Last Friday, Jan. 29, Coldplay released a new music video for their song, “Hymn for the Weekend.” In more important news, said video features Beyoncé. Beyhive members everywhere rejoice.
As a long-time Beyoncé fan myself, I too rejoiced. I was elated to learn Bey would make her first video appearance since “Feeling Myself” with Nicki Minaj. But when I realized a sari, henna tattoos and traditional Indian jewelry made up her “Hymn” look, my excitement quickly dwindled. Vanity Fair described her costuming that of “a Bollywood princess,” but I couldn’t help but wonder:
Could Beyoncé, a self-proclaimed feminist and social justice advocate, be appropriating Indian culture?
I’m not one to say yes or no, obviously—I’m a white girl from Scottsdale. I know it’s not my place to speak for other cultures. But Indian and non-Indian people alike have voiced their opinions regarding Beyoncé’s getup on Twitter.
Some condemning her,
And some defending her.
Cultural appropriation, defined by Wikipedia as “the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture,” isn’t really a new concept. It has been a hot-button topic of debate on Tumblr and Twitter ever since the online social justice movement took off a few years ago. Essentially, people get really heated about cultural appropriation because white people take aspects from disadvantaged cultures that have historically stigmatized them without trying to understand why said aspects condemned them.
In the past, the Twitter and Tumblr-verses have ridiculed celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, as well as Khloé Kardashian for appropriating South Asian and Native American cultures through their Coachella outfits, wearing bindis and henna, just as Beyoncé does in “Hymn.” Kylie Jenner was even accused of appropriating African culture by wearing blackface in a photoshoot last April.
The concept has gone hand-in-hand with the national discussion on whether millennials are overly sensitive and/or coddling regarding political correctness, trigger warnings, microaggressions and so on.
Only time and (more) debate will tell if Coldplay and Beyoncé’s Mumbai video was culturally insensitive or appreciative. In the meantime—maybe just be a good person and leave the bindi, henna and and any other appropriative trends at home this festival season.
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2016.
What utter crap. Cultural appropriation my ass. if I want to dress up as and dance around in a music vid. I will. Girls jus wanna have fun. Let them.
This is why Trump is so popular! This is a great example of liberal social justice values turning our freedoms against us in a PC bullshit society.
Oh yeah, and I am a liberal!
Much ado about NOTHING!!! What was once considered “art” is now offensive “cultural approbation”. Pure and utter bullshit whining by moronic idiots who somehow feel “offended” by nothing. Grow the hell up and start contributing to society and throw this “social justice” bullshit in the trashcan. As a Native American, am I supposed to be offended when non Natives wear silver & turquoise? Am I offended when non Natives wear our boots? Am I to be chastised because I wear Levis and ropers? Good God enough already, get over yourselves.
“the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture”
So no use of Algebra by non-Arabs. And use of Calculus by non-Europeans? Fuh-get about it! It’s cultural appropriation. Put that paper down unless you’re Chinese.
And Rolling Stones, stop playing that Blues music right now!!
Does that mean I can’t drink German beer or French wine or eat Chinese or any Asian dishes, as well as Mexican, various European or African foods? Can I whine about people in other cultures who wear Levi’s?
What totally unmitigated nonsense.
the music sucks ;However,the video is beautiful….
“I’m not one to say yes or no, obviously—I’m a white girl from Scottsdale. I know it’s not my place to speak for other cultures.”
Be proud white woman. Stop listening to those who encourage you to belittle yourself and to worship at the altar or social justice, political correctness.