Picture from National Review’s commentary on the controversy.
The third part of Andrew Sullivan’s weekly tripartite column covers a controversy I missed out on, which I regret since I would have laughed quite loudly if I had:
And then they came for Apu.
In battling against the relentless onslaught of “social justice,” you have to take solace in a few small acts of defiance. And last week, we had one, as the writers of The Simpsons stood their ground against the attempt to rid their show of funny stereotypes, in particular to reform and remake the character of Apu Nahasapeemapetilon. The usual arguments have been made: Apu foments racism because he was long the sole South Asian figure in mainstream television and does not represent many Indian-Americans, he is voiced by a white (i.e., Jewish) man in a parody of an Indian accent, he “hurts” people, he’s created by people with “privilege,” the oppression is intolerable, yada yada. We haven’t yet gotten to the point in the formula where Apu is actually responsible for the deaths of Indian-Americans, but I’m sure that’s coming.
As I recall, and as Andrew notes in passing, Apu happens to hold a doctorate in Computer Science. But how does he make his living in Springfield, ??, United States? He runs a convenience store. Now, Andrew focuses on Apu’s status as a small business owner (who happens to sell absolute crap to the gullible citizens of Springfield), but I think the contrast of having earned a doctorate, but ending up running a convenience store, is really a slap at the prejudices which infest the United States.
Now, in reality, a doctorate in Computer Science from India can get a job in the United States, as I know of at least one (there may be more, as I don’t pay a lot of attention to the academic attainments) in my building at work. But it’s a convenient trope to use in The Simpsons, as it fits right in with other stereotypes concerning India and who emigrates from there – and how much of a hurdle emigres often face from the somewhat xenophobic society they find here in North America.
So, in that respect, this is really the reverse of what the social justice mavens of Andrew’s acquaintance would claim – it’s an illumination of the problem and a cry for solution, not just the use of it for entertainment value.
Andrew goes on to defend the use of stereotypes in comedy, and I have no problem with that. I just want to say that Chief Wiggum is the most dedicated and loving father in all of TV that I’ve seen.
Which isn’t much.
