1. In the chapter, Apu’s Brown Voice, by Dave, the author examines the relationship between cultural value of accents and the idea of cultural relationship. He further investigates the question of how the acceptance of South Asian accent on television sanction a limited vision of the presence of South Asians in the U.S., as well as how does this portrayal increase a static American cultural ethnic citizenship. Through analyzing the character, Apu, Dave argues that the prominence of “brown voice” is a form of cultural inflection, which sets them as a privilege model minority.
2. “Indian accents imply a model minority and in multicultural politics this type of minority the Unites states wants to promote because they fit the image of entrepreneurs, computer engineers, and successful immigrants in general” (318).
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Through this perception, brown voice is understood as the cultural performative practice of manipulating meaning and creating a cultural difference. Even though South Asians possess the privileged position of being recognized as successful foreigners, this position further inhibits the perception of South Asians to expand and prohibit any other type of presence in America. The constant use of brown voice throughout establishes a particular sound and a specific image for South Asians in the cultural imagination. The effect of this “freezes” the view of the group in a static definition. Therefore, with brown voice, the perception of the accent is associated with not only with a model minority Asian immigrant, but also a privileges minority.
“According to show writer Mike Reiss though, when Hank Azaria (the voice of Apu) started to voice act the script, Azaria couldn’t help but give Apu an Indian accent” (322).
- This statement is an example of the effect of those who do not understand the cultural differences among South Asians. Since the voice actor was not able to help himself from giving Apu the accent that many Americans believe South Asians have, it enhances the perception of South Asian Americans possessing only one voice and one image. This in turn, further reinforces the static position South Asian Americans take in mainstream society.
3. An important term that the author introduces is the “brown voice.” The author explains that this term identifies a specific radicalizing trait among South Asians. The author defines this term as the act of speaking in the Indian English accent that is linked with the general South Asian American population. The South Asian voice, reflects the shapeless physical position that South Asians have taken up in American racial hierarchies. The author further explains that the concept of brown voice is a dose of foreignness.
4. The ideas presented in this chapter connects to the ideas in the American Born Chinese by Gene Yang. The main character Danny, is an Asian American kid who strives to fit in with his American peers. Rather than wanting to be viewed as the “stereotypical Asian,” Danny wants to be accepted by his peers as an “American.” South Asian Americans s are also in a similar boat as Danny. Both Danny and South Asians want to break through the glass ceiling effects and be acknowledged beyond the stereotypical expectations placed on them. The character in The Simpsons series, Apu, is a popular character that represents South Asian Americans with one voice and one image. This character as well as the theory of brown voice, inhibits people from expanding their perspective on South Asian Americans beyond the concept of “successful foreigners.” Accented English in any form makes us reflect on who and what can represent a true American or occupy the space of a “cultural citizen. To break out of the brown voice through accent variation or other methods would defy the expectations of the audience.