Questionable Content is a cult webcomic that is a cross between Friends and Seinfeld, except for Indie music snobs instead of mainstream audiences. It’s a “slice of life” story about 20-somethings in Northampton, Massachusetts. Recently, author and illustrator Jeph Jacques introduced Meena.
Meena works at the morgue, and flirts by making Ebola jokes. (This is realistic – I do know desi women in real life who flirt by making jokes about horrible diseases). She also has all the normal tribulations of a desi woman:
Yup. It’s slice of life, alright.
Amir/Emir just means Prince or King..very common arabic name.
good points floridian. also, i think indians sell exotic in part b/c they genuinely don’t see the offense. i can’t imangine my parents complaining about it. after all, exotic is usually associated with good things: italian supercars, strippers (exotic dancer), etc. its not even a positve stereotype as some have asserted. it just means something that is different in a good way.
now one can argue that india is not different from other cultures as we are all human. as i neocon, i sympathize with this and therefore have no problems with cultural imperialism, as american style capitalism represents the true path most in tune with human nature, ie it is not culturally relative. but i fail to see how those who embrace cultural relativity can be offended by a term that only highlighs these diffences. if you’re arguing that we are the other, how can you be offended by being othered? nonetheless, exotic only refers to the superficial (food, dress, religion) and not to the core of a human being.
in short, only western educated indians are offended. because in order to be offended you have to be schooled in various philosophies of victimization, such as multculturalism. but ironically multiculturalism, since it takes its philosophical underpinnigs from various western schools of relativity, is itself a eurocentric philosophiy that tends to view other cultures thru a lens that confirms its own left-leaning prejudices. real indians don’t think like that.
Manju #52 said: “exotic only refers to the superficial (food, dress, religion) and not to the core of a human being.”
But, that’s what offensive and moderately dehumanizing, isn’t it? That those asking the question aren’t interested in you past the superficial. Furthermore, when this question is not asked of non-ethnic counterparts, what conversations are being had that aren’t happening with those of us who are exoticized? It’s a matter of communication and inclusion past the superficial, and not just unproductive chit chat.
I have read all the way till comic number 600.
Does Marten ever get laid. Sheesh!!! Its frustrating read!!
Floridian, thanks for your kind comments.
Manju (#53), you said “in short, only western educated indians are offended” because western multiculturalism teaches us to be offended by such terms.
But I think western multiculturalism, however well-intentioned, is itself fundamentally about exoticism and putting people in boxes. For example, in order to have the “proper” multicultral rainbow, you need to reduce cultures to what makes them most different from one another. This often means that western countries will be represented by the signs of modern life (buildings, computers, cars, etc.) while African and Asian countries will be represented by certains kinds of food and dress. I can’t go into my child’s school and be a representative of India in a t-shirt and jeans. I can;t represent the US and bring in burritos. It’s not about what actually happens in the countries, but about their image.
My other point is that this is not about “being offended” but about looking at the consistent patterns in how we are represented and the stories that are told about us.
Maitri:
i see your point. we all need to shed our clothes.
scarletguju:
i couldn’t agree more. next may day, the bourban is on me. meet me at the JPMorgan building on Wall st…or perhaps in bangularu, assuming the jig isn’t up. i see you’re turning marx on his head, which is only fair, since he did the same to to hegel.
Manju #56 said, “i see your point. we all need to shed our clothes.”
Hey, you were the one talking about “the core of a human being.” As opposed to the core of an apple or the earth.
We most certainly are not, especially not after the waxing and threading get done. Don’t let the 100+ comments on ANNA’s previous post tell you different!
if only indian guys were considered “exotic” …
TAZ do you have any idea how many punk rock bands break up over the scenerio in #844 (unless they splurge for the tourbus)…:) Priceless!
sa #59 says: “if only indian guys were considered ‘exotic’ …”
They are in Louisiana, but not necessarily in a good way. Be careful what you wish for. 🙂