Are you kidding me?
Wendy and I were watching television last night when we happened upon an advertisement for a new CW show, “Aliens in America.”
Here’s the synopsis from the CW site:
“Justin Tolchuk is a sensitive, lanky 16-year-old just trying to make it through the social nightmare of high school in Medora, Wisconsin, with the help of his well-meaning mom Franny, aspiring-entrepreneur dad Gary, and his popular sister Claire, who is sweetly unaware of how good-looking she is. When Franny signs up for the school’s international exchange student program, she pictures an athletic, brilliant Nordic teen who will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son. However, when the Tolchuk’s exchange student arrives, he turns out to be Raja Musharaff, a 16-year-old Pakistani Muslim. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja quickly develop an unlikely friendship that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school. It’s going to be a very interesting year for Raja, Justin, his family and the entire population of Medora”
Wendy and I looked at each other in disbelief after watching this commercial.
Let me just try and break down some of the racist stereotypes present in this show. First off, the Nordic teen who is presumably white, is depicted as “athletic, brilliant,” and a bestower of “coolness.” However, Raja, a Pakistani Muslim, is apparently at the other end of a “chasm” and his friendship with Justin is “unlikely.”
I have a few questions for the CW: Did you intentionally plan on normalizing and/or deifying whiteness with this show? Could you make the white kid anymore supreme than the kid of color? And who in the heck came up with the title “Aliens in America”? Do you think it’s a good strategy to “other” people of color by referring to them as “Aliens”? Is the fictional town of Medora, Wisconsin a bastion of white supremacy?
I am disgusted by this television show and the executives at the CW who are funding it. It is unbelievably racist and anti-Muslim.
Update: Holy moly. I just watched the trailer/preview. It is chock full of stereotypically racist caricatures. THIS SHOW NEEDS TO BE CANCELLED BEFORE IT AIRS.
Update 2: If the trailer on the CW site is not working, try these videos via YouTube.
Trailer:
Clip #1:
Clip #2:
Clip #3:
Related posts:
I imagine the producers of this show believe they are somehow “bridging the divide.” Y’know, by showing that hanging out with Pakistani kids definitely won’t make you cool. And seriously, why wouldn’t there be a “cultural chasm” between the kid and the Nordic teen-god that his mom imagines?
Kevin
10 Jul 07 at 8:29 pm
See the post on my blog:
http://rhetoricalwasteland.blogspot.com/2007/07/stupid-american-racism-continued.html
Dennis
10 Jul 07 at 11:15 pm
This is why I quit watching TV …
Michelle Marie
11 Jul 07 at 11:51 am
Here is the racial spin in full effect. Let’s look carefully to see if there is any evidence of the “racism” that Eric is suggesting:
1. athletic, brilliant Nordic teen who will bestow instant coolness on her outsider son.
Is it not possible for a Nordic teen to be athletic and brilliant? Are white people not capable of being Nordic and brilliant? Where has anyone suggested that people of color cannot be athletic and brilliant? They did not. In fact, race was not even mentioned. Eric is inserting the racial angle and seeing this in a racial context.
2. Despite the cultural chasm between them, Justin and Raja quickly develop an unlikely friendship that just might allow them to navigate the minefield that is contemporary high school.
Hmmm….Justin is from Wisconsin and Raja is from Pakistan. Yeah, that sounds like a cultural chasm there. How is pointing out what is likely a fact, “racist”? I would say that I assume that Justin is a Christian but we all know that broadcast television never include…*gasp*…Christians! But, suppose he were and consider that Raja is a Muslim. Sounds like another stark difference in religious beliefs. Again, how is it “racist” pointing this out?
3. They develop and an unlikely friendship.
Wow…and what is so terrible about this? Two people of differing backgrounds culturally and religiously showing they can be friends? I thought that was the goal. I fail to see what is so inappropriate here.
Could you possibly read more racial context in this than you have, Eric? How else could you possibly find a message of the town of “Medora, Wisconsin” being a “bastion of white supremacy??”
And then, from the bastion of tolerance and respect for rights, come the proclamation that the show should be censored. Why should it be censored? Because someone looked at it, imparted a ton of racial meaning and that overused and often entirely inappropriate boogeyman – racism – that have no rational basis given the description that Eric provides.
FinanceBuzz
11 Jul 07 at 1:12 pm
FB,
The short version of why I am pissed is that the show is a giant caricature that bears about as much resemble to reality as a pig does to a space shuttle. I suspect Eric feels a similar way.
Because people will take it seriously, and because they have no better source for information, they will get ideas regarding Pakistani Muslims that are completely untrue (ideas that many of them will generalize to anyone from the Middle East), and as a result, they will have beliefs that are mistaken.
Beliefs have consequences.
…………………………
Also, I just noticed that you claim that ‘race’ was not even mentioned….what the fuck do think Nordic’ and ‘Pakistani’ are? Types of silverware?
Race is a massive issue. The entire show is predicated on (an entirely mistaken and outdated notion of) race: the mom wanted a white kid and got someone with brown skin – and she freaked out.
My god, you’re an idiot.
Dennis
11 Jul 07 at 10:47 pm
Dennis, most television don’t exactly resemble reality. In fact, “reality” shows only bear a passing resemblance to reality. If you want reality from television, looking at shows on any of the big networks in their prime time lineiups is probably not going to cut; you should be looking at Discovery or PBS.
If people are forming their opinions of the world based on a television series on CW, this is indicative of a larger concern in my opinion than the views they might receive from this one show.
Pakistani comes from Pakistan which is a country not a race.
Nordic is a group of countries which has a large population of white people. Again, countries not races.
Liberals usually try to make race a massive issue. Race is a significant issue at best but should not be an issue if people did not continue to read racial context into things and to stir up animosity between races in doing so.
Right, because white people are the only people who ever tend to associate with people to similar to them. Black people, Indian people, Asian people and other races never tend to gravitate toward people like themselves. Only, those mean, nasty, racist white people. And for the record, I don’t care who people want to gravitate toward regardless of their race. It is usually not exclusive and exclusionary of others, but if it is were and they are doing it by choice, that is fine. It is called freedom of assembly.
Thank you. Personal insults are always so productive.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 6:45 am
Ok. I’m back. Dennis – FinanceBuzz is correct. Calling him names is not productive.
Nordic and Pakistani are probably considered “ethnicities.” The race of the Nordic character (I don’t think he is given a name. He just briefly appears at the airport) is apparent after viewing the trailer. He’s a tall, blue eyed, blond haired, white guy. Raja is Pakistani so in terms of race, he would be considered to be Asian.
I am quite bothered that I keep seeing comments that label me as a liberal, left-wing or on the left. I do not identify as either “liberal” or “on the left.” I would prefer if people would stick to using statements about their own identity versus labeling me. For me, it feels the same as being called an idiot.
This show speaks exclusively of the Nordic character in positive terms. The reaction to Raja’s presence is completely negative. The show lifts up whiteness and denigrates people of color and Muslims.
Of course white folks of Nordic decent can be awesome. However, this show places whiteness as “normal” and labels a Pakistani Muslim kid as a “terrorist posing as a student.”
FinanceBuzz – Do you honestly see no issues whatsoever with this tv show or are you trying to push my buttons?
I feel that you are engaging with me using some sort of debate handbook. I make points that are never addressed which are followed by comments which take the thread in totally different directions. I appreciate that you have adopted me and my blog, but I wonder why you keep coming back to engage with me? I have made a lot of points and questions that I feel have never been addressed. Then I feel that you pull out your handy dandy debate book and insert another argument or issue that is vaguely related to what I just said. Then the circle begins anew. I address your points as best as I can and try to bring the thread back to my main point. Then, cue the debate book…it’s very frustrating. I can empathize with Dennis.
Statements like this:
do little but push buttons and limit dialogue.
The issue for me with this show is that it places racist caricatures of people of color as the butt of almost all of the show’s humor. The show’s trailer is racist, anti-Muslim, xenophobic, sexist, and homophobic. Dennis does a great job of breaking down the trailer at his site.
Eric Stoller
12 Jul 07 at 9:10 am
Then I am not sure what you call it. I am not using it as an insult (no more than I normally would consider it insulting to have such views!
). I have no problem with considering myself as conservative or being on the right wing. In fact, sometimes in jest I refer to myself as being just right of Atilla the Hun! 
To be fair, I was not able to get the trailer to load yesterday so I cannot consider this comment in all fairness. But from your description and from the show description that they become friends, I fail to see how that part, at least, is denigrating anyone. In fact, it sounds like a rather positive message.
No, I do not, in fact, have any issues with this for several reasons.
1. I do not see this in a racial context and even if I did, I see no evidence to impart any sinister intent on the part of the shows producers.
2. Freedom of expression – they can say what they want. They have a right to express themselves as they wish. There is plenty on television that I find much more offensive than this. If you do not like it, you are free to turn the channel, boycott the sponsors, blog against it, and a whole variety of forms of protest.
3. In fact, if I really saw the same racial attacks that you see, I might well agree in your position that it should not be aired. But I honestly think yo you are getting a twisted view that has been run through a racially-hypersensitive filter and I fail to see the hidden meanings that you.
As for why I come back, as I have said, I respect that you are generally open to discussion of differing viewpoints. I have found that to not always be the case in some online forums that espouse viewpoints that appear to be from your end of the political/social spectrum (that is my attempt to avoid characterizing those comments as “liberal!”!
). Perhaps I have not addressed each and every point but my points are not always addressed similarly. For example, I saw no retort to my assertion that a kid of white and, presumably, Christian background was indeed across a social and religious chasm, a point that you questioned in your blog entry, from a Pakistani Muslim and how I failed to see any “racism” there. I concede that sometimes you make valid points or at least points that are worthy of pondering. There is no need to address those. The squeaky wheel gets the grease after all.
As for my comment on tolerance and respect for rights, I honestly feel this is a valid criticism from many on your end of the political/social spectrum. We hear all the time about tolerance of differing viewpoints and perspective, but so often that seems only to extend to viewpoints that agree with that point of view. I think that point of hypocrisy should be highlighted. Granted, this is a position based on experience of many people of similar viewpoints, but how can I be criticized for falling back on a group characterization?
As for your characterization of the trailer, I have to reserve comment unless I can manage to view it.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 10:54 am
Ok, I found another site that was hosting the trailer and just watched it. Can I see that might be considered politically correct? Yes. Can I see that taken in isolation some comments might be taken as prejudiced and possibly even racist? Yes. However, I think you have to look at the whole for this to work. I see the whole point of this show as being two kids that do not fit in high school – and this is reality, as I think most of can agree that not fitting in in high school is common and real life – forge a friendship and find out what they have in common despite pressures around them that might shun Raja. If the mother had greeted Raja with hugs and kisses and talk of dignifying his identity, the entire concept would not work. As for the teacher in the clip, she is obviously a carciture, meant to be laughed at for her lack of cultural awareness.
Bottomline, I see a positive message in this show. Any negatives come from trying to break it down and looking at pieces individually as opposed to looking the body of work in its entirety. Will I watch it? Probably not but I would say that it looks more attractive than many shows on television that to me are much more unwholesome.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 11:14 am
FB,
Interesting take on the trailer – and I don’t disagree with you. I think what you saw is what the producers of the show intend for you to see, and that’s fine. I just think there’s more going on than that: I think that different people find different meanings in the same things, be they books, movies, televisions shows, whatever. I also think we should be clear about that: When I write about the trailer, the show, or a particular incident, I’m not claiming that my interpretation is the only one. My interpretation is based on my knowledge and experience, so it’s bound to be slightly different than anyone else’s. Therefore, just because I didn’t say the show was also about two folks becoming unlikely friends, that doesn’t mean I don’t think that’s one of the things that is happening on the show. I just think the race-based undertones are important to point out.
Second, what made you think you could comment on the ‘race’ aspect of the show, or respond to comments made about the trailer, without seeing the trailer first? I had assumed that would be a prerequisite for commenting in a knowledgeable fashion.
Third, I’m confused about this comment in response to Eric asking that people don’t call him a liberal or leftist:
Eric was quite clearly saying that HE does not identify as a liberal or a leftist, not that “liberals” or “leftists” don’t exist:
Similarly, I don’t identify as liberal or leftist, though I do throw those terms around (far more than I should) to identify common positions that are often shared by lots of people that aren’t conservative. And yes, there are millions of people who don’t identify as liberal or conservative for all sorts of reasons, and as a result I think viewing most things as though there are only two positions one can take on them results in a person missing out on a lot of where people are actually at in their thinking, i.e. if you think you are in some sort of debate with a bunch of liberals, that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
…examples include libertarian, anarchist, socialist, communist, environmentalist, big-government conservative, small-government conservative, populist, etc (there are undoubtedly lots and lots more, to say nothing of folks who eschew labels altogether). And there are permutations on each position as well. Of course, since very few people agree with all the parts of each position, as a result lots of folks don’t like to box themselves in with a label.
Finally, um, what? :
How do a bunch of negatives add up to a positive?
Dennis
12 Jul 07 at 1:12 pm
There is quite a bit of validity in this observation. I was mainly responding to Eric’s characterization and summary. Just in that bit, I failed to see how he reached his conclusions based on the synopsis that he posted from the CW site.
Regarding “liberal” or what not, I don’t want to get into a semantics battle here. Fine, perhaps Eric does not consider himself a “liberal” and perhaps he is not. To be fair, I have only heard his views on the topics on his blog and, admittedly, I extrapolated that to infer liberal positions on all issues. However, I do not know what I consider to be liberal positions, so I do feel that identifying the particular views he voiced on the blog as liberal rather than himself is warranted. I must however take one exception with your categories of political leanings: “big-government conservative.” As far as I am concerned, this is an oxymoron. Sorry..coudl not resist!
Again, let’s not play semantics. If I was not clear, I am simply saying that the inclusion of such aspects of the story are necessary vehicles to get to the main point. A story with a moral of these disparate people being friends needs some context on why their friendship is unlikely. The absence of this context would leave the story more hollow-feeling than most network comedies already are.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 1:40 pm
So a story about unlikely friendships must denigrate the brown kid and exalt the white kid? I would hope someone could make a show about unlikely friendships without using the characters that have been used here – i.e., someone could make a show with a Pakistani Muslim exchange student that’s not a complete caricature, or where the mom doesn’t freak out when she finds out she’s not getting a white kid.
Dennis
12 Jul 07 at 5:42 pm
Dennis,
It is a sitcom. It is going to be filled with caricatures by definition. Is not the white kid a caricature as well? I do not see you getting your boxers in a bunch over that. If you do not want caricatures, watch a drama. It may not be much more realistic, but at least it should be caricature-free.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 9:52 pm
FB,
You say it’s it sitcom like that’s somehow justification. Why would that be? Does the fact that it is a sitcom somehow mean that people won’t learn anything from it? I doubt it – people are still going to absorb the messages of the show. Does the fact that it’s a sitcom excuse the racism and white supremacy? Does the fact that it’s a sitcom mean it has to be filled with caricatures?
Also, I didn’t realize all they had to do was declare it funny and that made the racism and white supremacy OK. My bad.
The white kid is indeed a caricature, and that is no less stupid and damaging than anyone else in the show. Positive portrayals that are false caricatures create unrealistic expectations just like negative portrayals do.
If that’s not enough of a condemnation of the white character for you, I’d be glad to expand on it.
You are also talking like television is something that is magically produced out of thin air, something that people have no effect over. It’s not, and the fact that I don’t take it as a given is one reason I’m so upset. Real people made the decisions that led to that show, people who obviously thought the show would be OK, even good.
Dennis
12 Jul 07 at 10:51 pm
Racism.
White supremacy??
Unbelievable. The best you can find in there is prejudice but you keep citing this supposed racism and…I cannot even fathom this one from the trailer and the synopsis…white supremacy.
The following quote helps me figure this out I think:
It is ok to have a sense of humor. It is ok to laugh. Not everything has to be life or death serious, especially not a silly comedy on a second tier television network. If you want to overanalyze the show rather than try to just watch, that is up to you. But I would venture a guess that the vast majority of the audience is not going to ponder the meaning of life or whatever from “Aliens in America.” As for the damage the white kid’s caricature is doing, well, I was kinda geeky in high school. I am a white guy. And no, this depiction does not scar, denigrate or even offend me in the least.
In high school, there are going to be popular kids and less popular kids, smart kids and the not so smart kids, athletically inclined kids and “band nerds” (I was in the band too…I can use that phrase!
). To expect a non-serious television show to depict some social utopia where everyone is celebrating their differences and what not is probably more unrealistic than the story as depicted. If you prefer a show like that, fine. I suggest you skip Aliens and tune into Degrassi on TheN. But even if they were wrong for not depicting Medora, WI as a social utopia, that hardly implies racism and white supremacy.
FinanceBuzz
12 Jul 07 at 11:45 pm
FB,
Please tell me where you get your strawmen, because your supply is apparently unlimited.
Thanks,
Dennis
Dennis
13 Jul 07 at 12:37 am
Dennis,
I do a lot of shopping for arguments from “Exposing the Left-Wing.” I get volume discounts!
FinanceBuzz
13 Jul 07 at 11:03 pm
You might want to check the expiration dates on those arguments….some of them expired in the early 90s.
Anyway, it’s good to know that labeling something a “silly comedy on a second tier television network” is like permission to make a racist show.
And for the record, it’s racism – and white supremacy. It’s not like I spent years of my time learning about race, racism, white supremacy, ideology, etc. etc. or anything – you know, in classes, discussions, lectures, forums, roundtables, facilitations, and the like. All that stuff all those really smart people were saying is obviously wrong, because it didn’t initially match
my values, I meanthe best possible unrealistic vision of America I could think of, I meansince they were obviously liberals and that meant I could immediately discount their arguments and evidence, I mean a system that conveniently allows me to avoid responsibility and/or having to lift a finger to change anything ! Whoops!No, I’m just spewing all of this out my butt for sheer entertainment value.
Dennis
14 Jul 07 at 9:32 am
In the case anyone thought overt racism was a thing of the past – and FB, I am thinking of you, check this out:
http://rhetoricalwasteland.blogspot.com/2007/07/yes-virginia-racism-still-exists.html
Dennis
14 Jul 07 at 3:07 pm
Wow. I leave for a bit and you guys turn on the sarcasm…I’m not sure where to begin.
First off, I think I need to state again that I do not identify as liberal or on the left. I know plenty of people who identify as liberal or on the left who are racist, homophobic, sexist, classist, etc. and I know plenty of people who identify as conservative or on the right who are not racist, homophobic, sexist, classist, etc.
FinanceBuzz – If you need to classify me (I still don’t know why that is necessary…), please call me ambidextrous. I am neither on the right nor the left. I prefer to not be polarized or placed in someone else’s box.
Me too. I am a white guy and the depiction of the white kid does not bother me either.
FinanceBuzz — Why do you think this does not bother us?
Why not? I would love to talk about the points that I make that are worthy of pondering. I would love to converse about points that I make that are valid…
I feel that this post has just about reached its zenith. What do y’all think?
Eric Stoller
14 Jul 07 at 4:57 pm
Agreed; given the number of commenters, etc. I’d say we tend to run out of steam by this point, if not earlier. If you’re thinking of closing comments, I’m down with that.
Dennis
14 Jul 07 at 9:34 pm
Does anybody remember a pilot for a sit com called ‘The Ugilies’? It may have been NBC in the 80′s. It was about an Italian – American family noteworthy for ugliness. It was cancelled fast, but not before my young brain was tainted. . . So, what? Even Italian people aren’t white enough? This reminded me of that.
Imagine (zefrank.org)
24 Jul 07 at 5:37 am
Thanks for commenting. It’s nice to see some folks from the ORG!
Eric Stoller
28 Jul 07 at 1:49 pm
Talk about intolerance! Some of you posters evidently received advanced degrees in discrimination!
New concept, try watching the entire show before you judge it. Give it a chance. Aliens in America is a terrific show. It is not just a humorous depiction of the “normal” middle American family being jolted out of their complacency with the arrival of a teenager raised in a different culture, it depicts growth and understanding as both cultures learns they are more alike than they are different. This show builds bridges through humor.
You automatically assume it is racist because it depicts representatives from different cultures and ethnic origins. That is one of the most ignorant statement I have ever read. Based on your perspective, I suppose that only representatives from a single culture or a single race is acceptable on each TV show. Your argument that this show is racist is one of the most bigoted statements I have heard in a while.
I would love to suggest that you actually watch the show before you decide that you hate but I am sure that you do not wish to risk expanding that narrow-mind of yours. For those unafraid of new ideas, check it out at http://tv.yahoo.com/falltv2007/aliens-in-america/show/39821/videos/4212867
Alyse
26 Sep 07 at 2:22 pm
Hey all,
I’m about 5 months too late to get into the thick of your debate, but thought you all might like to take a peek at another, Canadian, show: Little Mosque on the Prairie: http://www.cbc.ca/littlemosque/ The creators of the show, all Muslim-Canadians, wanted to show non-Muslim Canadians what their acculturation process was like–the good, the bad, and the ugly and can be best described as a satirical look at the Muslim community living in rural Canada.
The show is in its’ second or third season now and seems to be quite popular up here. If you YouTube it, you’ll find most episodes to watch.
What are your thoughts? Same issues and concerns?
Erin
18 Dec 07 at 9:58 am
I am watching the first episode right now, and it is truly ridiculous. As a citizen of the United States, not to mention, a resident of Wisconsin, I am horrified by the way our families and school systems are depicted. This show is terrible, and whoever is responsible for its broadcast needs to re-evaluate his/her values, and maybe take a vacation to the Dairy State!
Ann
10 Feb 08 at 6:51 pm