Stefani’s music and style has brought her a lot of success. But also, it has brought some speculation as well. At the time of her first solo album she had brought attention to her and her new entourage. Her new entourage (after the No Doubt thing) consisted of four Japanese women who consider them selves, The Harajuku Girls. The name Harajuku came from a culture that has been established in Japan. http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/tokyo/harajuku.htm
It consists of many types of Harajuku such as Goth and even male Harajuku. Harajuku is a life style for many people in Japan but according to Margret Cho (American-Asian Comedian) Asian’s are not represented in the media very often. In her opinion, she would do anything just to be recognized as an Asian in the media.
http://japundit.com/archives/2005/11/10/1482/ “I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don’t want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show. I think it is totally acceptable to enjoy the Harajuku girls, because there are not that many other Asian people out there in the media really, so we have to take whatever we can get. Amos ‘n Andy had lots of fans, didn’t they? At least it is a measure of visibility, which is much better than invisibility. I am so sick of not existing, that I would settle for following any white person around with an umbrella just so I could say I was there.”
But as we can see, there is a certain extent to where a person is adapting culture. It is shown that Gwen Stefani has surpassed adapting culture and uses LAMB [Love, Angle, Music, Baby (The Harajuku Girls)] as her own accessory. Instead of adapting culture, she’s exploiting the culture for her own commercial success. I agree with Harp and Brittany when they say “She is treating them as if they are animals although there are no physical leashes.” http://media-patriot.blogspot.com/2007/10/exploitation-or-adaptation-harajuku.html.
In 2004, an interview was established for Gwen and LAMB at Much Music. During the interview, the host asked one of the LAMB members a question. Gwen was quick to react and told the host “You can’t talk to them. They don’t talk. There apart of my imagination.” After reviewing that over, it is clear to me that this is plain out wrong! It’s not even a question of, “Is she exploiting or adapting”? Everyone should start telling her that it’s a crime of humanity to do such a thing. You have the right to free speech and no one can take that away from you.
But on the other hand, we should as LAMB them selves if they want this or not. Shortly after, an interview was constructed for the member and it brought up different questions. They were happy to be apart of Gwen’s crew. Gwen is a multi-platinum recording artist. With the records, comes a lot of cash money. If you do the math, LAMB shut there mouth for a reason (hint: $$$$$$). An additional point, none of the members have grown up on the Harajuku culture. One of the members “Angel” Jennifer Kita was born in America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harajuku_Girls
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Seannn!!
As you have may heard, the story of Sean Bell was tragic and had no justice in the end. In a nut shell, here is how it goes:
Sean Bell was a young twenty-three year old African-American man. He grew up in Queens, New York. On the night of November 25, 2006 Sean was hosting a bachelor party. The bachelor party was located at Club Kalua in Jamaica district of Queens. It was also known that several undercover NYPD officers were at the party. They were there to keep an eye out because there was speculation that the club owners were operating prostitutes there. A fight had broken out, out side the club. One of Bell’s friends had got in an altercation with a woman and threatened her by saying “Yo, get my gun”. The cops had stopped Bell and his friends but allegedly, Sean was no co-operating. Fifty bullets were total after the incident took place. But some say the cops never identified them self’s as NYPD officers. Sean was pronounced dead. It was shown as a racially-targeted attack by the NYPD. The officers who were responsible for Sean’s death were on trail. On April 25, 2008 the officers were found not-guilty off all charges.
Predominantly, the black communities in the United States have supported the justice for Sean Bell’s family. Even celebrities have stepped up like The Game in this song 911 is a Joke (Cop Killa) off his new album LAX (2008). So, how come this was not on the cover of time magazine saying “An American Tragity”?
Click HERE for a youtube clip
Sean Bell was a young twenty-three year old African-American man. He grew up in Queens, New York. On the night of November 25, 2006 Sean was hosting a bachelor party. The bachelor party was located at Club Kalua in Jamaica district of Queens. It was also known that several undercover NYPD officers were at the party. They were there to keep an eye out because there was speculation that the club owners were operating prostitutes there. A fight had broken out, out side the club. One of Bell’s friends had got in an altercation with a woman and threatened her by saying “Yo, get my gun”. The cops had stopped Bell and his friends but allegedly, Sean was no co-operating. Fifty bullets were total after the incident took place. But some say the cops never identified them self’s as NYPD officers. Sean was pronounced dead. It was shown as a racially-targeted attack by the NYPD. The officers who were responsible for Sean’s death were on trail. On April 25, 2008 the officers were found not-guilty off all charges.
Predominantly, the black communities in the United States have supported the justice for Sean Bell’s family. Even celebrities have stepped up like The Game in this song 911 is a Joke (Cop Killa) off his new album LAX (2008). So, how come this was not on the cover of time magazine saying “An American Tragity”?
Click HERE for a youtube clip
Dixie Chicks vs. America?
Politics in the United States is taken very seriously. The President of the United States is the head of the state and government. So if you were to go against the head of the state and government, there’s going to be major issues. In the down south region of the US, you can see it’s very patriotic. But not all American’s love there own leader.
Country music is extremely well-liked down south as well. An all girls group by the name of “The Dixie Chick” is a popular country band. They have sold over thirty-six million copies (most albums sold by an all female band). They are from Texas, country singers and very popular. You might be asking, what does the Dixie Chicks and politics have in common?
Well, in 2003 President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq. The reason for the war was because the United States government had suspicion that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction”. American’s across the country supported the invasion. The war was heavily supported in the down south region of the United States. It was heavily supported but, not all supported the war that was from the down south region. Natalie Maines who is one third of the Dixie Chicks had made a controversial comment during on of there concerts. “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
This sparked a feud amongst the Dixie Chicks and most of the United States.
Not knowing the consequences of speaking out, Maines’ comments quickly made headlines everywhere. Her comments where first published in the Guardian, a London news paper. American’s where boycotting Dixie Chicks songs. "If you guys play another Dixie Chicks song, we'll never listen to you again," one country music fan told KBEQ. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/2040104/detail.html Although Maines’ comments against President Bush were offensive, she did say that she supported the troupes one hundred percent. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.10.03/dixie-0328.html Even if the Dixie Chicks said some comments about the president, don’t they have there own opinion and right to free speech? Some did not agree on what the Dixie chicks believed. Therefore, people stopped buying there records. But as time went by, people started to relies that the war was not productive at all. Bush’s supporters where turning on him as they did to the Dixie Chicks. A well known hip-hop artist by the name of Kanye West had spoken out against the lack of relief efforts due to Hurricane Katrina. Many artists have spoken out against George Bush after the Dixie Chicks. They had their beliefs and stood by them.
Country music is extremely well-liked down south as well. An all girls group by the name of “The Dixie Chick” is a popular country band. They have sold over thirty-six million copies (most albums sold by an all female band). They are from Texas, country singers and very popular. You might be asking, what does the Dixie Chicks and politics have in common?
Well, in 2003 President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq. The reason for the war was because the United States government had suspicion that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction”. American’s across the country supported the invasion. The war was heavily supported in the down south region of the United States. It was heavily supported but, not all supported the war that was from the down south region. Natalie Maines who is one third of the Dixie Chicks had made a controversial comment during on of there concerts. “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
This sparked a feud amongst the Dixie Chicks and most of the United States.
Not knowing the consequences of speaking out, Maines’ comments quickly made headlines everywhere. Her comments where first published in the Guardian, a London news paper. American’s where boycotting Dixie Chicks songs. "If you guys play another Dixie Chicks song, we'll never listen to you again," one country music fan told KBEQ. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/2040104/detail.html Although Maines’ comments against President Bush were offensive, she did say that she supported the troupes one hundred percent. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.10.03/dixie-0328.html Even if the Dixie Chicks said some comments about the president, don’t they have there own opinion and right to free speech? Some did not agree on what the Dixie chicks believed. Therefore, people stopped buying there records. But as time went by, people started to relies that the war was not productive at all. Bush’s supporters where turning on him as they did to the Dixie Chicks. A well known hip-hop artist by the name of Kanye West had spoken out against the lack of relief efforts due to Hurricane Katrina. Many artists have spoken out against George Bush after the Dixie Chicks. They had their beliefs and stood by them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
