The Beeb’s sister has a thing for Apu
ABC, Australia’s version of the Beeb, ran a segment on youth radio today about the Simpsons controversy. The Land Down Under does have 7-Elevens, but they didn’t get the full Kwik-E-Mart makeover.
Again, it’s a meaty discussion of the kind you only seem to have on radio and podcast. I mentioned that Apu feeds the kind of stereotyping which makes people ask whether Indians commute by elephant. The host, Ali Benton, remarked drily that Americans sometimes wonder aloud whether Australians get around on kangaroos. The segment and the Ultra interview begins at 12:44.
The devil-may-care callers are the most entertaining part. At 19:40, a Greek caller complains about the Mario character on Super Mario. An Italian man says he’s been called a wog. A gay man says he hates limp-wristed stereotypes on TV. All three callers say they shrugged it off. *Cough* Cronulla *cough*
At 23:13, an Argentinian calls in and dissents vociferously, complaining about ‘typical Anglo racism’ and mentioning a book called I’m Not a Racist, But:
… society does not have the vocabulary to discuss racial overtones with greater subtlety. Thus people and institutions fearful of being called racist feel defensive when racial issues are raised, perpetuating the status quo of race relations. [Link]
Here’s another interesting segment from the same show:
Hack reporter Ali Benton followed the Sydney Girls High Debating Team for 2 months… 17- and 18-year-olds who know all about the diamond trade in Angola, human rights in China, and the politics of the war on terror. [Link]
Hack is the name of the show, which makes every correspondent a ‘hack reporter’ 
on Wednesday, July 25th, 2007, 4:00 pm in Issues, Radio, Simpsons, TV › 
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Hi,
im from australia and listened to the show yesterday evening as i was driving back from work. Im a big fan of “hack” its a great show and was pleased to see them even discussing the issue. generally the consensus was that you were seeking you “15 minutes of fame” and you could even tell the interview thought likewise. But just to throw an Aussie perspective into things, i dont think Australian indians experience the same heightened racism American indians experience, not to have a stab at Americans but generally i think Australians are better informed and more sensitive, yes there definitley are racist overtones there always are, but they tend to fizzle out by the time someone reaches adulthood. I was raised in Australia and dont think ive experienced any racism after the age of 17. Sure its not acceptable but i guess i learnt to not take it too seriously. i didnt have it forcing its way down my throat as an adult, which alot of you American guys get(as ive read). that might be why alot of the callers said what they did. Anyway your point about cronulla, that has alot to do with the current Australian government similair to the American government using scare tactics to fuel the sentiment of the war on terror etc. But cronulla did show that Australia still has a long way to go a damn long way before it is over racial stereotypes, theres still alot of racism here yeah, but to the same extent as America i dont think so.
Oh by the way the call about Honda’s ……..priceless
Thanks for checking in, nv.
I’ve been writing about this since at least ‘94, actually. I thought Ali was quite sympathetic. Maybe that just makes her a good interviewer.
:) That one-liner got no reaction from the host– maybe you just have to be desi. (”Indians don’t ride elephants to work in Bombay. They drive Hondas, just like in Jersey.”)
hahah actually manish most desis in australia drive toyota camrys’ but im sure that most desis listening wouldve picked up on it
anyway mate great site i check it out every morning without fail, keep up the good work and keep fighting the good fight
nv
I just heard you discussing this on the Brian Lehrer show, and while I totally understand being annoyed and PO’d by a tv sterotype, I have to point out that it goes all ways. I once saw an Indian movie that featured a big, fat American character who swaggered around and wore a suit completely covered with giant dollar signs, and his sole function as a character was that he wanted to buy the Taj Mahal. Did any Americans complain about that? “Hey! We don’t wear suits covered in dollar signs! And we’re not all tacky and fat and white and obsessed with private property!” I thought it was pretty hilarious, actually. I wouldn’t want to be the sort of person who gets offended by something so funny.
I myself hate stereotypes about Jews and money (they’re totally inaccurate and ignorant, and in addition, as a jew, I’d like to know why I’m so broke, if my people are the ones who control all the gold and money in the world - where’s mine?!), and as a Middle Eastern-style dancer, I HATE stereotypes about bellydance. I don’t dance with a snake, I wear a lot of clothes, and I’m not a stripper or a whore. But am I gonna jump on every cartoon that portrays bellydancers as Playboy Bunnies? Which, incidentally, the Simpsons did. Very poorly. As a bad plot device.
However, it’s entirely right to be annoyed by stereotypes…I just wonder if people in other countries ever think about the ways they stereotype Americans, or if they just think it goes one way. Everyone gets hazed here in the US….everyone.
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There isnt a large American/White population in India for the type of stereotyping you talk about to result in any damage. Despite all the stereotyping, the behaviour towards white folks in India borders on deferential (unless you are a single white girl, in which case it changes).
So yes, there is stereotyping of Americans/white folks, no it doesnt result in “badness”, yes it may cause problems in future with greater contact between India and the outside world.
Having said all that, stereotyping of Indians in the US does result in badness today and possibly the future.
Well, I can’t argue with the power imbalance between the US and the rest of the world. And I think the Apu character has, if nothing else, contributed to the epidemic of clueless white people speaking in fake Indian accents, which really isn’t funny.
Inside the US, though, there’s a certain level at which this is normal, and is sort of multi-directional…it’s the hazing every group gets when they’re relatively new to the mainstream of life here. You can find examples of this especially in vaudeville, where the broadest stereotypes of the Irish, the Italians, the Jews, and various subtypes, made grand entertainment (at the time when they were the new folks on the block). Much of the comedy in “The Simpsons” comes directly from the vaudeville tradition, like most great American cartoons. The antidote, I think, for people who are really pissed off by this, is to start writing their own comedies and cartoons. I’d love to see as much talking back as possible, and I bet it would make for some very funny stuff.
I’m all for humor, as long as no one actually thinks that Americans wear such ugly suits and swagger all over the world trying to buy historical monuments. Oh…wait a minute…that has actually happened in real life. Oh, jeez…
I saw that movie too, and Bollywood’s terrible (check out how they treat black characters), but what does that have to do with stereotypes in American media?
I prefer my hazing even glancingly accurate.
Yup, check out Goodness Gracious Me.
Most desi down under drive a toyota camry or corolla. Also in Bombay most desis drive a Hyundai or Suzuki and not Honda.