Simpsons Go To Brazil

I downloaded an episode of Simpsons called, “The Simpsons go to Brazil.” Usually, most of the stereotypes portrayed by the Simpsons would just pass right under my nose with a laugh and a second thought, but after learning about some of the stereotypes that America has of Latin America, nearly the whole episode revolved around negative stereotypes of Brazilians.

Basically the plot of the story is: Lisa is sponsoring a poor Brazilian boy who was disappeared. So the Simpsons decide to go to Brazil to find him.

Here are some of the stereotypes:

1.This boy lives an a horribly desolate orphanage which until recently was doorless, so the boy would get bitten by monkeys.

2. Homer concludes that Brazil is opposite land because of the opposite seasons. Therefore, crooks chase cops and cats have puppies.

3. The airline pilot says that the temperature in Rio De Janeiro is “hot hot hot with a 100% chance of passion”

4. The bell boys play soccer with the luggage

5. On the children’s show, a well-endowed giggling woman dances in a bathing suit

6. The dress code on the beach is a thong.

7. A “Samba School” they visit is developing the Penetrada, making “sex look like a church”

8. The vending lady distracted the Simpsons so her children could rob them

9. Homer gets captured in an unlicensed taxi

10. The policeman hits on Marge when she reports Homer’s kidnapping

11. Carnival’s music is has an “irritating, intoxicating beat that sends your inhibitions packing.” Carnival is described as “the drunkenness, the ambiguous sexuality”

along with others......

I have to admit that the stereotypes are blatant and unfair, but in the context of the episode, its pretty funny. I am not sure if that is a good thing. Well, on second thought, its probably a bad thing because it portrays Brazil as this horny, wild, and dangerous slum. And probably, only through these types of media that stereotype Latin America do Americans get any view of Latin American life.