Lina Osofsky
913603947
5/9/17
Indo chic
The theme of appropriation has been highlighted many times throughout this course. Many readings have been about “White” cultures taking advantage of the cultural clothing or body art and profiting off of it. By making something like henna mainstream, these white cultures are appropriating the traditional Indian culture.
The fact that Northampton was practically remade into some “hip” on trend neighborhood shows the power and extent that appropriation can reach. It surprised me that I have even participated in appropriation unknowingly. At home I would take a yoga class once a week. My instructor was named Shastree and he was pretty old and from India. I loved his class because it felt so authentic. He didn’t play music and he only used his voice to guide us through the very intense movements and exercises. I realize now that that particular yoga studio probably took advantage of his authenticity because they knew that wealthy middle-aged google and microsoft employees would pay anything for a class like that. They were right! My entire class except me and my friend were all wealthy parents who worked at google, or microsoft or were lawyers.
I also noticed that boba tea (pearl milk tea) became so popular in the bay area. I basically needed it at least every other day. The lines would be out the door for it.
In a way appropriation makes the culture popular (hence popular culture) which can sometimes be good! It only turns out bad when the non authentic culture benefits from the authentic cultures’ culture.
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