The Problem With The Simpsons

Or is it a problem with the viewer, my take on this whole controversy.

Unless you’ve had your head in the sand, The Simpsons, has come under fire recently due to character, Apu, being pointed out as being a South East Asian stereotype. The Simpsons choose to address this, wrongly, by Lisa monologging to the camera about political correctness. The Simpsons now taking responsibility over this issue.

The whole show is found on stereotypes, hence the show being so relatable and comedic. We, as humans, find it easy to laugh at ourselves through the medium of television. For example: The Office, a hit sitcom about a pretty boring office, but has a great reception because its so relatable to a lot of us as users. Lets look at other examples of where The Simpsons has used stereotypes in their characters.

Homer J. Simpson: Well we all know who Homer is, the lovable main character of the show. But have you looked deeper into his characterisation? This middle aged overweight husband/ father. His alcoholism, which is rife with American fathers, the overeating, the dead end job. How many of you does this apply to? Is that why he is so relatable because you see yourself in Homer?

Ned Flanders: Ned is a bible-bashing, god fearing, goody two shoes. Your perfect white American, no? The thought of anything liberal with Ned makes him quiver. So much so that he even goes to extremes of self editing television programs and sitting through hours of TV to complain to the networks. His spying on the Simpson family. How many of your neighbours peek out of their windows, getting into your business?

Clancy Wiggum: A fat, trigger happy, donut loving cop with an inferiority complex. Shoots before he thinks. How many US cops do this? How many police offers have you seen sitting in their cars and eating shit all day long?

I could go on, and on, and on. Literally every character in the show is a stereotype - a caricature. Is it wrong to include Apu in this? As a secondary character with his amazingly complex storyline, we have explored arranged marriage, mental health issues, parenting problems all thanks to Apu’s storyline. What would be the reaction if Fox hadn’t included any BAME characters in the show? Stereotypes are a great way to highlight awareness for some very important issues in society through satire. If Apu wasn’t portrayed in the way he is, he wouldn’t be worth any airtime, we wouldn’t see any character development in his character.

Perhaps the problem is the viewership of The Simpsons not understanding that it is a satirical cartoon comedy, not some family show where everything should be taken as word. How is this any different from portraying any other culture? We’ve seen the Simpson family go to lots of different countries: France, where the people wear garlic around their neck, striped shirts and berets; Japan, where everyone is incredibly efficient, and use over complicated toilets; and their infamous trip to England, where Homer got arrested.

Let’s talk about their English trip. I am British, born in London, I speak with received pronunciation, am white and work with the public. According to The Simpsons’ version of England we all speak like cockneys, have crooked teeth and are pale. I know this not to be a fact, along with many other people. The uneducated people who do not understand satire would take this portrayal as gospel and be very surprised if they were to come here. But was there any backlash to this? No. Because we all know that this show isn’t to be taken seriously when it comes to its caricatures.

Any educated person know that no one from India is like Apu, and the stereotype comes from racial undertones of an East Asian owning a shop. Just like any educated person knows that no Scottish person is like Willy.

Stop thinking the whole world is out to get you. Perhaps search what satire is before jumping to conclusions.