Media Is The New Weblog!






My Walking Billboards


After the study of Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku Girls, I don't believe this controversial issue should become a matter of "hating" Gwen because she is believed to be racists. I think it could be looked at a different way. Gwen Stefani being a popular icon, "fashion designer" and pop culture figure I can understand how the Harajuku fashion may relate to Gwen's interest in them, but frankly, I'm really not that surprised that she doesn't look at their culture too far beyond their fashion trends. Really, in media and specifically the popular music industry everything and everyone is an "object", just as Gwen and her Harajuku girls are an object to represent her new clothing line. Basically, are women really seen as anything else than objects in the media these days anyways?

This isn't to say that this makes it okay for Gwen to "dominate" over her Harajuku girls. She definitely hasn't made some wise decisions on this issue because of her privilege, class and straight out ignorance. But what was a real issue to me was these women's lack of voice. They seemingly have no say over how their image is shaped or how they re projected. The question is "Why?" Is it really worth it to them?

At the end of the day, behind the mask of media, Gwen does not own these girls, they choose their work. Yes, they were not forced by Gwen to be there, but really, as dancers, who else would have hired them, and if a few options had come up, which do you think they would choose, dance company or work for Gwen Stefani? Not a hard choice. It provided them with great exposure. But because of this, what has it cost the Japanese community? It is amazing to see just how far the definition of "product" has gone.
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