Thursday, March 24, 2011

Introduction of the "Clothing" to the Colonized Africans - Westernization of the World


Majority of African continent was colonized during 16th century by the European powers where they were exploited of their resources. During this era, the whole continent was heavily influenced by Europe setting new cultural norms. I've researched how greatly "clothing" is linked to westernization during African colonization in the 16th century. The Africans were not originally or traditionally fully clothed. The idea of clothing was brought over from Europe during the colonization and the concept of "clothed-ness" is thus related to the western binaries. This resulted in a new culture of the kente, dashikli, or the mud cloth of fashion industry (pictures below). The society links the concept of "clothed-ness" to being modernized/westernized and thus "supposedly" moving higher in a westernized society. Being fully clothed represented/represents being westernized and being modern. Looking at it from a larger picture around globe today, all the clothings of jeans, t-shirts, and suits are never-the-less western style of fashion that we do not know we are influenced by. Something for you to think about.

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