I feel energized and delighted from reading this post that Andrea M. pointed out to me. I think he makes some really excellent points. I pretty much wanted to say "Yes, exactly" to every single sentence, so you absolutely have to go over and read it.
It's about cultural appropriation and how Indian culture is 1) extremely varied, 2) is strong enough to survive people dabbling in it, and 3) allowing others to learn and experience one's culture enriches and strengthens it, helping to fight against racism by destroying ignorance.
Here are just a few of the wonderful lines...
"There is nothing wrong with taking the best ideas of a group of people and using them to improve your own. It doesn't destroy your culture, it makes it BETTER"
"...the people complaining have forgotten one thing. That culture changes. Indian culture of 100 years ago is not the same as today."
"Yes there are a lot of things that suck like 'Fair and Lovely' and the like about Indian culture but you know what? That has nothing to do with a bunch of white people putting indian things on their foreheads or carrying our bags or dancing in movies. That has to do with a society that doesn't realise that all skin colour is beautiful. It's due to western influences and the idealisation of beauty but you have to realise one important thing. White people are as exotic to Indians as Indians are to White People. You are just as fetishised as our women are to you. "
Go read it now! :) http://a-million-gods.blogspot.com/2012/09/baggy-silk-pants.html
It's about cultural appropriation and how Indian culture is 1) extremely varied, 2) is strong enough to survive people dabbling in it, and 3) allowing others to learn and experience one's culture enriches and strengthens it, helping to fight against racism by destroying ignorance.
Here are just a few of the wonderful lines...
"There is nothing wrong with taking the best ideas of a group of people and using them to improve your own. It doesn't destroy your culture, it makes it BETTER"
"...the people complaining have forgotten one thing. That culture changes. Indian culture of 100 years ago is not the same as today."
"Yes there are a lot of things that suck like 'Fair and Lovely' and the like about Indian culture but you know what? That has nothing to do with a bunch of white people putting indian things on their foreheads or carrying our bags or dancing in movies. That has to do with a society that doesn't realise that all skin colour is beautiful. It's due to western influences and the idealisation of beauty but you have to realise one important thing. White people are as exotic to Indians as Indians are to White People. You are just as fetishised as our women are to you. "
Go read it now! :) http://a-million-gods.blogspot.com/2012/09/baggy-silk-pants.html
I agree wholeheartedly with this. There is no doubt that things can be used in disrespectful ways, like the infamous Lakshmi burger king advert, but use with due respect enhances a culture and intercultural understanding.
ReplyDeleteBy "due respect", I mean commensurate with the respect something is held within the culture, so things like the light-hearted the Bollywood dance in "Mirror Mirror" is fine, but similar use of a religious ceremony would not be.
(BTW the "Mirror Mirror video clip is worth watching if you haven't seen the film!)