Indians On The Show Master Of None Summary

Nicole Korn
English 125
Michael Pascual
15 February 2016

Comparative Analysis
Aziz Ansari’s episode “Indians on TV on the show Master of None, as well as Eddie Huang’s pilot episode on Fresh Off the Boat address the issues of racial tensions. Racisms is a struggle seen in many minorities and stereotypes throughout history. The idea that some races of people are better than others is clearly visualized in both of these TV series. Through Asian stereotyping as well as Indian stereotyping we are able to see how minority groups are treated in todays society.
In the pilot episode of Fresh Off the Boat, which is a comedy series centered on an Asian-American family, Eddie Huang puts the harshness to work. Being very blunt with his remarks regarding

stereotyping or racism the audience becomes quite uncomfortable. In this pilot episode we see Eddie being picked on at his new school based around the cafeteria and ultimately he was the one that ended up on the principal’s office. This occurred because the only black kid in the school called Eddie a “Chink” and smirks at his hip-hop T-shirt. On the other had you have the rest of the family, mainly the two parents and how they are perceived in this first episode. Jessica, the mom, went shopping with Eddie for lunchables and begins to grab every free sample in the supermarket and continues to give the employee standing there a hilariously facetious wave. While Louis, the dad, decides to hire a white host to attract customers. He even states, “A nice happy white face, like Bill Pullman.” Although no serious violence is seen besides that one cafeteria seen, the main focus is on the specific immigrant perspectives shown through multiple lenses.
Like Fresh Off the Boat, Master of None is based on the lives of another minority, Indian-Americans.

In the episode “Indians on TV” the audience is able to see how some Indian-Americans will use the stereotypical Indian accent to audition for parts that are ultimately stereotypical, such as a gas station clerk. Through the show they explore the relationships with parents, friends, colleagues, and romantic interests. Having the show air on Netflix, however, made it possible for Ansari to freely express his feelings and representations without filtering them. In one scene the audience sees Dev, the main character, receive an email chain accidentally that stated two Indian males can’t both have main rolls and they would have to “curry their favor” in order to be chosen as the main character. This email caused a whole out lash throughout the episode, however it began to involve other races such as African-Americans and Asian Americans. Having other races involved, Dev tries to compare their part in society and how they are viewed without see that all minorities have different struggles. Seeing that through the first scene in the cafeteria in Fresh Off the Boat, Eddie realizes that although his shirt has a black rapper on it, that doesn’t mean the only black minority in the room wants to sit with him or be associated with him. They come from different backgrounds and different struggles.
Like Fresh Off the Boat, Master of None’s strength lies in its embrace of imperfection, meaning

the commotion of real life leaves no room for tidy endings or grand statements on race or gender. Rather we see crude remarks and blunt comments about the reality of society and how racism plays in to effect. The audience is able to see how each of these shows deals with important issues in a hilarious process which ultimately ends with a massive dose of irony.
Through the use of both Master of None and Fresh Off the Boat the audience is able to see the struggle for minority groups in today’s society as well as how they differ from other minority groups. The struggles faced between different races can’t lead to the same conclusion and can’t be seen the same way. Seeing the analysis through the lens of Fresh Off the Boat, one is able to tell their will always be tension between minorities and differences that can’t be combined. Although they have different impacts on society and how minorities are viewed, each has a stereotype that is being portrayed on these shows through quite the harsh but comical approach to grasp the viewer’s attention. Even though this approach is crude, it is now more prevalent to have minority based shows in today’s society versus 20 years ago.