rationale #1

Screen shot taken from youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSFyrrhKj1Q

The first piece of cultural text that I have chosen is a screen shot from Nicki Minaj's music video "Your Love", released in 2010. It depicts Nicki Minaj wearing an overly sexualised version of a kimono, posed as if to try to seduce the viewer through the screen. Immediately, issues regarding cultural appropriation as well as misrepresentation of aspects of those cultures (such as the geisha) are highlighted - from her facial expression and strategic fluttering of the dress to expose skin, to the abundant use of silk - never mind the entirety of the music video. This is just one example which showcases orientalism and how aspects of Asian culture is being used and idealized and in Western pop-culture to make the artist seem more 'exotic', perpetuating stereotypes and disregarding cultural values. The distribution and dissemination of this content on popular video sharing sites online, primarily Youtube which is readily available to users of all types, and how this encourages the normalisation of this type of cultural appropriation within this generation of the internet can be discussed. 

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Alternative image for rationale #1?

Screen shot from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Uw6ZkbsAH8

I chose images from Coldplay's "Princess of China" released in 2012 as a possible alternative source to discuss notions of orientalism and cultural appropriation in Western pop-culture because of the juxtaposition of the normal 'white male adventurer' and the exotic depiction of the female. Themes regarding male-female representation can also be raised along with racist tropes, social hierarchy and the unmistakable influence of pop artists - such as Chris Martin and Rihanna who have a large following of impressionable young children - on culture and their effect on the audience. Furthermore, I find it interesting to note that of the song writers, producers, video directors and the two main leads of the video, none are of Asian descent and that no one from any of the cultural groups that they portraying had any significant involvement in this production apart from to act as props and accessories in this display of inherent appropiation.