Gwen Stefani recorded her first ever solo album in 2004, titled: Love. Angel. Music. Baby. The album was inspired by music of the 1980's and enjoyed international success with sales of over seven million. But L.A.M.B. was not only the title of her much anticipated album, but also the title of her clothing line, which she launched in 2003. The clothes draw inspiration from Japanese culture and fashion. Along with that theme, Gwen Stefani also has four back-up dancers known as the Harajuku Girls, who she performs with and makes public appearances with; their names also being Love, Angel, Music and Baby. Harajuku Girls were named for the area around the Harajuku Station of Tokyo, Japan, known as a popular shopping destination and fashion center for teenagers. However, Gwen Stefani’s adoption of this component of Japanese culture has drawn accusations of racism. She has been accused of exploiting these girls for her own commercial gain and reinforcing ethnic stereotypes. After hearing both sides of the story, I personally think that Gwen Stefani is just trying to adapt Japanese culture to fit into North American popular cultures and there is no problem with what she is doing.
Although I, along with many others, do not see Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls as a problem, many people do. Stand-up comic Margaret Cho has labeled the Harajuku Girls as a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women. The Village Voice also rebuked Gwen Stefani for rumors of contractual obligations that the four not speak English, and stated that "silencing people is the epitome of taking away their autonomy and subjectivity." On the other side of the spectrum, I believe that what Gwen Stefani is doing is awesome for representing different cultures in the media, beside Caucasian. And other Japanese people would agree. They are just pleased to see themselves represented, and it is better than being invisible altogether. Gwen Stefani’s silent Japanese fashionistas are part of an awesome and empowering counterculture. And let’s get real, a countless number of girls would kill to be in those four girls’ positions and it’s not like they’re not getting paid. These girls know what they got themselves into and knew that when they signed a contract. Yes, I agree that Gwen Stefani isn’t portraying the Harajuku Girls 100% correctly, but she has adopted that culture to fit ours, so we would find it more fascinating instead of maybe frightening or weird. I think Gwen Stefani recruited these girls for the Love.Angel.Music.Baby. album and tour to create hype. People would see something different, something that catches their eye, and therefore would make them learn more about Gwen and her music; which is very smart business-wise. I think the Harajuku Girls presence benefitted Gwen Stefani as a performer because they added that special touch, the X-factor, that other artists out there just do not have; they sort of make Gwen of who we know as an artist.
So overall, I think Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku girls are just fine. I suppose she could try and dress them a little more like ‘real’ Harajuku Girls but I think she is doing what is best in her mind to make them appealing to audiences here in North America.
Although I, along with many others, do not see Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku girls as a problem, many people do. Stand-up comic Margaret Cho has labeled the Harajuku Girls as a "minstrel show" that reinforces ethnic stereotypes of Asian women. The Village Voice also rebuked Gwen Stefani for rumors of contractual obligations that the four not speak English, and stated that "silencing people is the epitome of taking away their autonomy and subjectivity." On the other side of the spectrum, I believe that what Gwen Stefani is doing is awesome for representing different cultures in the media, beside Caucasian. And other Japanese people would agree. They are just pleased to see themselves represented, and it is better than being invisible altogether. Gwen Stefani’s silent Japanese fashionistas are part of an awesome and empowering counterculture. And let’s get real, a countless number of girls would kill to be in those four girls’ positions and it’s not like they’re not getting paid. These girls know what they got themselves into and knew that when they signed a contract. Yes, I agree that Gwen Stefani isn’t portraying the Harajuku Girls 100% correctly, but she has adopted that culture to fit ours, so we would find it more fascinating instead of maybe frightening or weird. I think Gwen Stefani recruited these girls for the Love.Angel.Music.Baby. album and tour to create hype. People would see something different, something that catches their eye, and therefore would make them learn more about Gwen and her music; which is very smart business-wise. I think the Harajuku Girls presence benefitted Gwen Stefani as a performer because they added that special touch, the X-factor, that other artists out there just do not have; they sort of make Gwen of who we know as an artist.
So overall, I think Gwen Stefani and her Harajuku girls are just fine. I suppose she could try and dress them a little more like ‘real’ Harajuku Girls but I think she is doing what is best in her mind to make them appealing to audiences here in North America.
Works Cited:
http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/2005/04/
1 comment:
Interesting to know.
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