So how you noticed in the media how Asian culture has been coming to the forefront. For the first time in like ever, there are Asian artist on the Billboard charts (Bruno Mars and Far East Movement) But there is another movement on the rise… Harajuku. This is a fun, crazy fashion worn by the rebellious teenage/young adult Asian population. It is a slightly more upbeat version of the American emo craze. It’s filled with heavy eyeliner, multicoloured hair, tutu’s, and a largely diverse wardrobe. Americans are start to embrace the culture as well. Between Gwen Stefani’s fragrance line, Harajuku Love,the line of school supplies inspired by the subculture, and Nicki Minaj being the self proclaimed “Harajuku Barbie”, the culture is becoming a mainstream hit.
But there was Harajuku there was another Asian culture that captured American. The style and elegance of a Geisha has often attracted Americans to the style. In Asian culture to be a geisha was to be desired, something that not only women in American want but women around the world. This style has catch the attention of outside cultures before, the result being a successful movie and countless books and novels. Although a very appealing and sot after lifestyle, there is only one true American geisha. In contrast to the freely expressive Harajuku girl and geisha is more controlled and procise, Geisha are NOT prostutes, contruary to popular belief. The word geisha is Japanese and means person of the arts. There purpose was to entertain business men in a non-sexual manner, which was through the performing arts and in Japanese culture that includes teamaking.
Questions:
1.) Which subculture do you think has become more mainstream in our society today? Give examples.
2.)If you were a young adult in Japan which trend would you be more inclined to follow? Why?
3.)Which of these two forms of expression will last longer? Why?
i would choose the geisha because its more traditional and it will be more appreciated,and personally i like to follow taditions so that way they stay around
ReplyDelete-Jazleen
I think Geisha will last longer because it's more of a folk culture and a tradition. The folk cultures changes every hundred years or something, but popular culture changes very readily and could easily change in less than a year. In our other classes we learned about these kinds of popularity trends where the older and more traditional things tend to not change and have already stood the test of time. Harijuku is mostly changing the previous hairstyles.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Geisha will last longer because its something that has been around for quite a while now. If you think about it Harijuku is mainly hairstyles, so it's basically mainstream. Hairstyles will come ago, while on the other hand traditions actually last. I read the book "Memoirs of a Geisha", a really great book, and there it explained how Geisha's have been around for a long time. I personally think that the way both of them dress also contributes to the question "which will last longer". Just by looking at the clothes makes one think that Geisha's are cultural, while Harijuku's are just mainstream/ temporal. I honestly believe that Geisha's will last longer.
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