#euroscene | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

areyouwho-ithinkyouare · 4 years

Note

The funniest thing is that Americans are so loud screaming about 'Cultural Appropriation' (which is such a sketchy topic overall) but then go ahead and appropriate European culture (Eurovision) and they say nothing because obviously Europe has no culture that can be appropriated. It doesn't matter how many times they make fun of kilts or wear matador outfits or make fun of vikings or forget about the native and indigenous groups Europe has, you are hated on for wearing braids. Hypocrites🖕🏼

oof, so... ok. i mean, as a white european woman i generally try to listen to what POC say is/isn’t appropriation of their culture, and take my cues from them (rather than other white ppl) and i think you and I probably disagree on its importance - i don’t think it’s a sketchy topic, i think it’s a very valid criticism of white people’s continual disregard and costumisation of stuff that does have real significance and importance to those cultures (the headdresses worn by people from various native american tribes are a good example - from what i’ve read they are most comparable to military badges of honour and are symbols of real respect and valor to those communities that have to be earned, so white ppl making cheap knock offs for halloween costumes/festival outfits is really disrespectful). Equally, the issue (as i understand it) with things like dreadlocks is more to do with the fact POC are often seen as dirty/unkempt for wearing their hair that way while white people do it as a fashion statement and get praise and credit for it.

That said, I do generally agree about the idea that americans are pretty clueless about european culture and the huge differences in culture between european countries. And i’m sure that plays a role in the way this american song contest is ONLY for the US states - i think they see the difference between, say, Denmark and Italy as comparable to the difference between Georgia and Pennsylvania. Sure they’re different, but they’re still american. Sure, greece and switzerland are different, but they’re still european. So taking this continent-wide contest and making it an interstate competition doesn’t feel like such a big deal. And you’re absolutely right that native european communities are rarely, if ever, included in American’s conversations about cultural appropriation (although i think that’s probably because native european culture isn’t really what americans are appropriating anyway).

I also want to be clear that i don’t think that an american version of ESC is inherently appropriative, or even problematic. I think there are ways it could have been done that I would have absolutely been in board with. As i mentioned in some of my initial posts reacting to the announcement, my biggest problem with it is that they are taking the concept, warping it away from its actual format, and completely ignoring the purpose and history behind esc - a purpose and history that ABSOLUTELY play in to the way europeans view the contest as a whole.

I said in one post that eurovision isn’t actually about winning at all - but to americans it will be, because that concept of it crossing national borders to bring people together to heal after wwii won’t exist for them. I touched on how making it a series rather than an event makes it feel less special, and takes away that feeling of this one night a year where everyone gets to be at the same big party together. The problems with the american song contest are not that the americans are making their own version of a european program. It’s that they are taking the name and branding and throwing away everything that actually makes ESC so special.

Interestingly, this actually makes it far MORE similar to the generally agreed upon idea of cultural appropriation than i think we’ve ever seen with european culture. Most of the time when americans really latch on to part of the euroscene it’s with respect for the history behind it - at least more so than when they take other, non-white cultures. I’ll roll my eyes at the way they sometimes play pretend at this cartoon version of upper class english lifestyle but it’s not exactly offensive or dismissive. But this.. is. What they’ve announced they are planning for the ASC.... is. It says “this is a big event that gets crazy attention and we want to get involved but only if we can twist it and warp it and edit it into something palatable and familiar to our OWN culture, even if that means removing the very things that make it important to yours”.

EVEN THEN, however, without that backdrop of abuse and exploitation, it’s not as sinister for them to make this knockoff ESC than it is to turn Cinco de Mayo into an excuse to get drunk and party. The context behind these things matters. And while I think it’s fair to be critical of the way they’ve taken something like eurovision and are turning into just another american idol with the fun gimmick of states competing, I disagree with the dismissive tone you took in this message surrounding cultural appropriation.

Honestly, you’re complaining about american hypocracy while being just as hypocritical yourself. Yes, it’s wrong for them to take something like ESC and do... whatever it is they’re trying to do to it to make it their own. But if you can recognise that, and feel that about a song contest, can you not practice the same understanding for the POC are calling out the appropriation of far more significant aspects of their cultures?

(Also, europeans don’t get to hoist all the blame for all this onto the US. We started that trend. We colonised those countries and killed and abused those people so we could claim their land and their foods and their resources for ourselves. We don’t get to deny the role we played.)

#this was.... Long #take a shot every time i use the word appropriation djsklajal #seriously though i felt like it was important to break down anon’s not-exellent take here while also explaining the things we agree on #bcus i do agree with parts of it!#but i also think thats largely by chance and that were coming at this from pretty different perspectives that happen to meet in the middle #i thought abt just ignorin. this bcus of The Disc Horse but also i do think its an important conversation to have so #🤷🏻‍♀️

1 note · View note

hbade · 10 years

Text

H2Oi 2014: The State of the Scene Address. Oct. 23rd, 2014

I had a fantastic time traveling to different meets, and cruising coastal. I stayed in a hotel further north, around 120th, so I was a good deal away from the action when heading to bed. However, I spent a majority of my time in a penthouse that a group of friends managed to book for the week. We partied a bit there, but remained pretty civil. Things were good. I avoided hotspots like 45th for the most part. I swung in a couple times, with crowds being calm and friendly, even on Saturday night. I paid little attention to the groups on the sidewalks, drinking cheap liquor and beer out of red cups, intentionally provoking cars driving past 45th. I was more focused on seeing the cars in the lots or driving by than yelling at them. During the day, I saw the beach, went north to more rural areas, and relaxed. It was a vacation in all aspects, with the added ambiance of the cars cruising around. Perhaps it was the fact that I was so awestruck by the sheer amount of incredible cars for the three days I was there that I never realized that rowdiness was still bad in 2013.

I see the Instagram posts. I see the YouTube videos. H2Oi 2014 media has glorified all that is wrong with this event. I understand why people are upset. I'm upset that an event, that I personally felt held so much value from my experience, could be tarnished by select people who come solely to get drunk in public, harass drivers, make a scene, try to get amateur footage to become famous, do burnouts, etc. There are plenty places to drink and party, like the houses you spent money to rent out for the weekend, or local clubs that would gladly take the financial support. However, it seems to not be about that. There's a lot of groupthink. The people form a collective mass that lacks responsibility and feels invincible because they are one of many, and their individual actions don't take effect. Take trash for example— one of the main complaints of the show. Beer cans, red Solo cups, and paper products litter the parking lots where the masses congregate. The thought is, "oh there's tons of people walking around. I can't find a garbage can. It’s easier for me to drop it right here and forget about it." How about yelling and harassing? "If I'm standing in the back of the crowd, and everyone else is yelling, then it's totally okay for me to say 'do a burnout you fucking pussy!' right?"

Many people draw similarities between H2Oi and Southern Worthersee, a Euro event held in Helen, GA during the spring. While the culture and cars are relatively the same, the conditions are drastically different. A user on VWVortex presented the point,

“…Also, in Helen there really isn't much driving to be done like there is in OC. So you are probably less likely to be bothered for something driving related.”

This is an important detail to discuss further. The action in Helen typically happens on a street called "Edelweiss Strasse." It's a two-lane road with traffic going in opposite directions. Bystanders (and riffraff alike) stand on the sidewalks near the main parking lots to watch the cars cruise by. The traffic builds up so much that cars can't do more than 5 MPH. The only option for hooning is doing a burn out. The cops do pullover anyone who does a burnout. Some get off with a warning, most get tickets. Otherwise, there's no issue. Low speeds, high congestion, cops issuing tickets where it's absolutely obnoxious ("two-stepping," Burnouts). Moreover, Southern Worthersee (the actual event) also takes place within the town itself, whereas H2Oi (the actual event) takes place 30 minutes away at the Fort Whaley campgrounds.

During the night, the Helen Police Department barely enforces public intoxication or open container laws, especially around the Helendorf. The Helendorf is always a popular place to congregate because of the ample parking, and the sheer amount of people staying at the actual hotel. The police know people are drinking, and they know issuing citations will just be a drop in the bucket. Instead, they keep the peace, and make sure no real vandalism is going on (graffiti, hard drugs, DWI, destruction of property). They operate under conditions that are fairly manageable, without the intention of harassing or profiting from the event through unnecessary citations.

The town of Helen itself is also remarkably tight-knit with its businesses and public services because of how small it is. This allows for communication between businesses and the Police department to be swift and comprehensive. Any legitimate issues with patrons are addressed promptly. The police department makes a strong effort to communicate with SoWo organizers and attendees to ensure that there is a mutual understanding of what is permitted, even just make an attempt to be friendly and courteous with the attendees. The size of the town and event allows for this, which is not the case with H2Oi.

Absolutely NOTHING is stopping them from operating as OCPD does. They could issue citations for every windshield sticker, every ridiculously cambered car, every wing, every superficial whatever that doesn't actually present risk for the town. They could do that, but then everyone would leave. That's no good for the town. In the week of SoWo, the town makes most of their tourism income, with Oktoberfest coming in second, which takes place over a month. The Helen PD acknowledge how important the event is in sustaining businesses in Helen, therefore, they do the very best to enforce laws that keep people safe, but respect the culture of the event which takes place.

OCMD could expunge H2Oi from the city with a minor blow to the economy. Ocean City is an established tourist location with businesses that operate sufficiently without the profits provided by H2Oi attendees. The people who would take the brunt of the hit would be homeowners who rent out their residences during the week. The cops have every reason to enforce every little law they can because we simply don't matter to the city. We don't. That's the truth, and we have to accept the fact that the city does not thrive on us like Helen does. We are a minor inconvenience with cash flow, if not a total nuisance to the city. We are not sanctioned, we are disorganized, we are loud, we litter, we pollute, we cause traffic, and we cause accidents. H2Oi simply is not at a level of legitimacy for the city and Police Force to value our tourism.

The issue with getting the event sanctioned is that it does not occur in the actual city. It is more difficult to communicate with the city because of its size, both in terms of establishing policies for attendees and tourists, as well as organizing gatherings where it does not impede traffic flow or hinder businesses operating. Previous efforts at collaborating have been met with lack-luster results.

Let's talk about the layout city itself: Multi-lane highways, legal U-turns at stoplights, speed limits 30-35 MPH, sidewalks on both sides. These conditions make it very easy for people to congregate and harass traffic as well as other people walking by. The 3-lane highway presents a blank canvass for reckless drivers to perform all sorts of stunts that are actually dangerous to the public. Little drag races, burnouts, and whipping around U-Turns may seem like no big deal when you assume the drivers are going to be experienced and in control, but this is not the case. Many drivers a just the opposite: inexperienced, with little knowledge of how their vehicle performs in conditions other than civilized driving. Even fewer have track experience or training beyond teenage driving school. This is why we have cases like the famous "Cayman Curb Jump," "Supra Eating Stairs," and various other accidents and collisions. Throw in some instigating from a bunch of drunks who have nothing better to do except stick their GoPros out on a plastic pole in the air for hours on end, and you get drivers intentionally trying to show off for their 30 seconds of fame.

Distraction alone is a HUGE factor in the danger. Think about it: 3 lanes on both sides, awesome cars everywhere, people yelling, exhausts roaring. That's a LOT of stimuli flying at you. Factor in the possibility of passengers being disruptive and obnoxious, and now you have a driver who may not only be inexperienced, but now distracted because there are a million things happening at once. This is why people plow into each other at stoplights. If its not texting, the accident is the result of plain being distracted by the nature of the environment.

Now, it might be a little easier to understand how different the two events are, and why H2Oi is such a difficult problem to address. You have an environment that is distracting, roads with more lanes and higher speeds, a police department that knows they can make a profit, a city that doesn't rely on the event, lack of event organizers or reputable representatives of the event, idiots with cars, and idiots without cars. Truly a predicament.

I like the Euro scene. I really like the Euro scene. It has provided an outlet to express myself creatively that I could not have done before. There is a vast amount of knowledge and passion that goes into the cars that populate these events. I've made some great friends and even greater adventures around the east coast, enough so that I initially wanted to encourage my younger brother to get into it. He's having a tough time in high school, and I thought it would be a good outlet for him. Now, I consider discouraging it. I don't want the focus of the scene to the drinking, the yelling, the showing off, fighting, bickering, or harassing. It should be about the cars, the passion, and the positive and lasting friendships fostered between the owners. I'm even cool with the windshield-banner cliques; it creates a similar sense of belonging to that group. As long as they promote the cars, rather than the violent lifestyle, I can support it. I want to share all the good that I experienced in the Euro scene with my friends and family, but I don't feel comfortable doing so in the state that it’s in.

If the community feels the same, then perhaps there's hope. Maybe the community DOES feel this way, but there might be so many outsiders at this point that we're outnumbered. By outsiders, I mean the people that come in their non-euro, tastelessly modified, poorly cared for, structurally unsound drift rockets and eBay-part ricers held together by rivets and duck tape. The drivers who are there solely to abuse the privilege of being in a thriving community by being reckless and obnoxious, rather than enjoying what many years of charismatic, grassroots enthusiasts have fostered.

I don't think that's the case, but it could be approaching that point. The fact of the matter is that we make this show what it is. By we, I mean the true Euro enthusiasts— the ones that come to appreciate what we can create as a positive and uplifting community. Not the asshat in the 240SX doing a burnout, or the jerkoff who assaulted a horse, or the guy who stood on a cop car, or even the famous Cayman that ate the curb. Though the media might focus on the drama, the limelight, and the childishness that garnishes so much attention, there is nothing without the true Euro enthusiasts. We have power as a community to encourage better behavior, and discourage the parasites that are feeding off of our lifeblood. We can change how people act by acting better ourselves, and making Ocean City a more positive environment.

I'm still going to attend H2Oi. Even if I come by myself, I'm going to make an effort to improve the scene, rather than simply stand by as the image of H2Oi is quickly replaced by a stigma that will be the final nail in the coffin. I hope you will join me.

See you in 2015.

1 note · View note