Mass availability and globalization

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Posted by Anne Beltestad on July 23, 2003 at 11:08:05:

In reply to: You're WRONG! posted by Daniel on July 22, 2003 at 22:27:09:

I think Willowhawk's "bad vibe" about something suddenly being sprung on her is
right on.
And I don't see mass-market McMehndi as a success in ANY sense of the word.
Henna didn't "become dust" only to be revived by far-seeing Westerners who
suddenly saw its value. Please. If you read Catherine's research or look at Erfan's
book, you will see plenty of evidence to the contrary.
The problem with calling henna a "tattoo" or doing it in that style ("tribal" on arms,
belly bands, Chinese characters) is that it leads to henna being *thought of* as a
tattoo, it leads people to want "henna" in black, and, ultimately, in my view and that
of the artists I work for, in addition to promoting the use of toxic chemicals, kills off
what henna is, what has kept it alive, and its special beauty.
I for one will continue to fight to keep henna custom made, unique, and a little bit
magical! Stencils? No thanks! My designs in Hot Topic? Hell no. Not for a million
bucks.
On a similar, but un-henna-related note, as several of you know I am in Germany at
the moment for a summer course, and I have noticed that the "surface-over-
substance" trend towards "Americanization" spreading around the world has greatly
accelerated here since I was here in 1996. Things seem just a bit more slick, more
high-tech (though that's largely homegrown, they love that stuff here), more of the
annoying Italian or NYC-style fashion scene, (you know, the tennis-shoe high heels,
the pants down to the groin) more cars, more American candy bars and McDonalds,
more stuff that looks like what I see in NYC instead of something local or unique. My
favorite chocolate, Milka, is now owned by Kraft, a subsidiary of the American tobacco
company R J Reynolds.
I've also had several conversations with people about this trend, about the fact that
car ownership and use is on the rise here, more people live farther from work and
drive in. As an American this sounds all too familiar. Not to say that it's specifically
American cultural imperialism (though the two often go hand in hand) but rather
corporate globalization, the tendency to mass produce, mass consume, standardize,
homogenize, until all meaning is gone, all difference is gone, we're just working and
buying and selling and tuned in to the flashing lights of the TV, on and on until we
die an empty shell.
And this is absolutely, positively, what I stand against and what I DO NOT want henna
to become. That kind of "achievement" means nothing but death for real, living art.

Follow Ups

Re: Mass availability and globalization Ilithiya 16:13:39 7/23/2003 (2)
- Re: Mass availability and globalization Anne Beltestad 09:06:19 7/25/2003 (0)
- it's all about respect n/t Willowhawk 16:17:22 7/23/2003 (0)

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: I think Willowhawk's "bad vibe" about something suddenly being sprung on her is : right on. : And I don't see mass-market McMehndi as a success in ANY sense of the word. : Henna didn't "become dust" only to be revived by far-seeing Westerners who : suddenly saw its value. Please. If you read Catherine's research or look at Erfan's : book, you will see plenty of evidence to the contrary. : The problem with calling henna a "tattoo" or doing it in that style ("tribal" on arms, : belly bands, Chinese characters) is that it leads to henna being thought of as a : tattoo, it leads people to want "henna" in black, and, ultimately, in my view and that : of the artists I work for, in addition to promoting the use of toxic chemicals, kills off : what henna is, what has kept it alive, and its special beauty. : I for one will continue to fight to keep henna custom made, unique, and a little bit : magical! Stencils? No thanks! My designs in Hot Topic? Hell no. Not for a million : bucks. : On a similar, but un-henna-related note, as several of you know I am in Germany at : the moment for a summer course, and I have noticed that the "surface-over- : substance" trend towards "Americanization" spreading around the world has greatly : accelerated here since I was here in 1996. Things seem just a bit more slick, more : high-tech (though that's largely homegrown, they love that stuff here), more of the : annoying Italian or NYC-style fashion scene, (you know, the tennis-shoe high heels, : the pants down to the groin) more cars, more American candy bars and McDonalds, : more stuff that looks like what I see in NYC instead of something local or unique. My : favorite chocolate, Milka, is now owned by Kraft, a subsidiary of the American tobacco : company R J Reynolds. : I've also had several conversations with people about this trend, about the fact that : car ownership and use is on the rise here, more people live farther from work and : drive in. As an American this sounds all too familiar. Not to say that it's specifically : American cultural imperialism (though the two often go hand in hand) but rather : corporate globalization, the tendency to mass produce, mass consume, standardize, : homogenize, until all meaning is gone, all difference is gone, we're just working and : buying and selling and tuned in to the flashing lights of the TV, on and on until we : die an empty shell. : And this is absolutely, positively, what I stand against and what I DO NOT want henna : to become. That kind of "achievement" means nothing but death for real, living art.
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