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In this post we’ll be discussing the fox-eye trend in relation to cultural appropriation and Asianfishing and how looks can be manipulated to seem ‘asian-trendy’. We will also consider how Stuart Hall’s ideas on othering can link to modern practices by social media users through Asianfishing.
It’s easy to say that beauty trends don’t involve other cultures. We think of beauty trends as part of the new fashion we’re eager to try and then share, like and tweet about online. So, something like the fox-eye trend seems innocent enough?
This trend consists of eyeliner drawn at an angle to accentuate and slant the eyes to appear ‘fox-like’. Influencers typically pull back their face to emphasise the sharpness of the eyeliner, but it has been widely linked to a racist gesture towards Asian people.
Not only has it been branded as asianfishing but could also be a form of cultural appropriation:
“Cultural appropriation happens when members of the dominant culture in a society co-opt or use the ideas, customs or identity markers of a less powerful or minority group, often inappropriately or without consent.” – Brittany Wong, 2020.
Wong (2020) explores how physical attributes of an Asian person should not be separated from the culture. The “identity markers” which she highlights as an insecurity for many are being exploited for social media beauty trends and disregarded by users as harmless. She also states that makeup influencers have defended the use of the ‘fox eye’ as simply a passing trend as the hand placement is a complement to the makeup. We believe it is wrong to justify associated racist gestures with it being “part of a trend”.
Undeniably, this action of influencers pulling back their faces regurgitates the discriminatory practices against Asian people in their youth. Clearly, this gesture should not be overlooked as the action has never been associated with complementing Asian beauty.
Read Brittany Wong’s article here: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/fox-eye-makeup-trend-racist-asians_l_5f3ea97cc5b6305f3254b124.
So why are Asian people still mocked when their culture is appropriated?
Stuart Hall (a famous cultural critic) created a ‘circuit of culture’ which interlinks identity and representation amongst other concepts surrounding our media use (1997).
If we believe the fox-eye trend to be a type of Asianfishing, its representation of Asian people and their culture then influences Asian identity itself and vice versa. The damaging nature of asianfishing comes into play where social media users, and in particular influencers with great outreach who are not Asian, can inform global ideas connected to Asian culture.
Hall (1997) also speculated on ‘othered’ representations and how using binary terms like ‘East’ and ‘West’ can create a power dynamic as opposites. Perhaps using terms like 'Western' and 'Eastern' can be part of the problem in encouraging ideas of orientalism as it indicates differences of power. To Hall, the problem with difference is that it’s not acknowledged enough.
So, there seems to be a sense of entitlement and superiority in appropriating aspects of another culture. Ironically, Asian beauty and physical traits which have previously been mocked are now being celebrated and used in mainstream media, despite ongoing racism towards Asian people and their culture.
References
Hall, S. ed., 1997. Representation: Cultural representations and signifying practices (Vol. 2). London: Sage.
Jones, P. & Holmes, D. 1978. Key Concepts in Media and Communications. London: Sage.
Wong, B., 2020. Is The 'Fox Eye' Makeup Trend Racist Toward Asians?. [online] HuffPost UK. Available at: <https://www.huffpost.com/entry/fox-eye-makeup-trend-racist-asians_l_5f3ea97cc5b6305f3254b124> [Accessed 3 January 2022].
Yoo, C. 2020. My eyes are not a trend [Illustration]. Frankfurt: Germany. Available at: https://www.instagram.com/p/CBwC7LBBcGp/ [Accessed 22 January 2022].
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