Harazuku Culture

I think Harazuku girls are not being stereotyped just represented by the media through western eyes. Harazuku culture alternates in style so there is no right or wrong when it comes to the image sense. In terms of view, all Harazuku girls are of Japanese descent as the Harazuku girls are from Gwen Stefani. As the aspect that they don’t talk is necessary to preserve that pure Japanese image, incase any of them have American accents. Gwen said “The Harazuku girls are a part of her imagination” which is a genius move to get the media such as newspapers and magazines to have articles on her, which in return would act as a cost free way of advertisement. This form of media is nothing new, many rappers and celebrities use news to gain fame or reestablish their fame. In many instances rappers used criminal activities to justify their songs as real instead of fake. Gwen used the same concept and the public views here as different and weird, exactly what she wants as Harazuku culture is foreign and will be strange in western culture. Many people oppose the HHHarazuku girls as they feel it’s a misrepresentation of the culture. The problem existing, it is a new culture in the western world and moderations have to take place in order to encourage sales which are necessary for media survival. A student studying media at university of Sophia said “home I was one of the few people who dressed this way, so sometimes I make the clothes myself and sell them on the Internet. Although entrepreneurial sounding, Jamie was quick to dismiss the suggestion that she is anything about business: I hate capitalism and all of that”. She adds that our need for currency brings us to manipulate products to fit our needs. Maybe this is really what the problem is as in today’s world everything revolves are money and cultures will be distorted to provide revenue. Any opposition toward the subject highlights the manipulation of the culture, which is necessary to fully understand the subject being discussed and not just believing what is provided. If we all believe what we are told, what makes us different? And we must ask why we are being told this? There are many fashion trends that are not original such as European culture within North America or Spanish culture, if we are questioning Japanese culture what makes any other culture being portrayed within North America any different.

Source:

http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-4495790/Harajuku-girls-co-opted-everyone.html Author: Kubo, Emily Publication: Japan Inc.
Publication Date: 22-JUN-05