ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
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Beyoncé/HIVE under fire on tumblr | "Cultural Appropriation"
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Hey everyone! Most of you have probably heard about Beyonce’s latest feature in Coldplay’s newest video but let’s all take a step back: This is cultural appropriation. Most of the people speaking on this issue are not even directly involved with the culture, being actually desi, I feel I have more authority.
The dictionary definition of cultural appropriation: Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture.
Some specific examples throughout the video are the appropriation of henna during the movie theater scene, appropriation of the tikka during the same scene, the use of religious and cultural images throughout the video, such as the holi scenes and other hindu gods throughout the video.
Beyonce and Coldplay have basically turned a rich culture over thousands of years into a music video concept, like an “exotic theme” or something which is INEXCUSABLE.
Now although I am not excusing Coldplay’s involvement in this video, I will mainly be focusing on Beyonce, because it is her fanbase that is trying deperately to defend her messy actions.
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I know Beyonce herself has experienced a lot of cultural appropriation, and was likely trying to express appreciation. That being said, there are better ways to appreciate a culture than using thousands of years worth of culture as a music video concept.
Coldplay also has a history of cultural appropriation in their videos, like Princess of China (ft Rihanna)
There are worse examples of cultural appropriation like Selena Gomez’s Come and Get It MV and Iggy Azalea’s Bounce MV but my main issue with this situation is that Beyonce fans are trying to go to any length to defend her. Black people can also be perpetrators of cultural appropriation. Anyone can.
My culture is not a costume.
Accept that your fave has messed up, learn from it, and move on.
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Link to the post
Now before you guys get mad and say that I'm trying to shade/drag Bey for this, that wasn't the reason I posted it. I posted it because other people keep saying that "nobody cares when people of color culturally appropriate" and her backlash is proof that this isn't true.
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