I appreciate the sensitivity to privilege in this thread (and the ambivalence). Recognizing privilege doesn’t mean silencing yourself, it does mean really seeking out and listening to those with a different experience.
Here is link to the Problem with Apu doc: http://www.trutv.com/shows/the-problem-with-apu/index.html Here is a nice discussion of the Simpson ‘s Apu problem: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/culture/2018/4/15/17236336/simpsons-apu-controversy-no-good-read-goes-unpunished-recap What I really like about the piece is that it links this to broader problems with the show itself- basically that one of its central conceits and arguably strengths (that the characters don’t change or experience the flow of time) makes it unable to depict growth and development- either in the characters or its interaction with the culture. I think the recent response in show was way worse than anything they have ever done with the character himself. I don’t hate Apu and often love him, but the show at its best is worthy of a better solution to the problem he poses. On Wed, Apr 18, 2018 at 9:51 AM 'Greg Diener' via TVorNotTV < [email protected]> wrote: > The problem I have is if you condemn Apu as being an Indian stereotype > then you might as well do the same with Krusty as a Jewish stereotype and > Groundskeeper Willie being an Irish stereotype. > > If anything the character of Apu throughout the show has been a > hard-working immigrant who has made something of himself and has ended up > with a wife and family over the course of the show. > > But again I concede to Kevin's point, white guy, privilege probably > negates the opinion. > > Greg > > > On Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 4:36:36 PM UTC-4, Kevin M. (RPCV) wrote: >> >> Did anybody watch The Simpsons on Sunday? I have only seen the clip >> wherein Lisa references the Apu controversy, but the online backlash has >> been extreme. >> >> I’m a white male, so I fully understand that my privilege negates my >> opinion on this issue. If Indians are offended by Apu, so be it. I consider >> Fisher Stevens’ role(s) in the Short Circuit films more worthy of >> condemnation, as his character(s) had more stereotypes than the accent, but >> — again — white guy. >> -- >> Kevin M. (RPCV) >> > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "TVorNotTV" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- Sent from Gmail Mobile -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TVorNotTV" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
