Cultural Diversity and Customs and Traditions

 

If you spent ample amount of time on internet (or a lot of time aka me), cultural appropriation is one of the most debated topics. “My culture is not your godd*mn prom dress,” is only one of the many starters of a heated argument about appropriating culture.

 

 

Before I go any further, what is cultural appropriation? Cultural appropriation means appropriating another culture entails taking from a minority group without permission usually with little to zero respect for and knowledge about the targeted group. Although cultural appropriation is not a big of a trouble in Malaysia because our people embraced each other’s culture and ethnicities, in other parts of the world (yes, I’m looking at you America) this is much of an intense dispute which in my opinion, sometimes unnecessary. Personally, I find this very interesting, I’m not one who shouts “CULTURE APPROPRIATION! ! !” to any races other than Malay for wearing baju kurung or baju melayu because I believe in embracing and respecting everyone’s culture. As long as they’re not changing the garment into something sexual, I’m completely okay. In fact, I love it when I see other races wearing my culture’s garments. Personally, I think people have took it too far; it wasn’t an issue but people made it an iisue. But in IB, we embrace everyone’s opinions. 

 
These are certain instances where cultural appropriation issue is brought up: 

 

1.     Isle of Dogs

Isle of Dogs is a movie directed by a white guy named Wes Anderson. The movie sparked controversy not only because it uses a Japanese setting (cultural appropriation) but also because it follows the typical, usual trope of “white savior”. The Japanese characters also speak unsubtiltled Japanese, with their dialogue instead being translated by an interpreter or a machine. 

 

2.     American girl wears qipao to prom

A girl named Keziah uploaded her prom photos on Twitter unanware that those photos would ignite an online debate for wearing a traditional Chinese dress. After bashed by numerous Twitter users, Keziah said that she was only appreciating the culture and by any means, was trying to offend anyone or appropriate anyone’s culture. I’ll insert the pictures here. 


I don’t know about you, but I’m genuinely surprise that no one got mad over the picture on the right.

So, I believe that is all from me. I'll upload more.

 

China have tried and it failed quite miserably too but quoting Paul Knoepfler "… but I still think they sort of cracked the door ajar on a Pandora’s box here.". Scientists who knew about this CRISPR technology are all baffled by its amazingness and how incredibly efficient this technology works. Scientists have used CRISPR for numerous of disease and so far it's been showing good result. So good, that it rises the notion of designer babies - the scientists are torn in between advancement and progress and ethics. 

I haven't quite decide where my stance lies, but this is an extreme play-God behaviour and as amazing or interesting the idea of being able to design your own baby, it is ethically and religiously wrong.