FabSwingers.com forum: The problem with Apu?

By *uliaChris OP Couple
over a year ago

westerham

"The Problem with Apu is a 2017 documentary film.... It focuses on the character Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, an Indian immigrant in the animated sitcom The Simpsons who, for a period, was the only figure of Indian heritage to appear regularly on mainstream U.S. television. The film explores encounters with negative stereotypes, minstrelsy, racial microaggressions, and slurs against people of Indian and South Asian heritage."

I've not watched much of the Simpsons, but my questions for those more familiar with Apu - is it a racist portrayal? Could the producers have done better? Is it any different to the doughnut eating cops?

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By *ercuryMan
over a year ago

Grantham

Apu is your typical Indian cornershop owner. Maybe stereotyped, but he seems very happy with his lot.

The main complaint was he was voiced by a white guy, obviously putting on a false Indian voice. Thats now been addressed.

There is scope in the future, for one of Apu's many children, to become a rocket scientist or a computer Entrepreneur.

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By *uliaChris OP Couple
over a year ago

westerham

"Apu is your typical Indian cornershop owner. Maybe stereotyped, but he seems very happy with his lot.

The main complaint was he was voiced by a white guy, obviously putting on a false Indian voice. Thats now been addressed.

There is scope in the future, for one of Apu's many children, to become a rocket scientist or a computer Entrepreneur. "

Has the character carried on? With a different actor?

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By *ercuryMan
over a year ago

Grantham

"Apu is your typical Indian cornershop owner. Maybe stereotyped, but he seems very happy with his lot.

The main complaint was he was voiced by a white guy, obviously putting on a false Indian voice. Thats now been addressed.

There is scope in the future, for one of Apu's many children, to become a rocket scientist or a computer Entrepreneur.

Has the character carried on? With a different actor?

He hasn't been seen for a while. Black characters, Dr Hibbert and Carl Carlson, will no longer be voiced by white people.

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By *uliaChris OP Couple
over a year ago

westerham

I don't know about this. We kind of all agreed a few months ago that a black lady did a brilliant job portraying Anne boleyn.

Can't specifically see the difference between that and a white guy portraying an Indian?

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By *ionaScarletTV/TS
over a year ago

Dundee

Contrast Apu with Navid from Still Game. Sure the Indian shopkeeper is a stereotype, but it can be done a deal less lazily.

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By *uliaChris OP Couple
over a year ago

westerham

"Contrast Apu with Navid from Still Game. Sure the Indian shopkeeper is a stereotype, but it can be done a deal less lazily."

Not familiar with it, but Apu was a caring sensitive character, strong family ties, very moral? Is that lazy stereotyping, or just a character?

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By *al2001Man
over a year ago

kildare

Is this just for brown people?

Who voices their d*unken fightin leprechaun?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I don't know about this. We kind of all agreed a few months ago that a black lady did a brilliant job portraying Anne boleyn.

Can't specifically see the difference between that and a white guy portraying an Indian? "

And look at the Netflix series Bridgerton

We’re there any complaints about that?

Reality is the stuff of the playground but very one sided

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By *ercuryMan
over a year ago

Grantham

The Simpsons now have a gay Cuban voice artist, doing the part of Julio, the openly gay Cuban hairdresser!

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