If you can't see that wearing a silly costume from one aspect of another culture isn't the same as demeaning that entire culture, I guess there's no way to convey that to you.
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Offensive Halloween Costume
- Thread starter matt holt
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If you can't see that wearing a silly costume from one aspect of another culture isn't the same as demeaning that entire culture, I guess there's no way to convey that to you.
As the bassist for a group that played tribute to The New Pornographers last Halloween please allow me to apologize for the Canadian tuxedos we wore and faux accents we adopted.
As I said to someone else's posting in a similar vein - who gets to decide? And why should they get to be the one who ultimately decides what the reality is?
See the difficulty in something that seems so simple on the surface? That first "if" in any sentence is always a dangerous jumping off point.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Wearing a head dress around indicates you have no respect for the practice or it's traditions. Head dress are only given to certain people as a sign of respect. To wear one without having been given one is tantamount to wearing the pope's hat around. It shows a lack of respect. Just like dressing up as a Mexican to be "funny" shows a lack of respect for their culture.
I am not familiar with Carnatic music so I have no idea what that entails.
@40Hz it is easily conveyed with words and messages. It's just that the internet is not where people come to respect opinions and learn. People seem to think that because they are not offended then nobody should be. That is just ignorant of other's feelings and opinions. I doubt you would find any kind of Mexican cultural association that wouldn't find guys dressed up as mariachis with fake mustaches and a pinata offensive. The pinata is the real offensive part since it is not something traditionally associated with mariachi bands but it is associated with Mexican culture.
I didn't read the whole thread, but here's my take:
As a band - dressing as a mariachi band is pretty benign IF you just put on the clothes and play your show like normal. If you start mocking accents, culture, customs or behave in a way that calls out stereotypes of Mexicans, then you quickly cross into offensive territory.
As a band - dressing as a mariachi band is pretty benign IF you just put on the clothes and play your show like normal. If you start mocking accents, culture, customs or behave in a way that calls out stereotypes of Mexicans, then you quickly cross into offensive territory.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
For the record, Canadian tuxedos are actually a joke about an American college campus where all the guys wore denim. The line was changed to Canadians because most people wouldn't get the joke as it related to the Broken Lizard guys time in college.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
I'm not sure I agree 100% with your thoughts here, but thanks for explaining them politely. No one seems to do that anymore.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Yes, but the wearing of the mustache as a token of being Mexican IS racist. As I have said, it's the mustache and pinata WITH the costume that takes it over the line.
I take back my previous comment.
Its a stereotype. It seems no one in the world has any idea what the definition of racism is.
But that's not what's being discussed here. What's being discussed is a mild parody (if even that) of one aspect of another culture. That's not at all equivalent to demeaning an entire culture, any more than making a joke about (or of) American football demeans all of American culture.
I think people need to lighten up and learn to control their emotions. I am a Caucasian of Irish/German heritage. If someone makes fun of all of us Honky/Mick/Krauts running around, I find it prideful and rather amusing.
Ignore the racist angle and double down on the joke with a creative twist:
Dress up as stormtroopers dressed as mariachis and have a couple friends of the band dress as border patrol agents.
Dress up as stormtroopers dressed as mariachis and have a couple friends of the band dress as border patrol agents.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Please read through the entire thread.
Most of the people saying "it's not offensive" also say "it's just being funny." That indicates the entire costume, which depicts a Mexican stereotype based around their culture, is a joke meant to amuse their peers. That is the entire issue with stereotypical/offensive costumes.
So if you are going as the "Most Interesting Man in the World" that could be considered Racist??? I guess the Mexican beer commercial is racist since the actor who plays the Most Interesting Man is American and I believe has the fake accent. I can't see the lines anymore, so very confusing.
Also obvious, dressing like a cop with a box of doughnuts being offensive, is exactly why you would do it.
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