My Big Fat Greek Wedding": Racist Stereotypes Or Good-Natured Fun

My Big Fat Greek Wedding has been criticised for perpetuating racist stereotypes about Greek people. The Australian Greens called for the film to be pulled from cinemas, arguing that it draws heavily on racial and ethnic stereotypes for laughs at the expense of the Greek people.

However, some viewers have argued that the film is not racist, but rather a critique of racism and sexism. One reviewer noted that the film is not an attempt to reflect Greeks, but rather an attempt to examine the perception of Greek culture in North America.

The film reinforces the idea that Greek people are superior to other cultures

The film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" has been accused of perpetuating racial and ethnic stereotypes, with some critics arguing that it draws on and exaggerates Greek cultural traits for comedic effect. One of the key criticisms is that the film reinforces the idea that Greek people are superior to other cultures.

The film's protagonist, Toula, is a Greek woman who falls in love with a man from a different cultural background. Throughout the movie, she struggles to convince her family to accept her choice of partner, as they firmly believe that she should marry within their own ethnic group. This belief in ethnocentrism, or the idea that one's own culture is superior to others, is a recurring theme in the film and is portrayed as a source of conflict between Toula and her family.

Toula's father, Gus, embodies this sense of Greek superiority and is proud of his heritage, often expressing his belief that Greek culture is the best. He goes as far as to say, "There are two kinds of people: Greeks and everybody else who wish they were Greek." Gus also believes that Greek people have accomplished many things first compared to other cultures and makes statements such as, "When my people were writing philosophy, your people were still swinging from trees."

The film also portrays Greek as the default or preferred culture in various aspects of life. For example, Gus believes that Greek is the root of all languages and tries to prove this by taking any word and showing how its root is Greek. This notion of Greek linguistic superiority is further emphasized when Toula's parents ask her to attend a Greek school and learn Greek history and language. They also insist that her future husband, who is not Greek, be baptized in a Greek Orthodox Church, reflecting their belief that Greek religious practices are superior.

In addition to the insistence on marrying within their own culture, Toula's parents also display ethnocentric behavior by wanting to control various aspects of her life, such as her education and career choices. They discourage her from taking computer classes downtown because they believe it will expose her to negative influences and drugs. They also expect her to work in the family restaurant until she gets married, reflecting the belief that Greek women should prioritize family and traditional gender roles over their personal aspirations.

The film's portrayal of the wedding itself also reinforces Greek superiority. The Greek wedding is portrayed as lively, fun, and full of dancing, in contrast to the subdued and dry nature of Ian's (Toula's fiancé) family, who are depicted as polite but lacking in culture and warmth. The lively Greek wedding, with its emphasis on family and tradition, is positioned as the ideal, further reinforcing the idea that Greek culture is superior and more desirable.

In conclusion, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" does reinforce the idea that Greek people and culture are superior to others. This is achieved through the depiction of ethnocentric characters, the portrayal of Greek as the default or preferred culture, and the positioning of Greek traditions and values as more desirable than those of other cultures. While the film may have been intended as a light-hearted comedy, it is important to recognize how it contributes to and reinforces stereotypes and perceptions of cultural superiority.

The film perpetuates the stereotype that Greek people are loud and boisterous

The film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" has been criticised for perpetuating the stereotype that Greek people are loud and boisterous. The film's depiction of a large and traditional Greek family has been described as "racist" and accused of drawing heavily on racial and ethnic stereotypes to elicit laughs at the expense of Greek people.

One review calls out the film for its portrayal of Greeks as "primitive people who spit on each other during a wedding and stupidly patriotic". The reviewer goes on to say that the film's humour is based on the cultural antithesis between Greeks, who are presented as loud and boisterous, and Westerners, who are portrayed as quiet and reserved. Another review echoes this sentiment, stating that the film perpetuates the stereotype that Greeks are "ugly, stupid and tasteless, but they have big hearts".

The film has also been criticised for its portrayal of the Greek father, Gus, who is seen as the patriarch of the family and is particularly insistent on maintaining Greek traditions and customs. Gus is shown to have a strong belief in the superiority of Greek culture, often making comments that imply other cultures are inferior. For example, he says, "When my people were writing philosophy, your people were still swinging from trees".

The film also depicts Greek people as exclusive, only wanting to associate with other Greeks and marry within their own culture. Gus expresses disappointment that his daughter wants to marry someone who is not Greek, referring to him as a "xeno" or stranger. This belief in the importance of marrying within one's culture is reflected in a scene where Toula, the main character, says, "My dad's been saying that to me since I was fifteen. Because nice Greek girls are supposed to do three things in life: Marry Greek boys, make Greek babies, and feed everyone".

In conclusion, while some viewers may find the film's portrayal of Greek culture and traditions amusing, others have criticised it for perpetuating stereotypes that Greek people are loud, boisterous, and exclusive. The film's depiction of cultural differences has been accused of being simplistic and reductive, relying on broad generalisations that do not reflect the complexity and diversity of real-life cultures.

The film's Greek characters are portrayed as primitive and uneducated

The film My Big Fat Greek Wedding has been criticised for perpetuating racial and ethnic stereotypes about Greek people. One of the main criticisms is that the film portrays Greek characters as primitive and uneducated.

One of the most prominent ways in which the film does this is through the character of Toula's father, Gus. Gus is depicted as a stereotypical Greek patriarch who believes that women are inferior to men and that his daughter's primary purpose is to get married and have children. He is also shown to be extremely proud of his Greek heritage and believes that other nationalities are inferior. This is evident in the way he insists that all English words have root words that come from Greek, even when confronted with words from other languages, such as "kimono". Gus also relies heavily on "Windex", a product made in the United States, as a remedy for everything, which some viewers have interpreted as a sign of his cultural identification with America despite his strong Greek identity.

The film also portrays Toula's family as loud, intrusive, and overly involved in her life, which some viewers have interpreted as a reflection of Greek culture. For example, when Toula decides to go to college, her father becomes emotional and claims that she wants to leave him. Additionally, when Toula begins dating Ian, her family forbids her from seeing him because he is not Greek, and they continue to meddle in the relationship even after they are engaged.

Another way in which the film portrays Greek characters as primitive and uneducated is through the use of rituals. For example, Ian is required to undergo baptism in a Greek Orthodox Church before he can marry Toula. This ritual is not just a symbol of acceptance but also a ritual of conversion, as Ian states that he is now Greek after being baptised. This implies that in order to have a successful intercultural relationship, one must give up their own cultural identity and convert to the other person's culture.

Overall, while the film has been praised for its humour and heartwarming story, it has also been criticised for perpetuating stereotypes about Greek people, including the portrayal of Greek characters as primitive and uneducated.

The film's Greek characters are portrayed as overly patriotic

The film My Big Fat Greek Wedding has been criticised for perpetuating racial and ethnic stereotypes of Greek people. The film's Greek characters have been described as "wrong generalisations", primitive, stupidly patriotic, and ostentatiously bad taste. One review states that the film draws on the cultural antithesis between Greeks and Westerners, portraying Greeks as loud, odd, and somewhat dramatic.

The film's Greek characters are often portrayed as overly patriotic and nationalistic. For example, the father of the bride, Gus, is furious that his daughter's non-Greek partner, Ian, did not ask his permission to date her, despite the fact that they are both adults. Gus's character embodies the traditional Greek family values of male dominance and female subservience. He is shown as the big, masculine head of the house, and his daughter, Toula, is initially depicted as "frumpy and meek". Gus's insistence on maintaining traditional gender roles within the family is further demonstrated by his refusal to allow Toula to go to college, which he perceives as an attempt to "leave him".

The film also portrays the Greek family as overly involved in Toula and Ian's wedding planning, with Gus and his wife constantly inserting themselves into the process, even going so far as to design ugly bridesmaid dresses and misspell Ian's mother's name on the wedding invitations. Their behaviour is portrayed as a source of frustration for the more reserved and conservative non-Greek family.

The film's portrayal of the Greek family as overly patriotic and nationalistic contributes to the overall impression that the film relies heavily on racial and ethnic stereotypes for comedic effect. While some viewers may find these stereotypes amusing and relatable, others may view them as offensive and reductive, perpetuating simplistic and negative generalisations about Greek culture and identity.

The film's Greek characters are portrayed as sexist

The film My Big Fat Greek Wedding has been criticised for perpetuating racial and ethnic stereotypes, with some calling for the film to be banned. One of the main criticisms is the portrayal of Greek characters as sexist.

The film's protagonist, Fotoula "Toula" Portokalos, is a 30-year-old Greek-American woman who works in her family's restaurant. She is expected to marry a Greek Orthodox man and continue working in the family business. When she falls in love with Ian Miller, a non-Greek schoolteacher, her family is unhappy with her choice of partner.

Toula's father, Gus, is particularly opposed to the relationship and forbids Toula from continuing to see Ian. He tries to set her up with single Greek men and becomes emotional when she expresses a desire to go to college, claiming that she wants to leave him. Gus's character embodies traditional gender roles and expectations, reflecting a sexist attitude that expects women to be subservient to their fathers and later their husbands.

However, Toula's mother, Maria, is portrayed as more open-minded and eventually convinces Gus to accept Ian. Maria's character challenges the sexist attitudes of her husband and demonstrates a desire for her daughter to have agency in her life choices.

The film also addresses the issue of sexism within Greek culture through Toula's struggle to come to terms with her heritage and cultural identity. She faces challenges in balancing her family's traditional expectations with her own desires and aspirations.

While some viewers found the film humorous and relatable, others criticised it for perpetuating stereotypes and normalising sexist attitudes. Ultimately, the film's portrayal of Greek characters as sexist contributes to a broader discussion about the representation of different cultures in media and the potential impact on perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

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