The Problem with Apu is a documentary-style film, written and narrated by stand-up comedian, Hari Kondabolu.
The film includes commentary and criticism about a made-up character, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, on the long time animated show, The Simpson’s.
Multiple interviews are included, with celebrities like actress Mindy Kaling, television host and actress Whoopie Goldberg, and comedian Dana Gould; who also serves as writer and co-executive producer of The Simpson’s television show.
According to the documentary, the depiction of Apu is considered a negative aspect of the already risqué TV show.
The stereotypes surrounding Apu include; a foreign accent, bobbing of the head, and his job working as a clerk at the local gas station.
Many South Asian celebrities who were interviewed in the documentary stated that characters like Apu have brought mockery and constant bullying from their peers while living in America.
Southern University students were asked their opinion of the portrayal of Apu.
First-year Law student, Jasmine Copper, from Shreveport, Louisiana says, “I think it is offensive, just because in today’s world, everything is politically correct and so cartoons like Family Guy and even The Boondocks offend different groups of people. I think the difference may be that with shows like The Boondocks, it’s Black people making fun of Black people. And so that’s okay, as opposed to other races making fun. It’s all offensive. It’s unfortunate. And they make money off of it.”
Student Aaron Ray from Middletown, New York, was told that many South Asians find Apu’s character repulsive.
Ray was asked if he would be offended if the situation was reversed and they changed Apu to a Black American with all the negative stereotypes that followed.
He answered, “Yeah, I find that very offensive if somebody does, like an act, to be a black person. And you know…it’s still racism going on, and we just don’t know how to react to it.”
In the documentary, Kondabolu interviewed random people on the street and told them various facts about Apu.
One fact that was made known was that Apu was not voiced by a South Asian actor, but instead a white male actor. A few of the bystanders stated that they now felt “uncomfortable” watching those scenes, after realizing the truth.
Criminal Justice major, Raven Wells, shared a similar experience she had.
She stated, “…with Apu, the character, I’m not familiar with him, but he kind of sounds like Cleveland off of Family Guy.
Wells admits that after she realized Cleveland was not voiced by a Black person she “literally stopped watching the show.” She can relate to South Asians who may feel the same way about Apu in “The Simpson’s”.
Black-face; yellow-face; brown-face; you name it, are all considered very offensive and an outdated form of comedy. So what happens next? Will the show go on with the same jokes or will writers and producers try to correct the way South Asians are portrayed on The Simpsons.
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“The Problem with Apu” Documentary: Is Racist Comedy Truly Outdated?
November 29, 2017
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