THE VIDEO, WHICH FEATURES BEYONCE IN INDIAN CLOTHES, TRADITIONAL MEHENDI AND ORNATE JEWELLERY ACCENTUATING HER ‘INDIAN LOOK,’ HAS ALSO BEEN CRITICISED FOR ‘APPROPRIATING INDIAN CULTURE.’ THOSE IN SUPPORT OF BEYONCE SAY SHE’S MERELY ‘APPRECIATING’ SOCIETY
Coldplay and Beyonce’s new video Hymn for the Weekend has sparked a debate on social media with many accusing the British rock band of reinforcing ‘stereotypes’ about India as being a land of sadhus, ‘street-children’ and ‘exotic’ women.
The song features Beyonce as a Bollywood star who appears on billboards and TV sets. The traditional mehendi and jewellery which have been used to accentuate her ‘Indian look,’ is being viewed as an example of ‘cultural appropriation.’ As is Sonam Kapoor’s brief cameo as a ‘mystic-muse,’ which, twitter says, is a far-cry from the modern Indian woman. The phrase ‘cultural appropriation’ is used when elements of music or art which define the culture of a society (historically marginalised) are reduced to an ‘exotic fashion’ by those from the dominant group.Those in support say the video ‘appreciates’ the colour and celebratory fervour characteristic of Indian society.
The song features Beyonce as a Bollywood star who appears on billboards and TV sets. The traditional mehendi and jewellery which have been used to accentuate her ‘Indian look,’ is being viewed as an example of ‘cultural appropriation.’ As is Sonam Kapoor’s brief cameo as a ‘mystic-muse,’ which, twitter says, is a far-cry from the modern Indian woman. The phrase ‘cultural appropriation’ is used when elements of music or art which define the culture of a society (historically marginalised) are reduced to an ‘exotic fashion’ by those from the dominant group.Those in support say the video ‘appreciates’ the colour and celebratory fervour characteristic of Indian society.
[Source:- NDTV]