I Am Not a Costume!

[agzg]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

No goal.

[Low C Sharp]

I need to find a Halloween party full of gay men.

This is generally the case if you want to have a good time, regardless of costume. Luckily, it's not hard to do.

[amIblue?]

http://www.wapt.com/news/29766937/detail.html

Sorority members dress in Cosby Blackface.

The comments attached to the article are simply delightful.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

The comments attached to the article are simply delightful.

Yeah those were fun.

This story is nothing without photos. Where are the photos?

If I went to a 1980s TV party, and wanted to go as Family Ties, I would not wear whiteface. So, if I somehow thought my skin color posed a problem for my portrayal, I would dress up as one of the (relative few) Black 1980s TV show characters. This stuff isn't hard to figure out, Halloween partiers.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by DrPhil

Yeah those were fun.

This story is nothing without photos. Where are the photos?

If I went to a 1980s TV party, and wanted to go as Family Ties, I would not wear whiteface. So, if I somehow thought my skin color posed a problem for my portrayal, I would dress up as one of the (relative few) Black 1980s TV show characters. This stuff isn't hard to figure out, Halloween partiers.

There were links to photos Facebook, but it appears they were taken down after the news story was posted.

[MisticLight]

Ok I know this is an old thread so I have a few questions I want to be clear about.
How is this offensive?

From what I see it just looks like a geisha costume is done with a cheap kimomno rather an authentic expensive one. :/ Halloween costumes are known for their cheap quality. I mean sure there are a few nice looking Halloween costumes. I do have a kimono that I wear for sleepwear that is a bit better quality than that one. Now if I was to wear that as a costume would I be mocking that culture in any way? Let's say I did my hair up in a simple bun without the wig. Would I still mocking the Japanese culture?
link
Also on the other hand if I was to go full out and purchase an authentic kimono made, do my hair up in the complex bun or better yet buy a spot on geisha wig, do the make up spot on, get the correct footwear, and practice the graceful walking. After doing all of that would it still be seen as mocking the culture when I try to be authentic as possible? Only thing is I'm not Japanese.

[amIblue?]

Originally Posted by MisticLight

Ok I know this is an old thread so I have a few questions I want to be clear about.
How is this offensive?

From what I see it just looks like a geisha costume is done with a cheap kimomno rather an authentic expensive one. :/ Halloween costumes are known for their cheap quality. I mean sure there are a few nice looking Halloween costumes. I do have a kimono that I wear for sleepwear that is a bit better quality than that one. Now if I was to wear that as a costume would I be mocking that culture in any way? Let's say I did my hair up in a simple bun without the wig. Would I still mocking the Japanese culture?
link
Also on the other hand if I was to go full out and purchase an authentic kimono made, do my hair up in the complex bun or better yet buy a spot on geisha wig, do the make up spot on, get the correct footwear, and practice the graceful walking. After doing all of that would it still be seen as mocking the culture when I try to be authentic as possible? Only thing is I'm not Japanese.

Did you read the thread?

[PiKA2001]

Originally Posted by amIblue?

Did you read the thread?

I read the thread but I also fail to see how dressing up as a geisha could offend someone. How many people do you really think would dress up as one to do it out of mockery of asian culture? I'd think that women that would choose this costume would because of the ability to really go all out in terms of make-up and the fact that the geisha "look" was a costume in and of itself. I think that part of the campaign was just the product of political correctness gone over-board.

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by PiKA2001

I did read the thread but I also fail to see how dressing up as a geisha could offend someone. How many people do you really think would dress up as one to do it out of mockery of asian culture? I'd think that women that would choose this costume would because of the ability to really go all out in terms of make-up and the fact that the geisha "look" was a costume in and of itself. I think that part of the campaign was just the product of political correctness gone over-board.

This has all been discussed in this thread. Agree or disagree, dressing up as any representation of another race, ethnicity, and culture of people can be considered a mockery just as easily as it can considered a homage. People who still choose to do so are doing so at their own "risk."

[MisticLight]

I did read the thread. I don't see how dressing up as a geisha is seen as negative. Also the article didn't make sense to me as why the opening addressed sexy costumes when that wasn't the topic at hand. Instead of asking if I read the thread, mind explaining why dressing up as a geisha is offensive?

[DrPhil]

Originally Posted by MisticLight

I did read the thread. I don't see how dressing up as a geisha is seen as negative. Instead of asking if I read the thread, mind explaining why dressing up as a geisha is offensive?

For the same reason the thread discussed it could possibly be offensive.

Not every person of Japanese ethnicity will consider it offensive or care either way. However, if you are not Japanese, it truly does not matter whether or not you understand or find it offensive.

Originally Posted by MisticLight

Also the article didn't make sense to me as why the opening addressed sexy costumes when that wasn't the topic at hand.

You mean, the article at the beginning of this thread that you claim to have read?

[SOPi_Jawbreaker]

Originally Posted by MisticLight

I did read the thread. I don't see how dressing up as a geisha is seen as negative. Also the article didn't make sense to me as why the opening addressed sexy costumes when that wasn't the topic at hand. Instead of asking if I read the thread, mind explaining why dressing up as a geisha is offensive?

It has to do with the stereotypes of Asian women. It is a hyper-sexualized stereotype...that Asian women are submissive whores that exist to please,obey, and submit to white men, like the whole "Me love you long time" thing.

Slight tangent - A big part of the stereotype continuing to persist is the huge problem of sex trafficing of Asian women in Asia and in the US. When I was growing up, there was an Asian massage parlor on the other side of town (suburban town in Pennsylvania) that was rumored to be a prostitution ring. And a few years later, a sting operation cenfirmed it and it was raided. Before that though, my family had once gone to buy furniture at a furniture store that was in the same shopping center. I was probably 13 or 14 (and definitely looked 13 or 14), and a 50-something white man that was going to the massage parlor smiled and looked at me really creepily and lecherously when he walked past me and my family. It was very disturbing to have a 50-something man looking at me like that.

As for real, authentic kimonos, hair, and makeup, I'm not Japanese but I think that it can be done respectfully by non-Japanese if they've educated themselves about the culture,
the history, and the meaning. I think there is a difference between wearing an authentic kimono because you have learned about and admire the culture vs dressing up in a cheap, slutty-looking costume that equates geisha with being just a sex object.

[ElieM]

Originally Posted by SOPi_Jawbreaker

As for real, authentic kimonos, hair, and makeup, I'm not Japanese but I think that it can be done respectfully by non-Japanese if they've educated themselves about the culture, the history, and the meaning. I think there is a difference between wearing an authentic kimono because you have learned about and admire the culture vs dressing up in a cheap, slutty-looking costume that equates geisha with being just a sex object.

Given that there has been at least one non-Japanese geisha, if you don't count Liza Dalby, who never formally trained as one, you could dress up as a geisha. I think there is a Romanian geisha as well.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by 33girl

Well OK, let's discuss that.

Is it offensive to an African-American if a white man dresses up - skin darkened and all - as Worf from ST: TNG? IMO, that would depend on how much Worf's skin color was part of him being a Klingon.

I can't believe I just wrote that.

iLOL'd

[MisticLight]

I love dressing up in costume when I go to conventions but at the same time I don't want to offend anyone. I love showing love for my favorite fictional characters but most of the time I look nothing like them in real life. (such as different skin color or opposite gender)