Definition Of Beauty In Relation To Cultural Appropriation
An example can be seen from one popular cultural appropriation movement known as The Japanese Be-Style sub-culture. It is a subgroup of Japanese kids who want to be African American, mostly like African Americans within the rap culture. They dress like rappers, listen/dance to hip hop/rap music and share their absolute love for that aspect of black culture. It is absolute love and fascination they have for it. They truly admire it, an admiration seen through their effort to re-enact it. They see such beauty in that aspect of culture, even pleased they want to borrow it. They may not do it 100 percent perfectly, in fact tanning their naturally pale skin to look more black is borderline and their portrayal is stereotypical (they live in Japan, real examples of African American culture are most likely scarce) but they do it from a place of love and admiration, not disrespect.
In a similar vein, the 12th episode of Refresh Man, the Black Man or in this case the Asian Man played by actor Roy Zhang says, "Wash Mei Mei White White." This is implying black people are not beautiful. This is suggesting that lighter skin , the more beautiful one's skin is. Beauty is not absolute, it is standard changes with time and place. In some communities in Africa like Ghana, a heavier set body is considered beautiful as compared to the American idea of aesthetics, where aesthetics holds skinnier women as a standard. Since the period of colonization, the physical features of black women including their hair, lips, thighs, breasts and behind as well as their chocolate skin is considered distasteful. Due to this, the black community today, faces a struggle to achieve the white standard of beauty. This is not just prevalent within the black community but also other non-Western societies and communities.
It is noted that appropriation of cultural appropriation is an admiration of beauty. When someone borrows something from your culture because they find it appealing, unique, fun, they are applauding you, they see beauty in you. As humans sharing what we love brings growth and open-mindedness, cultural appropriation reflects that.
Bibliography:
1.Abajorga,M.(2016) Beauty And Cultural Appropriation [Online]. Available at:https://www.theodysseyonline.com/beauty-cultural-appropriation (Accessed on 14 June 2017)
2. Aburam, A. (2017) 4 Reasons Why Cultural Appropriation Should Be Celebrated [Online]. Availabble at: http://thoughtcatalog.com/amma-aburam/2017/03/4-reasons-why-cultural-appropriation-should-be-celebrated/ (Accessed on 14 June 2017)
An example can be seen from one popular cultural appropriation movement known as The Japanese Be-Style sub-culture. It is a subgroup of Japanese kids who want to be African American, mostly like African Americans within the rap culture. They dress like rappers, listen/dance to hip hop/rap music and share their absolute love for that aspect of black culture. It is absolute love and fascination they have for it. They truly admire it, an admiration seen through their effort to re-enact it. They see such beauty in that aspect of culture, even pleased they want to borrow it. They may not do it 100 percent perfectly, in fact tanning their naturally pale skin to look more black is borderline and their portrayal is stereotypical (they live in Japan, real examples of African American culture are most likely scarce) but they do it from a place of love and admiration, not disrespect.
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| Japanese B-style culture |
It is noted that appropriation of cultural appropriation is an admiration of beauty. When someone borrows something from your culture because they find it appealing, unique, fun, they are applauding you, they see beauty in you. As humans sharing what we love brings growth and open-mindedness, cultural appropriation reflects that.
Bibliography:
1.Abajorga,M.(2016) Beauty And Cultural Appropriation [Online]. Available at:https://www.theodysseyonline.com/beauty-cultural-appropriation (Accessed on 14 June 2017)
2. Aburam, A. (2017) 4 Reasons Why Cultural Appropriation Should Be Celebrated [Online]. Availabble at: http://thoughtcatalog.com/amma-aburam/2017/03/4-reasons-why-cultural-appropriation-should-be-celebrated/ (Accessed on 14 June 2017)
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