Thursday 14 February 2013

Thoughts on discriminatory Halloween costumes.

Personally I believe that the whole idea of 'cultural' Halloween costumes is blown out of proportion. People are taking these costumes that are apparently, 'offensive', way too serious. For example: People who are dressing up as a Geisha for Halloween are not trying to offend the culture, but embrace it. It is obvious that they are appreciating the culture rather than discriminating against it. There is no stereotype if they are calling themselves a Geisha. I think that these people who are targeting the 'cultural' costumes are just looking for a way to feel equal, but really it isn't necessary. It's all a personal opinion, but that's just mine.

14 comments:

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    1. Cody, why do you agree? What specifically do you agree with?

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  2. Yeah, like if i wana dress up as mike tyson. i should be abole to since its like once a year type of thing. its halloween. its when everyone wants to feel different and look different. thats the beuty of it. #swag

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    1. I don't follow you logic. Because it is once a year, it is okay, even if the costume is discriminatory? Should I be able to drink and drive on New Year's Eve...because it's only a once a year type of thing?

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  3. Agreed. If I found out people in Japan were dressing up as mounties, using a Canadian accent and acting overly nice and pacifistic, I'd think it's hilarious.

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    1. I agree Jonesy, that would be awesome haha

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    2. I think the difference is that Canadians in Japan have not been subjected to the same level of racism that the Japanese have experienced in Canada.

      PS. I would it is pretty funny as well.

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  4. 100% agree with Branson.. No one is trying to offend anyone. They are just trying to have a good time.

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    1. They may not have been TRYING to be offensive, but were without knowing because they don't know enough about the culture to know that the costume they were wearing was a generalization of the culture that created the idea of "oh, they're all like that" and that Japanese meant Geisha, which is not at all true.

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    2. I agree that no one is actively trying to offend some one. In fact, one of my friends (who is very culturally sensitive) dressed up as a geisha one year for Halloween. I know for a fact that she wasn't attempting to be offensive. I wonder, though, if she read the article what her feelings would be. I think the goal is to make people think before they decide on their Halloween costume.

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  5. I think the idea of the Geisha costume was that, yes they may have been trying to embrace or compliment the Japanese culture, but it was a misrepresentation and generalization of their culture.

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    1. Alexandra, I think you have hit on the fine line. When does a costume become a misrepresentation or generalization?

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  6. Branson, you have a clear main idea and provide support for it. I think you make an interesting distinction between "calling themselves a Geisha", as opposed to calling themselves Japanese.

    After reading the article, I wonder about the costumes I have donned in the past. Have I unintentionally been discriminatory? I think that most people who wear cultural costumes aren't doing it to be offensive. I don't think that it is possible to embrace a culture if you are perpetuating a stereotype, even if it is "innocent" fun.

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  7. YOU KILLED IT BRANSON!!!!

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