Dr. Andrew Wood Office: HGH 210; Phone: (408) 924-5378 Email: wooda@email.sjsu.edu Web: http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/wooda

Reading: Pinsky, M.I. (2001). The gospel according to The Simpsons: The spiritual life of the world's most animated family. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press.

Note: These comments are not designed to "summarize" the reading. Rather, they are available to highlight key ideas that will emerge in our classroom discussion. As always, it's best to read the original text to gain full value from the course.

In this chapter, Pinsky explores the role of faiths other than Christianity, focusing on the role of Apu in the Springfield universe. As the show's only prominently featured Hindu, Apu risks the perception that his character is little more than a stereotype of Indian convenience store clerks. However, Apu reflects a complicated balance of model minority and fervent nationalist. He has prospered in his new home but maintains a strong connection to his land of origin.

Pinsky elaborates on four Hindu practices and beliefs found in Apu's character (vegetarianism, reincarnation, meditation, and pluralism) before exploring the struggle of Apu to assimilate into U.S. culture. One may argue, however, that Apu actually illustrates a process of transculturation in which a person or group constructs a hybrid culture out of their original and adopted homes.

Pinsky concludes with a comparison of various responses to Apu's character by Hindus: most find humor in The Simpsons' mocking of American misunderstanding of Hinduism while some remain concerned about the factual errors and stereotypes perpetuated by the show.

[Return]