JGnecco

The problem I have with calling her use of the headdress racist is that the term "racist" implies hatred and fear, and I don't think she has either for Native Americans. I think you can say she is disrespectful or insensitive to something, and nobody is arguing her use of the headdress in the video is authorized. But how offensive it is depends on the meaning of her use, or what she intended to communicate by using it. Even if all appropriations are wrong, the degree of wrong is not one-size-fits-all and has to be considered case by case.   That said, my favorite interpretation of why she wears the headdress supposes LDR considers being a recovered alcoholic a kind of struggle she shared with some Native Americans (alcohol being a weapon of the "Indian Wars" of the 19th century). She wears the headdress as a badge of honor for her victory over alcoholism and maybe as a defensive talisman protecting her from the effects of alcohol on her men. The Wikipedia entry for "War Bonnet" is what gave me both ideas (badge of honor is a standard function; protective talisman is suggested by the last paragraph about Roman Nose). I'm not defending her, because it's still a cultural appropriation, even if the headdress is used in a culturally-relevant way. However, at least I have an explanation for why a Native American headdress shows up in a video with so many cut shots to booze -- attached only to her men -- while her character (crazy in many ways) makes a point of drinking orange soda. I don't think LDR has to have intended my interpretation for me to hold it (although I find it plausible she does). However, she does need to stay sober in order for me to continue to hold it. 

The real problem with cultural appropriation isn't that some white girl uses a bindi or twerks. Those are actually separate issues about how some traditionally "ethnic" things are considered okay if done by white people but trashy or gross if done by the people who created it. This doesn't really have a name, and it is something that should be discussed, but people call it cultural appropriation and it's not the best use of the term.
 
The issue with cultural appropriation is taking something from its cultural context, especially without permission. That's why war bonnets are a touchy symbol. They're the equivalent of earning a medal in a war. By wearing it to look "cute" or because you "feel free", you degrade it from an actual symbol of heroic bravery into a hipster trash accessory on par with flower crowns. The symbol stops meaning anything significant, and that's part of the culture that eroded away.
 
Intention doesn't really mean anything when it comes to this. All that matters is that you're using something that has special meaning, especially something sacred, and using it outside that intended context, and that by itself causes the object to become associated with the mundane as opposed to the sacred. Even if that wasn't your intention, that is the end result, and it's still harmful to the cultures in question.
 
It's a shame the discussion about cultural appropriation has degenerated into BS like "can white people use things from non-white cultures?" because that just encourages cultural segregation while missing the core of what makes appropriation harmful. Sharing is great. But sharing requires someone to offer you something. Sacred symbols are never offered to other cultures (precisely because they are sacred). There are plenty of Native American decorative items one can choose to use that are sold by Natives and have no special value. Use those. There's no need to go for the one that has an important meaning.
 
I normally try to stay away from political discussions here, but I can't stand to see discussion about appropriation be turned to "twerking! bindis!" because all that does is make people reject the concept wholesale. It is an issue. But not for the reasons most people think. Lana did appropriate the culture by using a war bonnet outside of its intended context. She probably had no intention of doing so. But actions have consequences beyond their intentions (also the 60s and 70s were full of cultural appropriation of sacred things by hippies, so don't be surprised).

This forum is the worst whenever topics like racism and cultural appropriation (and feminism) come up. Fucking hell there are some idiots on this forum. 

It should be blue

the blackest day is offensive. why it gotta be black?

"Club queen on the downtown scene prowling around at night" Come on guys its obvs about Rupaul's early dayz

Uh, this is a little rude. I don't think it's fair to comment on a race that you're not and tell someone that they're confused because of their race. It doesn't depend on what side you're around the most; it depends on the values that were instilled in you as a child. 

To me the song is basically Carmen the Sequel.
People did not start stirring up the shitter when that song came out so I think everyone should just calm down and enjoy the song

SHIT DAWG wanna know what I think Art Deco is about? Fucking no one. It's a fucking abstraction. It's about an archetype! As an example, Carmen was about some runaway famous teen getting into trouble. Loosely inspired by Lizzy herself? Sure. But as Lana said in her Australian interview, it's not that autobiographical. Just like how Lady Gaga's Judas isn't about her fucking literal Judas in biblical times. What is it with LB that makes everyone want to perpetually post shit (sometimes literally, gawd)?? 

Am I the only one who think the song is about Lana herself? 
It was my first thought during my first listening Art Deco. Maybe not exactly cause Lana often put to the lyrics some real own experience but also a little bit art and imagination. To me this song it's about young Lana/Lizzy singing in the clubs and trying to make her musical dreams come true. And "you're so art deco" means she payed attention to her appearance and this look help her in career. "you're so ghetto" means to me she was diffrent than most of musicians in music label and her singing style. She was outsider. (Sorry for my english, hope you know what I mean)

Mess at how both "sides" are finding an excuse to argue and putting words in each other's mouths over something we have zero evidence what the context is about.
 
Watch this end up being one of the tracks that she just ad-libbed over Nowels' chords and it's not actually about anything.

What's wrong with everyone getting so worked up for so little
Culture appropriation is such a stupid concept. Nowadays we see articles like ' can white girls twerk' ' can white people rap?' 'can etc etc'. What I've noticed is that mostly white people are the ones who get offended by it. I'm Brazilian and I couldn't care less if an American white singers decided to incorporate some of my country's traditions in her videos.
Again:
 

I'm mixed though??

anyone here not give two fucks what its about? my bussy doesn't care, it just needs it and wants it daily x
 

Did you just deny the existence of systematic racism?  

Ha, this is a great line. Gonna have to steal it. 
Is the "you're so ghetto" line problematic? I think it's really hard to say without knowing who it's about. But I think the evidence that it's about Azealia Banks is really thin so far.

stop trying to make this about culture appropriation  , yeah the headdress in Ride was wrong and that IS culture appropriation
but calling someone ghetto isnt appropriating a culture ??? , there were ghettos in which hitler would send jews, ghetto isnt just for black people, so go read a history book and stop with this exaggerated culture appropriation, youre just like those people who say she appropriated "chola culture" like ???? some people need a knock on their head to get it on straight

lmao she literally has a song called 'ghetto baby' and you're all only just clocking her for using it in a song... it's problematic but you all never commented on it before

LOLL I always saw Ghetto as being poor/living in the poor side. u could be asian black white spanish or an alien for all i care but if you living in the poor I'mma call u ghetto maybe that's just me

Am I the only one who doesn't think this song is about Azealia? The reasons I read seemed to be a huge reach.

Ugh. I really dislike Azealia. She's so art deco

I'll never understand what people dislike about The Paradise Edition 

You need to clean out your ears and listen again. BTD & Paradise are great.
 
wtf 

I honestly don't think of Lana or Lorde at all when I think of Halsey...

The:
 
But I'm just a soul whose intentions are good,
Please lord, don't let me be misunderstood
 
part of DLMBM sounds so fucking amazing :kris:
Some of you are too hard on the song, I for one totally love it