"Al Shamshoon" ~ The Simpsons Hits The Arab World

[kryszcztov]

Is anyonelse wondering how they'll do South Park?

Instead of trash-talking all the time, the kids will say "Allah akhbar", ie... all the time, which will please the fundies over there.

Don't worry, censorship in general is capable of miraculous (yet totally ridiculous) things. Censorship doesn't want to hurt you, but to protect you. Censorship is your friend. You wouldn't want to know what's beyond the wall, uh ? You're not a human, right ?

 

[Fox Mccloud]

By the way, they haven't removed just the and stuff like that.

There will be no traces of christianity (reverend removed), hinduism (indian salesman removed) or judaism (jewish clown removed) :shakehead :thumbdown

Now tell me, how tolerant religion the Islam is

I agree 100% on that. That is stupidity. I agreed with Nibaq.

A blogger, who uses the name "Nibaq," wrote, "I am sure the effort [of] the people who made this show to translate it to Arabic could have made a good original show about an Egyptian family living in Egypt, dealing with religion, life and work and trying to keep a family together. That way they can proudly say Made in Egypt, instead of Made in USA Assembled in Egypt."

 

[I am the Future]

But the neighbors whose name I cant remember, NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

Also no bear. Bye Bye Duff.
No Doughnuts.


I say that we all boycott "Al Shamsoon". All in favor say "I"

 

[Cheetah]

The fact that Arabs are wanting more of the western culture is good news for those who wants to win the "War on Terror".

To bad they have to change so much of it though. They should have just done more Disney for a while I think.

 

[Winner]

No Coca-Cola or Big Mac is going to change their culture in a fundamental way. If our culture consists just of that, we're screwed anyway.

 

[jameson]

By the way, they haven't removed just the beer and stuff like that.

There will be no traces of christianity (reverend removed), hinduism (indian salesman removed) or judaism (jewish clown removed) :shakehead :thumbdown

Now tell me, how tolerant religion the Islam is

What's this have to do with Islam ? I can't imagine how Arab families could possibly identify with or laugh at your friendly neighbourhood reverend, given that in the Arab world reverends are pretty much as rare as polar bears. Whether it's worth remaking the Simpsons with all its quintessentially American and Western elements removed is another matter, but I think this is about trying (and from the looks of it, failing) to make something relevant to Arab culture instead of religion.
In fact, from the Arab responses cited in the article, you'd think that those evil intolerant Muslims would *rather* have all the supposedly offensive elements included still.

 

[sysyphus]

Most muslims in Canada I know seem to have no offense form the Simpsons, so I doubt one can pin the whole thing on Islam itself.

But hey, America wrapped itself up in knots over the exposure of a single breast for all of 3 seconds...

 

[Cheetah]

No Coca-Cola or Big Mac is going to change their culture in a fundamental way. If our culture consists just of that, we're screwed anyway.

I didn't talk about Coca-Cola or Big Macs. I talked about our stories, our images, our sounds, our customs, our traditions and our way of thinking, being transmitted to an Arab audience who wants ever more of it.

At first it is with censorship. Then, as their culture absorbs a bit of it, it will be with less censorship. And more and more will become acceptible, and more and more of our western culture will be absorbed in the Arab culture and in Arab minds.

And slowly, but surely, they become like us.

 

[Cheetah]

Double post.

 

[sysyphus]

And slowly, but surely, they become like us.

Exactly, Rome wasn't built in a day.

And who knows, I'm sure we can learn a thing or two from them.

 

[I am the Future]

Do they play the Simpsons in Europe?

Kindas off topic but just curius

 

[Winner]

I didn't talk about Coca-Cola or Big Macs. I talked about our stories, our images, our sounds, our customs, our traditions and our way of thinking, being transmitted to an Arab audience who wants ever more of it.

At first it is with censorship. Then, as their culture absorbs a bit of it, it will be with less censorship. And more and more will become acceptible, and more and more of our western culture will be absorbed in the Arab culture and in Arab minds.

And slowly, but surely, they become like us.

No, because the interpretation of these stories is heavily dependant on your cultural background. The stories we find moral and right may be immoral and bad for the other cultures.

Seriously, we can't "westernize" them by Hollywood films, TV series, News broadcasts or a fat food. And what's more important, we should stop even trying, it's coutner-productive.

 

[Winner]

Do they play the Simpsons in Europe?

Kindas off topic but just curius

Come on! Of course they do, it's my favourite series

 

[Winner]

What's this have to do with Islam ? I can't imagine how Arab families could possibly identify with or laugh at your friendly neighbourhood reverend, given that in the Arab world reverends are pretty much as rare as polar bears. Whether it's worth remaking the Simpsons with all its quintessentially American and Western elements removed is another matter, but I think this is about trying (and from the looks of it, failing) to make something relevant to Arab culture instead of religion.
In fact, from the Arab responses cited in the article, you'd think that those evil intolerant Muslims would *rather* have all the supposedly offensive elements included still.

Of course it's because of Islam - they don't like alcohol -> it's removed. They dont like other religions -> they are removed.

Tell me how is the indian salesman dangerous for the arab families? The only reason why is he removed is the fact he is a "pagan". The only reason why is Krusty removed is that he is a Jew. That is a xenophoby and racism. It clearly shows us how tolerant the Arab societies really are.

Now, how can a common European family identify itself with waving US flags and all that patriotic crap included in the US movies? Are we cutting it because we don't like it? Are we censoring the reality because we don't like it? No.

 

[Lifeblood]

I wonder if they'll turn Reverend Lovejoy into an Imam/cleric. I guess the homoerotic undertones of the Smithers-Mr Burns relationship ain't gonna be there either. I guess no Santa's little helper either.

 

[Blazer6]

Does this mean Marge will have to get a haircut if she has to wear the veil?

 

[classical_hero]

This makes the FCC look like a good organisation.

 

[aneeshm]

That would mean pretty much only Lisa and Bart have adventures.

I wonder how long it is before Lisa and Marge are made to wear the Hijab , along with the Burkha .

 

[mitsho]

Do they play the Simpsons in Europe?

Kindas off topic but just curius

Well, of course. And they have quite the same problem, but not with the culture, but the languages. There are quite some puns on Germans for example in Simpsons, just think of the little Bavarian kid in school. In the German version, he is Swiss...
But this is somehow logical - the only bad thing is that they had to do it in such a blatant way, and really, they could have left him Bavarian, the Germans would have laughed because of it anyways. What is really weird is nevertheless, that the kid is dressed as a Bavarian, but speaks totally Swiss...

Another example of that sort would be the German farm owner in "Malcolm in the Middle". In the German version, he is Danish...

mitsho

 

[nonconformist]

Do they play the Simpsons in Europe?

No. In Europe we all cycle to the local Political Hall (the only place in the region with electricity) to use a reel-projector to watch "Duck and Cover" flicks.
And bear in mind this is an advanced European country; the French and Germans don't have that priviledge.