THE BAGEL FOREHEAD
Have you seen it? Does it weird you out? What am I talking about? Why, the newest beauty trend that comes out of Japan: A Bagel Forehead. Yes, that's right. Bagel. Forehead. It looks like this:
The reason this fascinates me (relative to this class) is because of last week's discussion on exotic-Orientalism and the Future. One theory is that USA sci-fi writers latched onto the technology (and fear thereof) in the East as the vision of the Future, therefore making it the trope. It was then discussed how the Eastern cultures have turned that on its head, or "played" with it.
My question about the Bagel Forehead would be: does it continue to support the notion of exotic Orientalism? Is it a way to mock the trope? Does it's "otherness" continue to support the trope in the US (to the "common man')? Or, is it simply a way for non-permanent body modification, much like piercings?
I mean, let's face it: implanting fake horns, bifurcating one's tongue, or even simple tattoos are much more long-term (and potentially permanent). This is probably just a new cultural fad--and is not as detrimental to the body as neck stretching or lower lip plates; completely unrelated to the trope of exoticism. But given the topic last week, it certainly gives one something to contemplate!
I had to look this up - and wound up watching the video. Now my head hurts.
ReplyDeleteIt immediately struck me as a lampoon of body alteration. It is also so temporary that it seems in keeping with the kind of experimentation we can do with our digital identities.
Years ago, I would spend afternoons reading 2000 AD, focusing on Judge Dredd stories. What was presented then as satire was the fad of making yourself ugly as a fashion statement is now reality, and I am not surprised that Japan is a source for this madness, as this seems typical of the urban-centric youth culture as a reaction against the even worse madness of their corporate-centric mainstream culture.
ReplyDeleteWeird!!Probably rebelling against mainstream society and perhaps labels America has put on them- though it may have nothing to do with us. Im surprise the article didnt address any of the questions you ask.
ReplyDelete