We can all agree that Beyoncé moves in silence as she features in Coldplay's music video "Hymn for the Weekend". The newly released video is set in India during Holi, a spring festival also known as the 'Festival of Colors' or Festival of Love. Throughout the music video, people roam the streets during Holi as they show glimpses of the children playing in the water, people enjoying the festival, and shots of an Indian woman dancing as Coldplay plays their song. The video is fun and the song is very melodic and there's, of course, a tinge of Indian based feeling to it, but overall is a great song to sing along and dance to. The lead singer of Coldplay, Chris Martin, stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that they were aiming for this song to be a club song: "The original kernel was that I was listening to Flo Rida or something, and I thought, it’s such a shame that Coldplay could never have one of those late-night club songs, like ‘Turn Down for What.'”
However, people are not paying much attention to Coldplay: the main focus is more on Beyoncé, who is harmonizing throughout the song. Some Indian people and other people of color are having a problem with the Indian attire she wears during her appearances, as she is dressed in traditional Indian clothing and henna. Viewers are saying that this is cultural appropriation, as Beyoncé is using the Indian clothing and henna as an aesthetic vision to make it more appealing for the video. As this controversy spills onto Instagram and Twitter, people are commenting that just because Beyoncé is a person of color doesn't mean that she can dress in these clothes and get a pass.
Indians and other people of color commented further, saying that just because that she is a person of color, it does not excuse her actions, as some say that we have to point out all cultural appropriation for not just the white population, but any race that dresses in clothing, accessories, etc. to just make a show or music video pleasing to the eye. For instance, Iggy Azalea's music video "Bounce" was also set in India, as she dances and dresses in Indian garb. She too used Indian clothing and accessories as an aesthetic and is filmed during a time of celebration. Iggy also dances in a religious space in the video. As both videos include traditional Indian clothing and are used out-of-context of the Indian culture, they both are sexualizing the culture.
Is it just me or is the new Coldplay video every possible Indian stereotype crammed into 3 minutes?
— Mehak Sagar (@peachesnblush) January 29, 2016
Coldplay's new video: Your average American's view of India in the most stereotyped way..
— Achari Nimboo (@Retweet_Addict) January 29, 2016
On the other hand, most Indians and people of color believe that Beyoncé was not appropriating, but giving appreciation towards the culture. Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor makes a brief appearance in the video throwing flowers in the air. Commenters say that Beyoncé didn't abuse any religion or used the Indian traditions in disrespect as Iggy Azalea had, but tried to have the appropriate clothing and immerse herself in the culture to make an accurate music video since they are in India.
While watching the video, I can kind of get the sense of why people may find it offensive with the scene when we see Beyoncé in the cinema with the traditional accessories and henna usually worn during weddings, social, or holiday celebrations. Beyoncé is in a sense eroticizing the traditions of Indian culture as Iggy Azalea had done in her music video. What are your thoughts: is it cultural appreciation or appropriation?
