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"The recent Kwik-E-Mart marketing campaign for The Simpsons Movie has stirred up controversy about Apu's character. Is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon a racist stereotype, or a satire making fun of racism?"

There are a bunch of articles debating whether or not the character or Apu is racist and insulting:

This guy claims that "Unlike the show's parodies of policemen and Irish-Americans, he's the only character to mock a small American minority relatively unknown in the mainstream."

This guy claims it's the accent that insults him.

I find this all a bit silly really - the Simpson's pretty much parodies everyone, and all the characters are stereotypes. Groundskeeper Willie is a stereotype, so are the red-necks, so is that German kid Uter who has blond hair and wears Lederhosen (as all good German's do)... and as for accents, yes it's a stereotype and may be incorrect but the same goes for every movie that ever had a Russian, or a German villain who says 'ze' instead of 'the' and of course Australians who always start off every sentence with 'mate'. You get my drift anyway... Just seems like a bit of madness to me.

Hmmmm thats a tough one...it might just be political correctness taken too far, I agree with your point tania about all the various stereotypes - although I have to admit I haven't read a lot about this issue, so there might be other things that i haven't picked up on...

Just pure sillyness

how far does political correctness have to go? i understand that some things need a bit of PC, but you need to couple it with common sense and having the trust in people. The ones who go over the top with PC, no matter how well intended, sound like they have an ego to stroke. We all have brains and can use them...not everyone needs their hand held as to what to think what is right and what is wrong :S

if ur offended by the simpsons.... u need to get out more.

its makes generalisations about everyone. Even australians have been generalised in one episode and funnily enough, i laughed at it so much. Are ex cons offended by the way snake acts? are christians offended at the way ned is treated???? could go on all day.

people r stupid lol

Ned is actually embraced check out this article


See Ned is even a Christian Cover Model - that is a real cover!

"Is Apu Nahasapeemapetilon a racist stereotype"

Would it matter if he was. Are we so ill equipped to deal with the real world that racial and other stereotypes must be stamped out. Next thing you know these nutters will want to stamp out Christmas. Oh, they already do.

The Simpsons has been on the air for 16 years... And this is only just become an issue now? It seems the imminent release of a film can stir up the silliest things. The Simpson family itself is a huge stereotype. I'm amazed more Americans don't find THEM offensive.

Lets face it, many of the characters are presented in such a way so they instantly recogniseable to children. Kids know that Apu is Indian because of the characteristics he's been given. It's not because the kids are racist, it just helps them make an assosciation.

Maybe I just have a soft spot in my heart for The Simpsons since I grew up with them.

for me Apu symbolises the minority groups in society that don't 'integrate'.. it raises the issues of integration & assimilation for me.. didn't ever think it was racist though. just the truth :)

did anyone see on the news on commercial tv about australia becoming asianised in a few decades time & hence the questioning of our values? it was implied that knowing what pavlova is is an aussie value.. i of course was infuriated when the asian interviewees weren't asked about Aborigines! which brings me to my next point.. australians shouldn't call them australian before they know their history :)

Post by heLen

australians shouldn't call them australian before they know their history :)

History is one of the most important subjects for students IMO.