Meet The Rapper...

In Oriental Monk, Iwamura highlights the ways in which the West internalizes different cultural phenomena into western reflections. Her example of the Oriental Monk, for which the article is titled, showcases how western society perverts non western cultural ideologies into a reflection of western cultures sense of self. While the Oriental Monk plays on a distinction between the Orient

and Occident, it highlights the issues with how we think perceive of other non-western traditions. Some traditions such as hip hop develop from western perception, but a rarely heard one. This distinction, gives rap a unique western perception. The icon of "the rapper" seems like a noteworthy advance from African Americans being non-human.and in fact it is. As Iwamura argues, these non-western icons do "display an air of increasing tolerance and respect" for their culture. In rap, like other examples of non-western traditions, the western perception misrepresents the complexities and details of the tradition. By misrepresenting, the western perception  re-inscribe certain racist notions within the icon of "the rapper."

Though Hip hop has grown to a global art form, all represent a evolution and in some ways a perversion of the culture of hip hop. Hip hop originates from a distinct context of African american and Latino lifestyles. Its creation was a cause and reflection of the urban youth of the New York City and the jazz and soul cultures of the generation before them. Hip hop reflected the concerns, despairs and hopes of a generation of people who wanted a escape from the day-to-day, whether that was at a party or alone. Despite these origins, hip hop has developed into a art form so misunderstood that it is primarily criticized because of its fundamental purpose; of being skillfully and tactically expressive. The idea of "the rapper" is pervasive icon that portrays a violent, misogynistic, crude, ghetto youth. Because of its simplicity and visability, it can easily be reproduced in the media and even on the news (see Bill O'Reily on Common or Lupe Fiasco). In his song "The Lounge," Asher Roth touches upon the effect of the icon of "the rapper." He raps, What's a rapper look like?/Is he tan? Is he black? White?/Is he blacked out, high on the crack pipe?/Or more the cats that'll ride on the half-pipe/Don't want to act like I know about the rap type" The simplification of rap through the icon of "the rapper" has re-inscribed certain racist notions about the mentality of African Americans and typifies Iwamura's Oriental Monk icon. Despite this, hip hop continues to be immensely popular around the world and has evolved into a marketable example of the western musical canon.

The examples of "the Oriental Monk" and "the rapper" showcase the growing inter-connectivity of societies and narratives and raise the question: What happens when these "icons" eventually become assimilated into mainstream western narrative?

The Appropriation of Buddhism

           What is it that people find so powerful about Buddhism that they find the need to appropriate it? Many people in America have taken aspects of Buddhism into their own lives, even if they identify as another religion. Peacefulness and mindfulness, the idea of leading a moral life, and the idea of developing wisdom are all beliefs within Buddhism that many Westerners have begun to believe. However, there are other beliefs that many people have yet to follow, which is why people are appropriating and adjusting the religion to make it their own.  

         At first, I thought that people were secularizing the religion by taking certain aspects of the religion and not others into their lives. Yes, there are some ways in which Americans secularize the religion, such as by putting a monk on an Apple ad. However, people are beginning to follow these beliefs because they know that these aspects of Buddhism are teaching something about life. These aspects of the religion are providing people with a means of guidance, which is exactly what religion is for. Therefore, it is clear that Buddhism, even the way that it is often used in pop culture is acting religiously. Also, often times many celebrities are seen in pictures with the Dalai Lama, however the Dalai Lama is as much of a celebrity himself. However, he isn’t respected like that without reason; he is respected because he has something to teach. He can help people, which is once again a way that he acts religiously.

         The fact that he is able to provide guidance, beliefs, and rituals for people, even if people do not take in all of these beliefs, shows that he is acting in some ways as a religion. Also, the reality is that people must appropriate different aspects of life in order to make these aspects relevant now. There are areas of all religions that have been appropriated because if everything was left the same, then it would be so irrelevant and people would ultimately choose not to follow any religions. People are so fascinated with Buddhism and its practices because it is some form of “other,” but they are also enthralled with the way that it can actually affect their lives today.

        The Dalai Lama shown on the cover of Vogue Magazine below is being in a form of popular culture, but he is there because the editors of the magazine believed that he had something meaningful to share with the readers. Jane Naomi Iwamura characterizes the Oriental Monk as a “spiritual caregiver.” Although there are negative connotations that come along with Orientalism in Western pop culture, the idea of the monk as a caregiver seems to be a positive one because he is able to provide something for those who choose to follow him.

The Problem with our "Quest for Otherness"

            The “Oriental Monk” is a powerful symbol in Western culture that can be seen in a number of different mediums. Clearly there is something about the monk, and the Eastern ideologies that it represents, which draw us in. Iwamura suggests that this attachment to the Oriental Monk represents a “disillusionment with Western frameworks, and the hopes and fears attached with alternative spiritualties of the East” (10). This “disillusionment” with Western society and frameworks, such as capitalism or Christian values, is solved by turning to outside ideas or symbols and appropriating them to Western society. The Oriental Monk is only one example of this attempt to take things of “otherness” and turn them into “ideological caregivers” (Iwamura, 10). Is this arguably superficial means of integrating foreign ideas into our society a detrimental practice?

            Iwamura certainly suggests that our attraction to otherness has been detrimental to foreign cultures, as it serves as a justification for the West to proceed with “its (imperialist) work with renewed vigor and purpose around the globe” (iwamura, 100). But what does it mean for Western culture and society? Is it a good thing that we continue to look outward to appropriate different cultural ideas? It seems that our fascination with the “quest of otherness” serves as a façade by which we avoid looking inward for realistic solutions to society’s problems. If we truly are disillusioned with imperialism, capitalism, commercialization, and other Western tenets, is going to a yoga studio once a week really going to solve our problems? On the cover of the January 2003 Time, the magazine suggests that the “mind can heal your body”. Is this offering a real solution to our problems, or is it simply an attractive, almost exotic band-Aid for much deeper problems.

The Distortion of Culture

In the constant process of renewal, reinterpretation, and re-contextualization that characterize American popular culture, outside influences are appropriated to renew and refresh the stories we tell. When these cultural influences come from East in the form of the “Oriental Monk” character, they also help to reassure an “American consciousness plagued by the demands of modernity” (Iwamura). Eastern spirituality, represented by the Dalia Lama and Buddhism, becomes something Western culture latches on to resolve its spiritual confusion. Thus appropriated, these become “ideological caregivers” for the West, tasked with “function mainly as a resource” to “salve the insecurities” of our society (Iwamura).

This has positive impacts for Western society, but the act of appropriation has negative effects on the appropriated culture. The embrace of the Dalia Lama and the Tibetan cause seems to reflect positively on the West, which is showing support for a threatened way of life. But that disguises America’s role, through economic and political ties to China, in allowing the destruction to occur. Our embrace of Buddhism and Tibet allows us to outwardly show support without making any real effort to help.  Yoga is embraced as a cure to the spiritual emptiness of a consumer culture, but has been completely distorted by capitalist society. Yoga maintained its guise of spiritual fulfillment while becoming a multi-billion dollar a year industry. Eastern culture and spirituality become an easy tool for Westerners seeking spiritual fulfillment, who often don’t bother to learn anything about the context from which they came.

A Creative Escape: Buddhism and rap as a means to handle contemporary struggle

      Buddhism and rap. At first these two themes appear to totally contrast eachother, yet Iwamura and Pinn raise many parallels between the two. Both Buddhism and rap have been used in popular culture as a means to battle against various challenges, adversity, and frustrations. Both offer creative alternatives, the opportunity to think different. In the case of Orientalism, westerns have adopted the religion for their own benefit, to escape the materialist, chaotic society they created for themselves. (Ironically through this process of appropriation the fresh religion becomes trapped in the commercial world, essentially spoiling its purity). Similarly, music for black culture was "a style wrestling with life. It is a way of 'moving' through harsh circumstances with dignity and integrity... creatively expressing outrage with the status quo." Unlike Buddhism, however, this is a tradition African Americans built to escape adversity such as slavery and discrimination forced upon them by white society.
       Ultimately, both have been appropriated by western culture, more specifically white Americans who have jumped on to these new trends under the false impression that they truly understand them. Americans look to these outside cultures because they take a sense of pride in their ability to be worldly, learned in the ways of others, and overall accepting. In Karate Kid (The Remake) this idea of American openness and anti-racism is further promoted when Jaden Smith becomes the young prodigee. Iwamura and Pinn warn, however, that Westerns are fairly oblivious to the deeper messages rooted in these cultures. As Pinn states, there is part of the significance they "fail to get." Westerners think they understand the Asian and African American cultures they are absorbing, but they overlook what this phenomenon says about their own identity.
        One of Iwamura's examples that most interests me is that Americans are oblivious to the politics underlying Orientalism. Orientalism wraps all Eastern ideologies into one, but western culture specifically selects which region or country to use as the figurehead depending on political climate. Iwamura points out "The long history of the icon of the Oriental Monk has demonstrated a preference for the Japanese or Chinese model" when their "challenge in the arena of international politics and world market was quite contained." As their political and economic influence grew, the West shifted to celebrating Tibet, which was more vulnerable. Offering refuge for this victimized figure makes the United States appear heroic. The same narrative is used in many fictional stories featuring the Oriental Monk. These gurus train and convert young Americans, but in the end the East "requires the help of the protagonist... "who has come to signify salvation." The Oriental Monk's wisdom is enough to guide one single character, but only the American can save an entire culture. Through appropriation, the West maintains the power. This way, we are able to try something new, but still regulate it, keep it "safe." In allowing the victimized East to help us, mighty super-power that we are, America triumphs as the ultimate hero.