by devashree thaker
the beyond apu project
The Beyond Apu Project aims to compare and contrast South Asian representation in traditional media, like film and TV, with that of new media platforms, focusing on social media accounts on Instagram.
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As a Digital Media and Philosophy major + South Asian woman, I've been intrigued by the larger impact and implications of representation, or the lack thereof, on how we understand and relate to the world around us. By unpacking the nuances of characters like Apu from The Simpsons and comparing it the net positive impact of Instagram accounts like @brownhistory, I hope that this project helps contextualize how representation can (and does) feed into the larger narrative (including stereotypes) surrounding the South Asian community and identity. Ultimately, this analysis also serves as a commentary on how agency and autonomy within media can enable individuals to move past simply consuming pre-packaged ideologies to actively challenging imposed stereotypes and re-defining larger narratives in a way that better represents the individuals behind them.
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a quick guide to frequently-used terms:
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South Asian - This term will be used to refer to the diaspora, individuals, and communities from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. While this project uses this term to refer to so many histories and cultures, it is important to remember that South Asians are not a monolith - this project cannot (and does not aim to) capture the nuances and complexities within this community.
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Traditional Media - film and television, print media (newspapers, books, magazines)
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New Media - internet by-products - social media platforms, streaming services, blogs, etc.
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Accessibility + Autonomy - access and ability to contributing to the media/rhetoric creation i.e. criteria to gauge how easily someone can use their voice to present different perspectives
