"The Baddest Female" by CL
In CL's "The Baddest Female" MV, we see the typical wanna-be gangster theme which YG Entertainment loves. I'm sure anyone who follows Kpop knows that YG is all about portraying their artistes as tough, gangster ballers. I love YG, but I'm just being real. How exactly does CL appropriate and glamorize rap culture? She does this by taking cultural symbols that mean nothing to her and erasing, exorticizing and commodifying them.
"Losing You" by Solange Knowles
Solange's "Losing You" MV was directed by Melina Matsoukas and shot in Capetown, South Africa. It has this vintage feel to it, just like Solange and is also hip, just like the song. I love how South Africans aren't used as props but are incorporated into the video. Solange does her thing, which is sort of goofy (awkward dancing scenes, anyone?), while the people in the background carry on with their lives.
CL fans say that she isn't talking about the hood, but about female empowerment and portrayals of females in Asian culture. Fair enough, but this video doesn't showcase that at all. In the screenshot below of the girls sitting outside while braiding their hair, it's so obvious that that was done because they think it's cool. "That's what we see in gangster films, so let's put it in CL's video". As a Nigerian (who hasn't lived in the hood), I know that people sit outside to braid their hair because there's no power (no ACs) and it gets too hot. There's nothing cool about that. What does CL know about this?
TL; DR Cultural appropriation erases the history and meaning of something that holds cultural value. These symbols are then (mis)appropriated usually for aesthetic purposes. There is nothing wrong with drawing inspiration from other cultures, but it gets offensive when it's used as a gimmick.
"Losing You" by Solange Knowles
Solange's "Losing You" MV was directed by Melina Matsoukas and shot in Capetown, South Africa. It has this vintage feel to it, just like Solange and is also hip, just like the song. I love how South Africans aren't used as props but are incorporated into the video. Solange does her thing, which is sort of goofy (awkward dancing scenes, anyone?), while the people in the background carry on with their lives.
The video showcases some snazzily dressed gentlemen known as Le Sap in the Congo or in South Africa. The Sap began in Congo when it was a French colony. Many Congolese men were fascinated with the elegance and sophistication of the French and decided to emulate it. Melina talks about how obsessed she was with the Sapeur culture and the process of understanding their art.
What I loved about this video was how it embraced and represented South African township culture in its original form. I love that the depth the video brings in its portrayal of the Sap gentlemen, and Solange's interaction with her surroundings. Critics argue that her video glamorizes the townships, which I totally disagree with. There's nothing glamorous about box-like houses, unpaved roads and commuting in a crowded combi (bus).
