The Simpsons' Apu branded 'a racist stereotype' in new documentary

[Cpt. Rishwat]

The Simpsons' Apu branded 'a racist stereotype' in new documentary





The Simpsons character Apu has been branded a "racist stereotype of people of Indian and Asian descent".

Documentary makers behind new show The Problem with Apu, probed whether or not the cartoon's Kwik-E-Mart owner was in fact offensive.

The new documentary is due to air on November 19 on US channel truTV.

Voiced by white actor Hank Azaria, the character is branded stereotypical for traits including his arranged marriage, large number of children and the fact that he is defined by his job as owner of a grocery store, producers said.

Simpsons' fan Hari Kondabolu said the character "gets to the insidiousness of racism" as it makes the prejudice so "normal", but others have taken to social media in outrage at the accusations.

Mr Kondabolu examines the issue with the character Apu in conversationa with figures including Aziz Ansari, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Maulik Pancholy, Sakina Jaffrey, Whoopi Goldberg and Kal Penn.

The film explores the influence that the hugely popular television programme, which has produced more than 600 shows in nearly 30 years, has had on comedy.

The comedian argues that Apu's representation of people of Indian and Asian descent has had a problematic impact on subsequent works of entertainment.

“The Simpsons is an important work of art that has influenced so many, including myself," Mr Kondabolu told the BBC.

"Apu was the only Indian we had on TV at all so I was happy for any representation as a kid."

He added: "And of course he’s funny, but that doesn’t mean this representation is accurate or right or righteous. It gets to the insidiousness of racism, though, because you don’t even notice it when it’s right in front of you."

Thoughts?

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

As someone who has referenced Apu myself on these forums, I feel this documentary was unnecessary. Apu has always been a beloved character from the blockbuster show, and is generally portrayed in a positive light. If we start looking into latent stereotypes in every tv character, then where will we find any humour? Is it PC brigade gone mad?

 

[jusarrived]

Totally unnecessary and nothing offensive about it .

 

[big_gamer007]

No idea about this haven't heard or watched this show..

However one of the characters from Big Bang theory has some stereotypical Indian jokes, some might consider them racist others might consider them funny.. Upto an individual, personally I think its funny as long as they don't cross certain line..

 

[Gabbar Singh]

The world has gone mad - I haven't met a single brown who has a problem with Apu. If Mr Kondabolu has an issue with it then switch off your tv and watch something else.

 

[GBK_Fan]

Way to kill a joke

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

One of the things to remember is that by definition, a cartoon caricature is going to poke fun at the characters in it. I think we have one on PP for that matter.

Rather than pick on the Simpsons, where the majority of the characters are buffoons, maybe the question should have been asked why a better image hasn't arisen of Indians in general in US entertainment? Why is the Simpsons alone responsible for what people want to watch on their screens?

 

[Mamoon]

So how should an Indian character on the Simpsons be portrayed? Blonde hair, blue eyes and white skin?

 

[Rana]

My opinion differs. Ive grown up in England and I hate the way a character like Apu is depicted in mainstream TV. Its a personal distaste. A part of me feels that Matt Groening plays with the racial stereotype of the South Asian immigrant through Apu, and isnt a fair representation for the South Asian community in the U.S. However, the simpsons as a whole is problematic in its representation to the American lifestyle, so Apu's character isnt as bad in the context of the cartoon.

It boils my skin when I see people who only associate asians with "Thankyou, come again" Slur.

 

[Rana]

The world has gone mad - I haven't met a single brown who has a problem with Apu. If Mr Kondabolu has an issue with it then switch off your tv and watch something else.

Im the first.

 

[troodon]

Apu is funny and nothing offensive or racist about his character.

Majority of Indians are dark skinned and this how they look and talk. It’s no secret that many Indians are convenient store or gas station owners.

Apu is what Indian is.

 

[Rana]

Apu is funny and nothing offensive or racist about his character.

Majority of Indians are dark skinned and this how they look and talk. It’s no secret that many Indians are convenient store or gas station owners.

Apu is what Indian is.

That is so not true! Ever read Jhumpa Lahiri's 'The namesake'? Now literature like that is a far more accurate of What India is in America. Apu is a very trivial representation, not a complete one the way you make it seem so.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Apu is funny and nothing offensive or racist about his character.

Majority of Indians are dark skinned and this how they look and talk. It’s no secret that many Indians are convenient store or gas station owners.

Apu is what Indian is.

This is what has always confused me in discussions with Indian members of this site who often tell me that the reputation of Indians is so high in the US. If so, why do people complain about Apu being a stereotype, when he is surely an example of a fine and decent citizen anyway?

 

[Dios]

What the idiots who made this totally unnecessary documentary don't realise is that all the characters in the Simpsons are stereotypes whether it be Chief Wiggum the overweight, inept Cop or Mr. Burns, the unscrupulous and heartless billionaire.

The Simpsons has suffered a drop in quality in recent years but it is still one the greatest TV shows of all time.

 

[Syed1]

What the idiots who made this totally unnecessary documentary don't realise is that all the characters in the Simpsons are stereotypes whether it be Chief Wiggum the overweight, inept Cop or Mr. Burns, the unscrupulous and heartless billionaire.

The Simpsons has suffered a drop in quality in recent years but it is still one the greatest TV shows of all time.

One of your best posts since joining

 

[Varun]

This is what has always confused me in discussions with Indian members of this site who often tell me that the reputation of Indians is so high in the US.

Are you trying to argue that Indians don't have a stellar reputation in filling gas? Have you ever experienced one of those Chinese or Nigerian operators leave a dribble of expensive gasoline floating down to the ground after they are done with the task? I suppose not. Or the Mexican down the road swindling away loose change from the cash register every week? It's daylight robbery and away with the money goes their reputation as well. So there!

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Are you trying to argue that Indians don't have a stellar reputation in filling gas? Have you ever experienced one of those Chinese or Nigerian operators leave a dribble of expensive gasoline floating down to the ground after they are done with the task? I suppose not. Or the Mexican down the road swindling away loose change from the cash register every week? It's daylight robbery and away with the money goes their reputation as well. So there!

I think that's what I said in the part of my quote which you cut out again.

If so, why do people complain about Apu being a stereotype, when he is surely an example of a fine and decent citizen anyway?

 

[Syed1]

Indians are unable to wrap their head around the fact that majority of them are running grocery stores in the West

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Indians are unable to wrap their head around the fact that majority of them are running grocery stores in the West

Doubt it in USA.

UK dunno.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Doubt it in USA.

UK dunno.

Then why is it considered a stereotype?

 

[Pakistanian]

The average indian in america only makes $8/hr and it's cause they work at gas stations.

 

[sensible-indian-fan]

Then why is it considered a stereotype?

Cos maybe the absolute number is significant.

Like a Patel guy owning a grocery shop.

 

[shaz619]

My opinion differs. Ive grown up in England and I hate the way a character like Apu is depicted in mainstream TV. Its a personal distaste. A part of me feels that Matt Groening plays with the racial stereotype of the South Asian immigrant through Apu, and isnt a fair representation for the South Asian community in the U.S. However, the simpsons as a whole is problematic in its representation to the American lifestyle, so Apu's character isnt as bad in the context of the cartoon.

It boils my skin when I see people who only associate asians with "Thankyou, come again" Slur.

) That's funny

 

[shaz619]

Im the first.

And stop it, you follow pro-raslin and it's full of stereotypical gimmicks lmao

 

[shaz619]

Indians are unable to wrap their head around the fact that majority of them are running grocery stores in the West

So do Pakistani's but Indians dominate the call centres

 

[shaz619]

No idea about this haven't heard or watched this show..

However one of the characters from Big Bang theory has some stereotypical Indian jokes, some might consider them racist others might consider them funny.. Upto an individual, personally I think its funny as long as they don't cross certain line..

LOL you expect me to believe that

 

[shaz619]

Indians also own a fair amount of pubs they are a popular business endeavours beyond retail, specifically sikhs in my city anyway

 

[Yossarian]

You should check out some old episodes of "It Ain't Half Hot Mum" and "Mind Your Language" on utube to get a real taste of how Indians (and Pakistanis) used to be depicted in sitcoms.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I just noticed in the OP article that one of the people on the discussion panel is Aziz Ansari. I don't like him personally, but hasn't he himself been criticised on here for building a routine that mocks Indian stereotypes? What is it with The Simpsons that it gets singled out for 'insidious racism'?

 

[troodon]

This is what has always confused me in discussions with Indian members of this site who often tell me that the reputation of Indians is so high in the US. If so, why do people complain about Apu being a stereotype, when he is surely an example of a fine and decent citizen anyway?

It depends on whom you are talking to.

If you talk to South Indians and tell them Indians are gas station owners or grocery store owners, they will not agree.

Most Gas stations are owned by Gujju and Punjabis. Almost all grocery stores are owned by Gujju Patels.

India is a huge country and you will hear a different version of India depending on whom you are talking to.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Finally someone saying the truth. But don't expect the anti hindu racists and the brown nosing indians to see the light. As it is cool to insult the indian hindu. Have been on this forum for years and have had to bear this insult from one particular poster (captain from jullundhar) but have taken it on the chin..because as a hindu, i hate the sin, not the sinner.

 

[Pakistanian]

It depends on whom you are talking to.

If you talk to South Indians and tell them Indians are gas station owners or grocery store owners, they will not agree.

Most Gas stations are owned by Gujju and Punjabis. Almost all grocery stores are owned by Gujju Patels.

India is a huge country and you will hear a different version of India depending on whom you are talking to.

You can say the same about Pakistanis, their occupation varies from where in Pakistan they originate from yet you dont see us Pakistanis differentiating ourselves while indians are trying to point how different they are from other Indians.

 

[troodon]

You can say the same about Pakistanis, their occupation varies from where in Pakistan they originate from yet you dont see us Pakistanis differentiating ourselves while indians are trying to point how different they are from other Indians.

It is what it is.

There is nothing wrong in owning a gas station or convenient store as long as people are not living on Govt handouts and housing and be a burden on the society and tax dollars.

Indians most of them work and you will rarely find any Indian living on Govt housing and handouts.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

You can say the same about Pakistanis, their occupation varies from where in Pakistan they originate from yet you dont see us Pakistanis differentiating ourselves while indians are trying to point how different they are from other Indians.

Not true. US Pakistanis have attempted to differentiate themselves and UK Pakistanis, prime example being [MENTION=138463]Slog[/MENTION] Varun-friend. They get their sly digs in then run for the hills when the UK posse take up the challenge. But these are a minority so I don't want to stereotype all US Pakistanis and lower myself to their standards. Although I think I've just done that by giving them a stereotypical standard. Hmmm...I'll come back and edit this once I've thought about it.

 

[blue_champion]

Indians are unable to wrap their head around the fact that majority of them are running grocery stores in the West

I guess You won’t be very flattered to hear what the sterotype for a Pakistani is.

Yes it is totally wrong

I guess apples to apples I will take stereotypes like call center employee,cab driver,easy Mart owner,IT geek to being called a terrorist.

Anyway all these stereotypes including terrorist is faced by most desis.

On Topic, there has been outrage of Sterotypical Chinese/Japanese characters who automatically seem to know Kungfu/Karate or the Black thug or the Mexican gardener over the years.

On the other hand liberal poster child Ashton Kutcher who is all pro immigration and anti trump does a brown face for a pop chip commercial,no one cares.He even gets away without apologizing for it.

While I agree that a character on a comedy show it is what it is,I am ok with a documentary made to raise awareness about a a community that has long flown under the radar in social debates.

This doesn’t include just Indians but people from the subcontinent.

I think the OP is from UK so I understand there is a lot more acceptance and awareness of the subcontinent community so that the odd racial stereotype can be taken for what it’s worth. In USA there is still lack of awareness.

Also the documentary filmmaker is a stand up
Comic so it might just be a humorous take on it with a Social Message rather than an all out protest.

 

[James]

Surely the joke behind Apu is that he represents what the average American oaf (i.e. Homer) perceives the "Other" to be - brown not white, Hindu not Christian, only one of them in the whole city, has sole dominion over an overpriced convenience store, foreign accent, short-tempered but friendly, eccentric but hard-working, constantly getting shot at by robbers, a long-suffering pillar of a gated community; essentially, a good little Indian man. So Apu is a poke at Americans - not Asians, not Indians and not Hindus.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Surely the joke behind Apu is that he represents what the average American oaf (i.e. Homer) perceives the "Other" to be - brown not white, Hindu not Christian, only one of them in the whole city, has sole dominion over an overpriced convenience store, foreign accent, short-tempered but friendly, eccentric but hard-working, constantly getting shot at by robbers, a long-suffering pillar of a gated community; essentially, a good little Indian man. So Apu is a poke at Americans - not Asians, not Indians and not Hindus.

Wow. Wish I had a degree in English Literature so that I could make an anti Hindu racist caricature into something that Hindus should be proud of.

 

[blue_champion]

Surely the joke behind Apu is that he represents what the average American oaf (i.e. Homer) perceives the "Other" to be - brown not white, Hindu not Christian, only one of them in the whole city, has sole dominion over an overpriced convenience store, foreign accent, short-tempered but friendly, eccentric but hard-working, constantly getting shot at by robbers, a long-suffering pillar of a gated community; essentially, a good little Indian man. So Apu is a poke at Americans - not Asians, not Indians and not Hindus.

That is an excellent point. However, the average viewer doesn’t get the satire and takes the characters on face value. I get questions to this date like “wow you are drinking beer,doesn’t your religion forbid it?” Or “Do you speak Hindu(not a misspell) at home?” ...and I have faced these questions come from college educated,six figure salaried American people.Just imagine the average nitwit watching this.

 

[James]

Wow. Wish I had a degree in English Literature so that I could make an anti Hindu racist caricature into something that Hindus should be proud of.

It's called satire dear, if you don't get it then best to stick to children's programming and other more obvious forms of comedy instead.

 

[CricketCartoons]

It's called satire dear, if you don't get it then best to stick to children's programming and other more obvious forms of comedy instead.

What an illogical statement. How will I know that I don't get satire when I don't know what satire is.

 

[blue_champion]

What an illogical statement. How will I know that I don't get satire when I don't know what satire is.

Nice satire

But don’t get the bigger picture here

 

[CricketCartoons]

As I have said earlier. Bigotry towards Hindus is not only mainstream but universal, even among the western liberals who are against islamophobia, but still have latent contempt for the hindu. Probably because they see the Muslims as their equals even if rivals, but the hindus as sub equal, sub human subjects.

 

[James]

As I have said earlier. Bigotry towards Hindus is not only mainstream but universal, even among the western liberals who are against islamophobia, but still have latent contempt for the hindu. Probably because they see the Muslims as their equals even if rivals, but the hindus as sub equal, sub human subjects.

May be true about Western liberals, plenty of Westerners are not liberal though.

 

[blue_champion]

As I have said earlier. Bigotry towards Hindus is not only mainstream but universal, even among the western liberals who are against islamophobia, but still have latent contempt for the hindu. Probably because they see the Muslims as their equals even if rivals, but the hindus as sub equal, sub human subjects.

Appreciate a very deep take on this subject matter but I guess the bigotry stops at the color of the skin.

Now don’t hurt your brain thinking about all shades of brown that exists in the subcontinent ,let us simply call It “brown skin” and herein lies the bias.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Appreciate a very deep take on this subject matter but I guess the bigotry stops at the color of the skin.

Now don’t hurt your brain thinking about all shades of brown that exists in the subcontinent ,let us simply call It “brown skin” and herein lies the bias.

Please don't dilute a targeted hindu racist stereoptype by making it only brown skin. Arabs are not called APU. Not even Karachi Pakistanis who look very much Indian. Nor do Bangladeshis or Sri Lankans as APU does not target them. It is exclusively for the Indian Hindu. Don't know when people will start calling out the racism against Hindus. Can't blame them when there are self hating hindus themselves who love to laugh at the white man's joke so that he can be acknowledged as someone who understands satire.

 

[troodon]

Please don't dilute a targeted hindu racist stereoptype by making it only brown skin. Arabs are not called APU. Not even Karachi Pakistanis who look very much Indian. Nor do Bangladeshis or Sri Lankans as APU does not target them. It is exclusively for the Indian Hindu. Don't know when people will start calling out the racism against Hindus. Can't blame them when there are self hating hindus themselves who love to laugh at the white man's joke so that he can be acknowledged as someone who understands satire.

Like Westerners know the difference between an Indian/Pakistani/Srilankan/Bangladeshi

They can't even tell apart an Indian from an Arab. Most of them.

 

[CricketCartoons]

Like Westerners know the difference between an Indian/Pakistani/Srilankan/Bangladeshi

They can't even tell apart an Indian from an Arab. Most of them.

Yes, they don't know the difference. But Indians, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans and Bangladeshis know the difference. And they know that this vile racist caricature is targeted towards Indians. Probably they enjoy it at the expense of Indians.

Also the racist western may call the Pakistani (karachi area), Sri Lankan and Bangladeshis, or even Yemeni as APU..but mistakenly. And "mistakenly" is the key word.

 

[Pakistanian]

It is what it is.

There is nothing wrong in owning a gas station or convenient store as long as people are not living on Govt handouts and housing and be a burden on the society and tax dollars.

Indians most of them work and you will rarely find any Indian living on Govt housing and handouts.

You'd be surprised how many indians are scamming the govt and other people.

 

[amax]

most Indians I have seen/known do look and talk like Appu.

 

[TM Riddle]

You can say the same about Pakistanis, their occupation varies from where in Pakistan they originate from yet you dont see us Pakistanis differentiating ourselves while indians are trying to point how different they are from other Indians.

They are actually.The country is probably more diverse than the entire Europe combined.

 

[blue_champion]

most Indians I have seen/known do look and talk like Appu.

Most Pakistanis I have seen from watching cricket can’t even string an English sentence together.

Dude you know that Apu the caricature stands for all Subcontinent folks right?

Not personal but don’t think you even understand the context of this thread )

 

[TM Riddle]

most Indians I have seen/known do look and talk like Appu.

Thats true.

 

[TM Riddle]

Most Pakistanis I have seen from watching cricket can’t even string an English sentence together.

Dude you know that Apu the caricature stands for all Subcontinent folks right?

Not personal but don’t think you even understand the context of this thread )

He's right though.Most Indians esp southies do speak in that accent and all of us are brown anyway.

 

[shaz619]

Thats true.

do you sound like that as well

 

[amax]

Most Pakistanis I have seen from watching cricket can’t even string an English sentence together.

Dude you know that Apu the caricature stands for all Subcontinent folks right?

Not personal but don’t think you even understand the context of this thread )

well I have watched two recent major HBO tv series on Pakistan, Homeland and the Brink , you can see them and see representation of Pakistan.

 

[amax]

He's right though.Most Indians esp southies do speak in that accent and all of us are brown anyway.

It depend UK Indians who are from NW India have different sterotypes than US indians who are mostly Gujjus or Southies.

 

[blue_champion]

He's right though.Most Indians esp southies do speak in that accent and all of us are brown anyway.

Great, so you come up with your own sterotype on a thread about a caricature of a sterotype...I mean you can’t beat that.

Again the documentary trailer from what I have seen is not a criticism of the Simpsons or Apu the character, it is about how that caricature has been associated with an entire community(including all South Asians). Most guys in this doc are 2nd and 3rd generation desis who has to grow up with that.

Again way to miss the context.

 

[blue_champion]

well I have watched two recent major HBO tv series on Pakistan, Homeland and the Brink , you can see them and see representation of Pakistan.

I saw few episodes of the brink...never seen homeland but obviously know what it is about.

And neither did I think it is a great and flattering representation of Pakistan and did not enjoy the sterotype. Also the accents portrayed how in that show,how are they different from a stereotypical Indian accent.

Maybe racial stereotype humor just doesn’t cater to my taste. Never enjoyed Russell Peters,George Lopez or even some of the black comics.

 

[amax]

I saw few episodes of the brink...never seen homeland but obviously know what it is about.

And neither did I think it is a great and flattering representation of Pakistan and did not enjoy the sterotype. Also the accents portrayed how in that show,how are they different from a stereotypical Indian accent.

Maybe racial stereotype humor just doesn’t cater to my taste. Never enjoyed Russell Peters,George Lopez or even some of the black comics.

I agree with you stereotypes at the end of the day are a bad thing , you cant lump country as diverse as India with one brush.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

I guess You won’t be very flattered to hear what the sterotype for a Pakistani is.

Yes it is totally wrong

I guess apples to apples I will take stereotypes like call center employee,cab driver,easy Mart owner,IT geek to being called a terrorist.

Well that is the weird thing, proud Indian poster cricketjoshila informed me that Indians are very highly regarded in America, I remember saying that the only famous Indian I could think of from the US was Apu. But of course in comparison to the terrorist Pakistanis, that image is indeed superior, so maybe that is what he meant by highly regarded.

 

[TM Riddle]

do you sound like that as well

A bit I guess.But I am from the north west so its not as thick.

 

[blue_champion]

Well that is the weird thing, proud Indian poster cricketjoshila informed me that Indians are very highly regarded in America, I remember saying that the only famous Indian I could think of from the US was Apu. But of course in comparison to the terrorist Pakistanis, that image is indeed superior, so maybe that is what he meant by highly regarded.

Lol...is that the only part of my post that caught your attention? I guess you only process what you want to.

For your sake let me summarize for you-there is no terrorist Pakistani or a “Apu” Indian in the US atleast.

Every brown skin falls under one category or the other.

I guess you being a Brit Pakistani has an established identity where you live just like say an African-American or a Mexican-American in the US.

When it comes to South Asian community in the US there is a lot of ignorance and that is what these 2nd and 3rd gen desis are discussing here. It is not a smear campaign against the simpsons or over reacting to a joke. It is about getting associated with a caricature.

Let me see how much of this will you pick up on instead of key triggers like terrorist etc.

 

[TM Riddle]

On the subject of Pakistanis in US , I doubt an average simpsons watching american joe even know where Pakistan is.Dont think they care much about them.Most of them drive taxis anyway or occasionally try to blow themselves .Not important.

 

[TM Riddle]

Great, so you come up with your own sterotype on a thread about a caricature of a sterotype...I mean you can’t beat that.

Again the documentary trailer from what I have seen is not a criticism of the Simpsons or Apu the character, it is about how that caricature has been associated with an entire community(including all South Asians). Most guys in this doc are 2nd and 3rd generation desis who has to grow up with that.

Again way to miss the context.

Yar south indians do speak in that accent.I have met enough of them to arrive on that opinion.

 

[amax]

On the subject of Pakistanis in US , I doubt an average simpsons watching american joe even know where Pakistan is.Dont think they care much about them.Most of them drive taxis anyway or occasionally try to blow themselves .Not important.

most westerners specially in US think Pakistan is a middle eastern country and Pakistanians are some kind of arabs.lol

 

[blue_champion]

On the subject of Pakistanis in US , I doubt an average simpsons watching american joe even know where Pakistan is.Dont think they care much about them.Most of them drive taxis anyway or occasionally try to blow themselves .Not important.

Some of them think Pakistan is in the middle
East but I guess that wouldn’t be really considered a negative sterotype and would in fact be taken as a compliment by a lot of folk on here.

 

[TM Riddle]

most westerners specially in US think Pakistan is a middle eastern country and Pakistanians are some kind of arabs.lol

Yeah that too.

 

[big_gamer007]

LOL you expect me to believe that

Why is it so hard to believe? From the picture it seems like a cartoon and when I was growing up in 90's we had cartoons like centurions, swat kats, tom and jerry, scooby doo, fantastic 4 etc etc.. We did not have this cartoon on Cartoon Network so I never heard of it nor watched it so wouldn't know..

If sure you haven't heard of Nagraj or Dhruv or shaktiman..

 

[Pakistanian]

Some of them think Pakistan is in the middle
East but I guess that wouldn’t be really considered a negative sterotype and would in fact be taken as a compliment by a lot of folk on here.

Hummus > Dosa any day!

 

[Syed1]

Lol at the Indians taking digs at Pakistan. Chotay log )

 

[amax]

Pakistan is a geopolitical bridge between South Asia , Central Asia and Middle east

thats why it plays some kind of role in all the regions

be it Negotiations Between Saudi Arabia and Iran

Restructuring of Ex Soviet Central Asia etc

 

[SandyB]

Yar south indians do speak in that accent.I have met enough of them to arrive on that opinion.

Most Indians have accents. Only convent school educated upper middle class / rich Indians have a fake/neutral western accent . And that is same about southies too.

As a malayali who has tried since my school time to cultivate a neutral accent that doesn't sound like the malayalam stereotype (Simbly sorrry) . I've realized that subconsciously some words do spill out, no matter how hard we try. Maybe it's because the sounds and pronunciations of southern languages are incompatible with modern English. Even then there is no connection between the accents among the 4 south states. Malayalam accent is very distinctive, Tamil too has its quirks. The Telugu and Kannada English accents sound very alike (the actual languages are closer as well) , yet you can tell them apart.

But the norther / western Indians have there own language / accent quirks in plenty. The average bihari ya UP wala has one of the strongest regional accents speaking english. So do the Bongs , especially with the "A -> O" thing, that they carry over to english as well as saying "bread" as "breeead" . Again , the more expensive the school you go to , the more neutral your accent becomes. The average Delhiite/Punjabi will have a very distinctive english style too.

PS: Haven't interacted with enough Rajasthanis to know what their accent looks like. The only Sisodia colleague I have has a very cultured accent, so she must very likely have studied in a very posh school .

 

[SandyB]

Relavant Video :

Hari Kondabolu on the view, discussing why he made said documentary, and what he seeks to achieve by it :

 

[CricketCartoons]

Most Indians have accents. Only convent school educated upper middle class / rich Indians have a fake/neutral western accent . And that is same about southies too.

Whenever I talk to Brits I make sure to tell them..hey you must be british, as you have a british accent..and i can see their cheeks turn red with embarrassment, as apparently these english speaking westerners don't like to be told they have an accent. Don't worry bro, even though APU might be more apt for friends from MADRAS, we are in it together..and no northie southie divide on this issue.

 

[SandyB]

Whenever I talk to Brits I make sure to tell them..hey you must be british, as you have a british accent..and i can see their cheeks turn red with embarrassment, as apparently these english speaking westerners don't like to be told they have an accent. Don't worry bro, even though APU might be more apt for friends from MADRAS, we are in it together..and no northie southie divide on this issue.

Nice Bait.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Lol...is that the only part of my post that caught your attention? I guess you only process what you want to.

For your sake let me summarize for you-there is no terrorist Pakistani or a “Apu” Indian in the US atleast.

Every brown skin falls under one category or the other.

I guess you being a Brit Pakistani has an established identity where you live just like say an African-American or a Mexican-American in the US.

When it comes to South Asian community in the US there is a lot of ignorance and that is what these 2nd and 3rd gen desis are discussing here. It is not a smear campaign against the simpsons or over reacting to a joke. It is about getting associated with a caricature.

Let me see how much of this will you pick up on instead of key triggers like terrorist etc.

My reference was to a few previous conversations with joshila bhai where Apu coincidentally came up in the conversation. I would really like to hear his view on this topic but he seems to be missing it at the moment, maybe it ends up too far down the page by the time he logs on.

 

[troodon]

Relavant Video :

Hari Kondabolu on the view, discussing why he made said documentary, and what he seeks to achieve by it :

Every character in The Simpsons show is a stereotype of an ethnicity or race or a country.

Look how they show White American as. In this case it is Homer. He is fat, bald, drinks too much and stupid.

All of the boy characters in the show are stupid and rascals. Bart, Nelson, Jimbo.... Bad stereotype again.

Rich are shown in bad light (Burns)

Women and girl characters are shown in good light.

Janitor is Scottish and he is shown in bad light too.

Any Asian character in the show is also stereotyped.

You can only laugh at stereotypes. Most jokes are stereotypes. Be it men, women, Jewish, Indian, Arab, Black.....

 

[SandyB]

Every character in The Simpsons show is a stereotype of an ethnicity or race or a country.

Look how they show White American as. In this case it is Homer. He is fat, bald, drinks too much and stupid.

All of the boy characters in the show are stupid and rascals. Bart, Nelson, Jimbo.... Bad stereotype again.

Rich are shown in bad light (Burns)

Women and girl characters are shown in good light.

Janitor is Scottish and he is shown in bad light too.

Any Asian character in the show is also stereotyped.

You can only laugh at stereotypes. Most jokes are stereotypes. Be it men, women, Jewish, Indian, Arab, Black.....

All of that is true, but what this guy Hari Kondabolu (Telugu it seems ? ) , is stressing is that for almost 25-30 years, Apu was the only visible representation of South Asians in American media, as well as to the scores of nations the Simpsons was telecasted in .

There was nothing else available to counterbalance that POV, so a lot of people would generalize that character on all Indians.

 

[Pakistanian]

Lol all indians sound the same, there are no regional or class differences in the way you guys talk and behave

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

All of that is true, but what this guy Hari Kondabolu (Telugu it seems ? ) , is stressing is that for almost 25-30 years, Apu was the only visible representation of South Asians in American media, as well as to the scores of nations the Simpsons was telecasted in .

There was nothing else available to counterbalance that POV, so a lot of people would generalize that character on all Indians.

I made this same point several times to Indians who have bragged about their success in the USA and how they are CEOs of this mega company or that one. It might all be true, but what everyone else sees is Apu from the Simpons and that is how the rest of the world imagines the Indian community in America.

Incidentally, is it wrong to say that the Indian community in the US is from different part of India than the community in the UK? Here we have a good mix of Indians from the north and probably less from the south of India. Whenever I see Indians on US shows they always look like south Indians. I wonder if that is why Americans seem to think Pakistanis come from the middle east rather than the Indian subcontinent?