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Source: https://www.google.co.jp/amp/nextshark.com/karli-floss-vogue-yellowface-geisha-february-2017/amp/?client=safari
So I heard about this news going viral and calling it racist.
Honestly, as a Japanese women, I really didn't mind about this at all. Actually, I was pretty happy that THE Vogue did a photo shoot about Japanese culture. They did a photo shoot about my country's culture, how cool is that!!
I believe people are over reacting and being too sensitive on these kind of subjects.
Of course, my opinion does not mean that everybody is happy about this and doesn't care over here in Japan. I just wanted to tell someone that not all of us are angry about this. Some people even thinks that they were amazing!!
I know these kind of topics are done so many times here and maybe you are sick of it. But I wanted to tell someone how I felt and this is the only place I can express it.
Thanks for reading.
I apologize for any grammar mistakes
TL;DR; Japanese OP likes the Vogue's 'racist' photo of Japanese theme.
FP Edit; Woke up and hitting FP! Thank you for making this happen!
So I read most of your comments and thought I could give some responds to the major one.
The one I most saw was comments explaining that people were mad because they didn't use Asian models for the photos. And I do believe this was the biggest trigger to make these photos a controversial one.
However, I believe that, because they used White models, the photo became exotic and was more like an art form. If they used Asian models, I believe this effect didn't happen. So from the photos, I felt that Vogue shot these photos using Japanese culture as an art form, not for any racial meanings. That's why I didn't felt offended and felt happy that they used Japanese culture in their photos. I felt that they did the photo shoot as a respect of Japanese culture's beauty.
So what is racist to me?
I honestly do not have a clear answer to this. The line is very blurred to me.
But I do believe a line can be made if there was an intent of making fun of people about their culture/background, not respecting it.
Thank you for the comments, and if you have any other questions or opinions, please PM me. I will try my best to answer them.
Again, thank you for responding to my post.
PSYCH0TICBI0TIC
Just because you are fine with it, doesn't mean other Asian or Japanese people have to feel the way you do.
secretagentdoubleobeaver
This is just another way to be divisive. Put every color in separate corners and any blurring of the lines is to be shamed.
ihatepotatosandanatomymajors
if they wanted ASIAN theme why not use a beautiful ASIAN women? its not like there's a shortage of them. THAT is the problem.
yusenye
Well, I think the idea is that if they put time and effort to learn about it, why not? I want everyone to know and try my culture, it's fun!
Axelord
The... Asian community... Asian? Did they really just...? Notwithstanding the rest of the dumbassery, that's dumb.
Mitheledh
Don't worry, you don't need to be offended. There are PLENTY of people that are willing to be offended for you.
CthulhuCups
She's not in yellowface though? She's literally just wearing some flowy dresses with vaguely asian prints on them and some junk in her hair.
imreallytrying
Well if one Japanese person liked it, it must be ok
Demonboy94
It's almost like people have nothing better to do then be offended.
Darksnider05
This is a makeup style there's nothing racist in this.
JarlPastrami
I bet 90% of those tweets were from not Asians
LordGrizzly
Nobody gets butthurt when the Mexicans at my local publix cook up the delicious asian food.
LordGrizzly
Or when the black guy makes the sushi in the seafood area
71prodigy
us asians dgaf about this :P
Vectorman2
Vogue official reply to controversy: 'Me so sorry'
ihaveweirdfetishes
Savage +1
TinySupreme
This is almost as retarded as the Pewdiepie drama going on right now.
Thefluffernutter
Oooo what's the drama?
CarlitaJones
I think cultural appropriation is silly when it comes to fashion. Why can't you "express" yourself with another culture's style?
CarlitaJones
I'm not Scottish so I can't wear plaid? I'm not Japanese so I can't chill out in a kimono? Someone please explain to me.
LawFiveGuy
One of my favorite parts of this is @OP apologizing for any grammar mistakes.
Anthemius
Where's the racism?
boopusdoopusmahgoopus
I guess they could have discriminated against Asian models to hire a white woman instead
Anthemius
Right... but did they?
Cheomesh
Nah, THIS is yellow face: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/Starring_Mickey_Rooney.jpg
Radix865
And this is orange face
...fine, peach face.
InFin0819
I think they are upset because there are tons of Asian/Asian American models they could have used for the photoshoot but instead used white
TheEldread
Exactly this.
iddqt
i think this + it's in their diversity issue
TastyBrainMeats
And that's a viable concern, but it isn't yellowface.
TastyBrainMeats
And that's a viable concern, but it isn't yellowface.
GendouLovesDucklings
No, but it IS whitewashing, which is a completely different thing.
SplendidoSplendente
That would be a cliché.
GeneusGene
So, a white publication does a spotlight on Japanese culture using a white model and you don't see how that's problematic?
GeneusGene
Slippery slope man!
HeyDontBeADick
It is not safe to assume that people in another country think like Americans. This underestimation of cultural differences is embarrassing.
rosiethereaver
Wouldn't it be nice if they represented Japanese culture using actual Japanese? It's not a step forward for the culture until 1/
rosiethereaver
it helps Japanese models. It's basically saying "we love Japanese culture, but not the Japanese!" 2/2
Sacurason
Is that yellowface? Looks like white makeup to me? Could be appropriation I guess...
stalecanofwhoopass
Hello fellow Japanese imgurian!!
Textuality
Asians represent, yo. :)
NoFoodNoMusicNoMovieNoLife
Killstealer
Nisei hafu here. people think I am white.
anicyril
It's not like they used eyelid glue to give her slanted eyes, geez.
Some1OnceToldMe
"It's not the most stereotypical racism, so it's not racism!"...A model on the cover of this issue actually did that once btws.
anicyril
It's less racism and more cultural appropriation.
Some1OnceToldMe
Wow. Welcome to the conversation. This is a completely original idea and no one on this thread had proposed the exact same thing.
Some1OnceToldMe
We all know it's CA - add something new to the conversation or GTFO.
capnsebastian
i dont know how Geisha attire is related to race, but i think ppl would be upset as to why they didn't hire an asian instead
Braco
because this shoot its about the world appreciation and embrace of that Japanese clture and not about a native being proud why no one getit?
SomeGuyWhoKnowsStuff
Yet they managed to get a real fucking sumo wrestler. wtfm8 ._.
Killstealer
Geisha used to be considered along the lines of an entertainer, and the first geisha were actually male.
tarataqa
*giggity*
Radix865
I think the name was used by male entertainers but they weren't like the geishas as we know them now. The name was kinda stolen from- 1/2
Radix865
-them by aging odoriko's(teenage dancing girls) but became too old to use that title. But I'm not really an expert so I could be wrong. 2/2
TalksAboutCats
This isn't even a geisha; it's an oiran: a traditional prostitute, you can tell by the sticks in her hair, given by lovers who enjoyed her1/
berserkerteacup
A front tied obi is more commonly indicative of prostitution, but I somehow doubt Vogue was paying much attention to the historical nuances.
TalksAboutCats
She's not even wearing a kimono, if it weren't for the hairdo and sumo wrestler there wouldn't be anything 'Japanese' about these photos
TalksAboutCats
services. While it is considered inapproprite to dress as a geisha if you aren't one, afaik it's not rude to dress as an oiran 2/3
TalksAboutCats
But I don't think Vogue was aiming for oiran, I think they messed up the geisha look, which is kind of a problem in itself. 3/3
Radix865
Pretty sure it's a common mistake to just think oiran and geisha are the same.
TalksAboutCats
It's considered really rude to assume geisha are prostitutes, you definitely wouldn't confuse the two in Japan
AwkwardKeming
As a white middle class American, it's really our call when other races are offended, not theirs. White guilt is our only cultural heritage.
AwkwardKeming
I see as always that sarcasm is lost on the internet.
Some1OnceToldMe
It's always a risky move - never goes the way you want it to.
AwkwardKeming
But hey! I worked back up to 1 point. I'll take it.
TheRealHS
When they say ''Community X is offended'' they actually mean ''We're intentionally stirring up artificial outrage on their behalf''.
Wlfpck
Truth. But Asian people in the U.S. Don't really band together, riot, burn, pillage, and loot when something racist or "racist"happens.
BilldeTurlock
ostensibly on their behalf
Hoobles
FUCK THE MEDIA
GodEmperorOfImgur
Remember when college students were trying to educate Asian women about how they were oppressing Asian people by having others try Kimonos?
JHRD1880
'And here are 2 facebook and 1 twitter comment to outline that everybody is outraged'
Shelest
You only really need 5 outraged tweet for an article. You can find 5 outraged tweets on any topic. Welcome to modern journalism.
GreaterDog
Fkin traffic-bait headlines. It's the worst when they deliberately misrepresent a group just to get that group rushing to their OWN defense.
GreaterDog
Example: "[Political party] is losing their minds over [event]!" Purposely instigating a fight to get people reading their article.
o11c
Related: if you're ever in charge of moderating, say, a gaming community, it is a *really* good idea to ban this.
byohzzrd
"'We're intentionally stirring up artificial outrage so you'll click our link, buy our trash magazine or forward this to someone dumber."
realwomenfightnaked
Or sometimes its "everyone except the race stated is offended but we are offended on their behalf"
thisnameistaken
Theyd do all that for me? There must be some swell people at vogue
swarlesbarkley13
The truth is spoken
justyouraverageaussiegirl
Or basically, Twitter, because that's where the "outrage" stems from
DeadpanToucan
These media companies really need to stop treating 2 mad people on twitter as an article-worthy story
justyouraverageaussiegirl
Pretty much. I looked over the twitter post too, most people complaining weren't even Japanese Asian, but African-American, Middle Eastern.
swarlesbarkley13
The truth is spoken
Snooj
"We white people are offended on behalf of the community."
Textuality
"But we're not..." "SHUT UP, you don't get a say in whether or not you're offended, we'll decide that for you."
Thordis424
Bingo
HobbestheCalvinist
Oooh, that's a bingo! Is that the way you say it? "That's a bingo?"
StarvingGarbage
They even did this sort of shit in the Marine Corps times. Any news outlet that pulls it immediately has no credibility.
FistOfCuervo
Bango
squirmster
Bongo
Seattlite
I'm so happy in the Congo I refuse to goooooo
iusesarcasmasadefensemechanism
Yeah but realistically, with a slew of Japanese models available, they used a white girl. Why not highlight Japanese cult w/ Japanese model?
derwulf
Saves on Geisha paint.
Braco
because you dont need to represent a culture wih someone forma that culture, and btw those pics where a apreciation and thw only ones (1/2)
Braco
bothers about this shit re silly amerixans that have such a tiny mind and dont understand what a global culture and how it works
iusesarcasmasadefensemechanism
That's like saying, okay, here's an apprecitation of pit bulls only they're German shepherds!
Braco
Are you for real? Humans "race" doesn't work in the same way as dogs breeds so don't come to me with this shit
iusesarcasmasadefensemechanism
Okay. Well let's make an MLK movie and cast Matt Damon as the lead. It's just an appreciation, right??
TinyHusband
It doesn't really make sense. Isn't it racist to call asians yellow? Also geisha wear powder so if they are yellow wouldn't it be whiteface?
zark4di
"Yellowface" means to dress up as an east-Asian, similar to "blackfacing". A Geisha whitening her skin is not done to appear "western".
SaintPoop
We don't care
TinySupreme
It can be racially insensitive but not racist. Nobody should really be worried about it tho because it's a dumb thing to get caught up on.
LordFarquadisBae
I agree it's not racist but I feel if they wanted to do a feature on Japanese culture they should have used a Japanese model makes moresense
BakaWakka
The stupid thing is that most "white" people are not actually the color white.
Braco
We should change the white thing to pink hahaha
EClaire1073
I'm more tan, with some pale red.
Braco
Im like a pale "rose gold" if i get tan hahaha
HypnoJack
Same with black people.
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
Kabuki theatre is racist.
capnsebastian
as an Oni demon, thank you for giving your voice to the voiceless, the media hasnt been nice to us :(
OPmakesOC
But are you a pro Genji?
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
As a god of Chaos I sympathize with you, brother.
NoFoodNoMusicNoMovieNoLife
They paint their faces so they can be seen better in the dark. Kabuki was done from the Edo period and the theaters were dark and (1/?)
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
This is probably one of my favorite gif and one of my favorite TNG episodes.
NoFoodNoMusicNoMovieNoLife
I know lol I just thought this fact was cool but didn't got the chance to share it. It was my only chance
SLAANESHonNSFWposts
fair enough; continue then i am aware but others might find it interesting!
Mistruths
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manzai
NoFoodNoMusicNoMovieNoLife
the audiences could not see the actors face. So they started to paint them white. (2/2)
Textuality
It's similar to the fact that blackface was done because they weren't allowed to hire black actors. A few snuck some in anyway though.