on kangaroos.
"he’d heard from an Indian Door-to-Door Carpet Salesman that since Sellers had been doing this accent the Salesman’s job had never been easier."
Since Sellers made a living doing shitty Indian accents, he's not exactly the most reliable source.
"I think the fact that Apu is portrayed as a convenience store clerk is more accurate than perhaps Manish Vij is willing to admit."
It's an East Coast stereotype more than a West Coast one.
"P.C. is "linguistic book burning" and a poor substitute for a healthy sense of humor and the ability to ask questions when experiencing uncomfortable feelings."
Reflexively accusing someone of PC without either understanding or refuting the argument smacks of wingnuttery. As for GSOH, everything's hilarious until it's yo mamma being gored.
"The Simpsons actually appears to be run by people who are well-informed -- it's ironic that they should be singled out for perpetuating a stereotype."
Apu is a parody of a stereotype sometimes, but a lot of times it's much cruder humor. And of the people watching, some get it, some are just laughing at Ganesh.
b: I grew up in a very white town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and we had two Indian kids in the high school (I'm in college now so this wasn't very long ago) - people really did ask them if they rode elephants to school in India, and they weren't joking. Don't underestimate the ignorance of the American people.
Manish, I think it's great that you're willing to answer everyone's comments, but a lot of this is lacking substance. My comment re: the Flanders wasn't as much of an assertion that the portrayal of Apu has no problems, but a question to you of whether or not it's alright to portray Christians negatively just because there's more of them. Slightly tangential, maybe, but I'm curious how you could justify that.
Apu is clearly intended as a _parody_ of a racist caricature, and thus the character never offended me. I see where your guest is coming from, though: I'm sure there are plenty of people who don't get the joke, and only absorb the stereotype. The thing is, this is just a natural part of the Simpsons's whole subversive style. If you took everything on the show literally, it would be atrocious.
As to the authenticity of Apu's accent, I have been to India twice and am going back in December and have found even well-educated Indians difficult to understand at times, as many people who have been routed to call centers in India will know. There have to be MANY accents when Indians speak English because of the many different local languages there and also depending on whether they have picked it up by ear or have learned it in school and whether their teachers spoke British or American English. At least Apu's English is understandable!
Rebecca: I think what Manish is trying to say is that there are enough Christians around us, we observe them and interact with them on a daily basis. So, we are not under any illusions that Flanders is representative of xtians in general.
I am a first generation Indian-American (newly minted). When me and my girlfriend got married in india, a couple (friends of ours) often told us how they thought our wedding ceremoney must have been. Their knowledge base was Simpsons, an episode where Apu weds Majula. BTW: Both of these individuals have Graduate Degrees (one has a MS in Comp Sci).
I don't think Irish Americans are asked if their dad or grand dad is a drunk leprechaun.
I count on Apu as the only male on the Simpsons who is actually intelligent, competent and wise.
He always gets the joke; always makes the buck; and even seems to get G-d. And is there another adult on there who fully appreciates Lisa?
Manish: don't quote a 'part' of what I said out of context of the entire sentence, it isn't an accurate quote then. Oh, and I am from Oregon originally. Thanks
Oh and I actually called 7-11's customer service to complain about having actual employees 'play' Apu and was told that this is not what the company is trying to do. Some stores are being converted on the outside and certain products are being marketed with recognizable names like Duff Beer and such, but was told that people are not being required to dress up as Apu. Again, I called to complain because I do see this as wrong. Who knows if I was being placated on the phone. Google the web-site and find out for yourself.
Yes.
Manish-- what exactly is a "Jewish accent" which you claim Krusty has. Sounds more like a New York accent to me. Or do you view New York the same way as Jesse Jackson--"hymietown." Be careful--glass houses you know.
What do you think of the Laotian characters on King of the Hill--there's a "relatively unknown" minority--even more so than Indian-American.
You seem to think that Bumblebee Man is not a steareotype--perhaps you're unfamiliar with Univision and other Spansih language television--Bumblebee man is based on this. Groundskeeper Willie--running around in a kilt, with a thick burr, beating up people--not a stereotype, eh?
Manish--your critique is frightening because it is myopic, uninformed, and sounds a lot like if you had the power, you'd be a censor. To target the Simpsons strikes me as silly when there are real life examples of bigotry all around us.
Minor disagreement with "O" as to the use/meaning of "Asian American":
I do not think the fact that a person of Indian or Pakistani descent is usually not referred to as "Asian American" results from ignorance. Granted, it can accurately cover someone with family ties to the subcontinent, but technically it could also apply equally well to someone from, say, Iraq, Israel, or Turkey (a/k/a Asia Minor). So, to prevent having to throw out a heretofore useful if now unfortunately vague term, current convention, in my understanding, generally limits it to those whose heritage lies in China and other countries in what used to be quaintly called the "Far East." Indians and Pakistanis that I know seem to gravitate to the marginally more precise prefix "South Asian" to refer to themselves.
Mike Choi: I grew up partly in Britain and was taught to use the term Asian to refer to Indians and Pakistani and Begali people because the alternative 'Paki' was racist and ignorant. This was of course at a time when it was Ok to say 'Oriental' to make the distinction, at least in Britain. It was when I moved to America and was looked at as if I had 3 heads when I called Indian/Pakistani/Begali et al, 'Asian', that I lost my connection to this former meaning, because is generally understood in America to mean ONLY people from China/Laos/Cambodia/Viet Nam/Japan/Korea/Thailand et al. I merely meant that us not using it or knowing about it in America comes from our lack of contact with people from those parts of the world, Indian sub-continent, or South Asia that is. I was trying to make the point that Indians et al are a newish minority in America...I have never heard British people of Asian decent (Indian et al) refer to themselves generally as South Asian, nor have I heard Brits refer to what Americans call 'Asian' as Asian! I think it's a British/American preference to be honest. But don't you think this is just as inaccurate and broad as saying Oriental, which means 'of the east'? This is why I was told upon arriving in America to never say Oriental, because it isn't accurate enough and only refers to certain art objects. Well I think it has 'come to mean' certain art objects...Gosh PCorrectness is sooooo confusing and hard. The lack of a generally accepted word in America I think illustrates my point. When I worked at Barnard College it was OK to say 'people of color' to mean everyone but caucasian.
I'm glad you saw my post, O, and thanks for your additional comments. We agree it's a (probably unnecessarily) complicated issue, but I've got time at the moment only to ask/say:
(1) What in fact are East Asians, for lack of a better term, called in the United Kingdom? I remember being confused when initially learning about apartheid in South Africa (formerly part of the Empire) and its racial category of "Asian." Being of Korean descent, I've wondered whether it would have applied to me.
(2) My understanding of why "Oriental" (like "Far East") has become taboo is not a lack of accuracy, but because of its, if you will, "geographical directionality." Using "Oriental," or "of the East," implies the question, "east of what?," which in turn implies a Europe-centered point of view, a no-no when it comes to Political Correctness. (I use "Europe-centered" specifically here because, to further heighten the ridiculousness implicit in this entire issue, terms like "Oriental" and "Far East" make no logical sense from a North American point of view. The world being round, the "Orient" is in fact due WEST of the United States!) I suspect these "directional" terms have something to do with the centuries-old Mercator-projection world map, which I understand places Berlin roughly at its center. Thus, China at al. are the "Far East," and the Arab nations are the "Near" or "Mid(dle) East."
to begin i think the accent and the character are brilliant. i think your guest must have inferiority complex. who cares if someone asks an indian if they ride to work on an elefant. everybody can see or hear the things happen in the world easily by watching a documentery and see the poverty and the chaos (to a westerners eye)in a street in india, i am sure even those people are proud of their culture and tradition. look at french stereotype in america, they are branded as obnoxious ,difficult, smelling of body odor but look how french twisted that! they are snubish and look down upon everybody non french, call them ignorants, and sell their perfume to them. yes you might see some people on an elefant in a street in india, and if they have any question about it tell them to call a customer service which would be answered by an indian who are expert at answering american people and their stupid condesending question.
apu is an intelligent survivor in a land who might want to make him feel that he is a second class citizen.
thanks manish. you beautifully presented the thoughts. the stereotype of indians will be there till indian-americans join in more 'media-catching' professions like films, tv, fashion, journalism etc etc ...
indians are lifeline of r&d and technology of america as of today; americans don't know that fact... but i think within next 15 years indians will be one of the most high-profile minority in america... (see forbes article - browner and youger america)
The problem with comparing media representations of other groups with those of Indians is that we don't only get the stereotyped version for ANY other group. For every drunk Irishman, we get a loving, sentimental movie. But with Indians, I can't think of any other portrayal in the popular culture that isn't a stereotype.
You can sit at your computers and tell Manish that he's wrong and has some sort of inferiority complex. But you wouldn't do that if you ever experienced someone you love being hurt or embarrassed because of a stereotype that is perpetrated by the media and popular culture.
Apu is the best character ever! I am so obsessed with him. He is such a nice-soundng guy, even though he's fictional. Apu likes Homer Simpson (his best customer) and saying, "Thank you, come again!"
Hope you reply!
I agree that Apu is comical to some extent. But I think putting up caricatures/effigies of Apu in 7-11 s and the other covenience stores especially when many of the patrons are Indian/other south Asian is extremely offensive. Some may think it is kinda cute, but, I think alot would find that this is a little too close to home. He is kinda funny, but, at the same time, I think he is a very stupid repesentation of South Asians. His last name, "Nahasapeemapetilon" is not even a real Indian name, thoough does sound vaguely Tamil. I use to wonder if Apus actual name was Apurva Nagalingam or something? I think that this name "Nahasapeemapetilon" is making fun of the fact that Indian, esp. Hindu names tend to seem very long and are difficult (for some) to pronounce. And as a Hindu, I do find this point very offensive. As long as our names may seem, these names have a certain meaning and history behind them.
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