Mumbai under siege

[innerSpaceman]

Stir the pot, moi?

No, I was simply going to try and get as tan as I would normally do during the summer. But the slant-eyes thing gave me pause.

And so I was merely wondering if a thing I do for purely cosmetic purposes in summertime is inappropriate if I do the exact same thing for the cosmetic purposes of a costume.



I had never before considered the "mockery" aspect of costumes or events that relate to a real culture. I don't happen to think there is any on my part, but it did lead to a reexamination of ideas. Stirring my own pot, so to speak.

[Morrigoon]

I don't think that artificial tanning agents carry the same cultural luggage that "blackface" does. I mean, when you look into the history, part of the reason it's offensive is because of its connection to the Minstrel Shows, and how they often deliberately belittled or lampooned black people, creating stereotypes which would ultimately contribute to the continued oppression of African Americans into the late 20th century.

(Hot damn! never thought I'd actually be able to use something learned in my Race, Class and Gender in American Film class!)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by iSm

And so I was merely wondering if a thing I do for purely cosmetic purposes in summertime is inappropriate if I do the exact same thing for the cosmetic purposes of a costume.

Seems blatantly obvious to me that impersonating another race is insulting, no matter whether it's Halloween or a stage show or what. Notice I didn't say culture, I said race. Distinct line there.

[Gn2Dlnd]

Oh wait, the NYE party is red-dot Indian, not woo-woo Indian? Now I have to go exchange my headdress.

[innerSpaceman]

Originally Posted by Cadaverous Pallor

Seems blatantly obvious to me that impersonating another race is insulting, no matter whether it's Halloween or a stage show or what. Notice I didn't say culture, I said race. Distinct line there.

So, if I would have done black-face for my Jimi Hendrix halloween costume, that would have been insulting? Or would it have been ok because I was impersonating a particular black man?


The line gets wigglier all the time.

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by Gn2Dlnd

Oh wait, the NYE party is red-dot Indian, not woo-woo Indian? Now I have to go exchange my headdress.

No the theme is "Bollywood" - I wouldn't be surprised if there's a Bollywood Western out there - feel free to woop it up

[€uroMeinke]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

So, if I would have done black-face for my Jimi Hendrix halloween costume, that would have been insulting? Or would it have been ok because I was impersonating a particular black man?


The line gets wigglier all the time.

If it were black face like Al Jolson - probably

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by innerSpaceman

So, if I would have done black-face for my Jimi Hendrix halloween costume, that would have been insulting? Or would it have been ok because I was impersonating a particular black man?


The line gets wigglier all the time.

It doesn't get wigglier at all, you just think it does. It would have been pretty horrifying had you turned up in blackface. Seriously, does it take convincing to get you to understand why this is insulting no matter the context?

[innerSpaceman]

No, there's no convincing me that showing up in blackface for a Jimi Hendrix costume wouldn't have been completely appropriate ... and the only reason I didn't do it was because I was too lazy to deal with a full face of make-up. I don't see anything wrong with that. Ghost Hendrix was a lazyism.


Sorry, we just have completely different opinions on this.

I'm a little fuzzier (and thus could be convinced) about Bollywood skin tone ... but I'm leaning toward thinking my normal summer tan would be more appropriate for Indian Garb. I'm not saying I'll bother, but I can't imagine that something I would do anyway to look better in July would be somehow awful if I did it to look better on New Year's Eve.



I've never slanted my eyes to look more Asian for any occasion, so it's a good thing we're not having a Japanese Tea.

[Not Afraid]

J Pop night is next year.

I think the idea for coming to NYE with darkened skin is absolutely silly.