18 and still young

Recently I've been reflecting on certain things, like how I am 18 and nothing but that's okay I still have a lot to learn, and accomplish within my life time. It begs me to ask the question. Why are today's youth obsessed with the idea of '18 so let's do parties, drugs and alcohol!'?

18 is a time of adulthood. A time where we finish school, and take our desired path in life. It gives us a time to rediscover our roots, discover, or rediscover ourselves, and do new things. Why don't we radicalise ourselves, or if that's not for you, then simplify ourselves,  or even in between if you like. You know, put a new meaning on "You only live once." 

If you're into art no matter what form it comes in, read about it, put it into practise, talk about it! If you're into politics, don't be afraid to be radical! (Don't worry I'm not talking "fundamentalist radical" type). If you're into business, get a job, get some experience! Some things are hard but it doesn't hurt to try. Learn new things like a language, take up a hobby, even travel!

If the thing you most look forward to when you're 18 is the aforementioned "drugs, parties and alcohol" then I kind of pity you. Still 18 and young, enjoy it before you have to endure responsibilities.

Orientalism and Appropriation

Orientalism and appropriation is something that I hate. With Selena Gomez wearing a bindi during her performances to Lady Gaga sexualising the burqa and having an orientalist attitude. 

What is orientalism? Orientalism is the representation of the East in Western art or writing, esp. when perceived as stereotyped and therefore embodying a colonialistic attitude.

Appropriation is wrong on so many levels because it is not your culture, you have no right to claim it whatsoever. Orientalism is also wrong because it portrays 'Orientalist peoples' and their culture as something to be fetishised, meanwhile in real life, they get mocked for practising their culture, or are portrayed in the media as something else. A well known example of a film portraying Arabs in an orientalist fashion is Aladdin.

Let's talk about the two examples I mentioned. Selena Gomez and Lady Gaga. Firstly, Selena is Latina, not south East Asian or Hindu, she has NO right to wear the bindi. It is a sacred cultural thing, not fashion. These days, you also have white girls wearing the Native American headdress as fashion. It's ironic because their ancestors did a lot of whitewashing and tried to strip native Americans of their culture by making them more European. They have no right to reclaim the headdress as their fashion icon. What about non-native American / Non-pacific islander people who get Tribal tattoos?

Lady gaga also wore the Burqa a while before to try 'sympathise' with Muslim women. Hey Gaga, listen up! Muslim women do not need your sympathy or white American colonialistic attitude. Furthermore, she just released a song called 'Burqa' and if you look at the lyrics, it is gross and it sexualises women. Secondly, she is catholic, not Muslim. She has no right to do this. It's also ironic that she uses the Burqa for shock value and as a fashion icon, meanwhile Muslim women who actually wear it, or even the hijab, get mocked for it. Even in certain places which claim to be democratic and have freedom, they have banned the burqa.

To conclude, appropriation and orientalism are wrong on so many levels because you have people who are not of that culture reclaiming someone else's culture as their own, or grossly sexualising it and fetishising it.