Matt Peters
map006@marietta.edu
Last Wednesday, Oct. 28, students met to discuss the topic of culturally offensive Halloween costumes in the school’s first “Diversity Dialogue.” The discussion – moderated by DeJuan Mitchell, – centered on the issue of cultural appropriation. Markedly, with celebrity costumes becoming increasingly popular, the question was posed whether certain celebrity costumes should be deemed culturally insensitive.
Mitchell cited, for example, the “Kanye Western Party,” hosted by UCLA’s chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon this past month to lampooned Kanye West and his wife Kim Kardashian. Students attended the party dressed in baggy clothes or padded bottoms, exaggerating the celebrities’ physical characteristics. While none of the students purportedly dressed in blackface, Mitchell says this was still a form of cultural appropriation.
“There are various types of cultures,” he said. “Her booty may be fake, but there’s lots of people who have plastic surgery and fake boobs and booty… So that is a culture. It’s not the same as an ethnic culture, but it is a culture.”
Students pointed out that the idea of ‘cultural appropriation’ – in relation to ethnic cultures – is a fairly straightforward concept. However, when applied to broader sociocultural groups, the term can become somewhat ambiguous.
“I find it interesting how we draw distinctions about culture – about what is a culture and what isn’t.” Junior Danny Tincher said. “Certainly, there are people who self-identify as a nerd or a geek. Many times, you see costumes like that and they seem less offensive to most people than costumes that depict a certain ethnicity or culture. When do you cross that line, and is the line at maybe different places for different cultures that maybe have a history of disenfranchisement?”
Senior Chanell Cornett claimed that perhaps costumes should be discussed in a more laid-back manner “I feel like, if we’re going to say everything is a culture, then we may as well not dress up for Halloween,” she said “Most people know not to be racist and dress up in blackface, but some things I just don’t think are that serious.”
Another costume discussed was the popular Caitlyn Jenner costume, which senior Casey Peel mentioned she had seen at a local party store. While many view this costume as offensive to transgender women and especially to Jenner herself, Peel pointed out that some people dress as celebrities or public figures, not to make fun of them, but to emulate them.
“For example, my roommate is dressing up as this feminist activist that she really emulates to be,” Peel said.
Senior Kennedy Clyde responded, “I think at the end of the day though, if someone was trying to emulate Caitlyn Jenner in all honesty, you’re doing more harm than good. I think people, when they see the costume, they immediately think that someone is poking fun at someone. And you’d be spending half your night explaining.”
Junior Paul Bieniek* noted the style of a costume could impact its appropriateness.
“While I haven’t seen the costume that Casey was referring to, I would assume the Caitlyn Jenner costume emphasizes the fact that she is a transgender woman in some way – or sort of dramatizes that,” he said,
Much of the discussion also focused on political figures.
Senior, Brittany Waugaman said, “My freshman year, I dressed up as Michelle Obama and I feel like I did it in a respectful way… I think there’s a way to do that and, as long as you’re not mocking their personal side, then go with it.”
Peel also pointed out that certain public figures actually embrace the satire surrounding their image.
“Hillary Clinton has participated in Hillary skits of herself, and she seems to be generally okay with it,” she said.
Dean of Students Dr. Lisa Phillips, in attendance, added, “You could dress as Hillary Clinton or Michelle Obama and just do it so offensively, but you could also do it in a way that you’re emphasizing the satire that we see about it.”
In that case, is it appropriate to portray a public figure in a humorous manner?
Mitchell remarked, “If I’m making fun of me, it’s fine. If someone else is making fun of me, it’s totally different.”
Waugaman asserted, “I think there is a way to portray celebrities who may be a minority without appropriating. I think, you can wear the clothes that Kanye wears and you can wear the shutter shades… but you don’t have to paint your skin or pretend to talk like him. I think you can do that, in a way, respectfully.”
Mitchell said, “It’s intent versus impact. I can never know what your intent is… I can tell you how it impacted me when I saw it. Be mindful of who your costume or your words are impacting.”
*Note: Mr. Bieniek is the editor-in-chief of this publication. Views expressed by Mr. Bieniek do not necessarily reflect those of The Marcolian, its staff, or its adviser.
