Eurovisie June 2017

eurovisie A PUBLICATION OF THE STUDY ASSOCIATION FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES

The stunning word of sexual politics

by Alexandra Staudinger The ethics of human engineering

by Daan Leseman The mark of Cain is a label

by Mats Licht Mourning for Witches

by Hanna Blom Ticket to Europe

by Michelle Kooiman A racial history of tanning

by Levente Vervoort

June 2017 -www.ses-uva.nl - eurovisie@ses-uva.nl

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EDITORIAL

CONTENTS

M AT S L I C H T

I

have heard an awful lot recently about a supposed leftist bias in academia. Certain commentators, emboldened by the seemingly complete failure of liberal America and the resounding triumph of Trump (the man does not deserve an alliteration, but I just cannot help myself), are now firmly convinced that academia is the problem, that especially the Humanities are a cesspool of communist indoctrination and dominated by the worst of all people – social liberals. Whether the faculties produce the commies or just attract them remains in question, but what does it matter, really? The fact is that universities are the bad guys now, because they refuse to accept reality.

But I disagree, firmly so. Other than most politicians, I do not believe that opinions are equal in value, or that political truth is but a matter of perspective. Sure, if I were a millionaire I would probably also vote VVD, but would that make it any more right for society? Not even Nietzsche would claim that it did. Maybe the apparent liberal bias is due to a different cause.

We at UvA can clearly observe it, you will hardly find a single right-winger in the FGw, and yet the entire faculty seems incredibly smart. The problem seems so pressing and hard to solve, there was even a party running in the recent Student council elections hell-bent on firing every openly leftist lecturer – have fun in an empty building, I say. Maybe it is not indoctrination that makes students into commies. Maybe it is just knowledge.

Racism, after all, is not a matter of perspective. It is a symptom of idiocy. 

IMPRINT

volume

13, issue 5 - june. 2017

4 8 11 14 17 20 Editorial office: Kloveniersburgwal 48, room E2.04/2.05, 1012 CX Amsterdam Editor-in-chief: Mats Licht

THE STUNNING WORD OF SEXUAL POLITICS

The importance of personal conversations about sexual violence illustrates Alexandra by looking into private and public discourse on rape.

THE ETHICS OF HUMAN ENGINEERING

Daan puts forth the up- and downsides of a new DNA altering technique and questions the ethics of this process.

THE MARK OF CAIN IS A LABEL

Mats talks about the label refugee which threathens the western identity.

MOURNING FOR WITCHES

Hanna shows us why witchcraft is a empowering of women and how it ridiculises hurts that empowerment.

TICKET TO EUROPE

Michelle argues that we do not have to leave the EU in order to have an exotic vacation.

A RACIAL HISTORY OF TANNING Levente talks about the implicit racism of the western tanning culture.

Editors: Hanna Blom, Michelle Kooiman, Daan Leseman, Levente Vervoort, Alexandra Staudinger Design: Daan Leseman Guest editors: Jason Rous

3

THE STUNNING WORD OF SEXUAL POLITICS

4

The importance of personal conversations about sexual violence illustrates Alexandra Staudinger by looking into private and public discourse on rape.

als to discuss politically sensitive topics does not imply that it is rape survivors’ responsibility to ensure the circulation of the topic, not in the least. But the point is that those who feel comfortable enough sharing personal opinions and stories of sexual violence or harassment could do so, in conversation with others. Yes, any and all information is available online and yet it creates a greater sense of the immediacy and reality of sexual

D

iscussions about rape culture are frequently led in mainstream and social media and one often comes across some form of media con-

taining survivors’ stories when roaming around online.

Despite this online omnipresence of stories of sexual harassment and assault, it is still a challenging subject to bring up in conversation in real life. The rape survivor and US-American author Alice Sebold described in an essay the difficulties she encountered on the book tour for her autobiographical novel. Shop owners and moderators knew about the content of experienced rape she mentions in her book, yet they were reluctant to call

violence when one hears it from a trusted individual, a friend or a relative. Listening to stories from behind the anonymity of a computer screen can make sexual violence seem a distant phenomenon, one that happens to strangers at night or in far-off countries but not within one’s own community. Though most women have suffered from sexual harassment at least once, some even from sexual violence, in conversation many men are often surprised by the commonness of gender-specific harassment and violence. That is why it is so crucial to include groups that are unfamiliar with conversations about sexual violence and rape in the discussion of it.

the assault she suffered from by its name and rather referred to it ambiguously. If it is already troublesome for people at the book reading of a memoir processing rape to make use of the term, how is it then talked about in daily conversations?

In public speeches, there is a variety of pur-

poses the term and concept of rape is used for. From spoken word feminist activism to media reports of oftentimes mild sentencing of convicted rapists to politicians abusing the terminology to demonise foreigners and refugees, there are as many opinions on the subject as there are statistics. However, entering the realm of private conversation, many ‘woke‘ and politically interested people find themselves unable to talk about rape and other forms of sexual violence outside designated safe spaces. These spaces, initially created in institutions to exclude anti-LGBTQ views from discourse, aim to create a safe and welcoming environment for marginalized individuals. The possible exclusion of any material that might trigger negative memories or traumatising events in the participants or the required ‘trigger warnings’ before presenting potentially disturbing material, is subject to criticism as it might constitute an infringement of free speech.

This lacking willingness of aspiring intellectu-

“Sex” used for both consensual sex and rape sees the outcome as the single important fact in a trial, excluding the means used to get there

In recent years, much activism has been under-

taken to highlight the reality of rape in many people’s, mostly women’s, lives. The statistic stating that one in three women will experience sexual assault in her lifetime is common knowledge.

Concerning conversational etiquette, an oxy-

moron exists about what is socially accepted to mention in small talk, the so-called F.O.R.D. and R.A.P.E. rule.

These two acronyms are informal rules for small talk and the initiation of a conversation, mentioned on several websites and blogs claiming to provide useful advice to master discussions. Notwithstanding the questionable prominence of such customs, many people do unknowingly follow similar guidelines in their pursuit of avoiding any kind of disagreement. 

5

F.O.R.D. are topics that are recommended for conver-

in the capture of Europa, the meaning changed sig-

sation (Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams) while

nificantly from ‘to steal something or someone’ to its

R.A.P.E. denotes topics to be avoided (Religion/Race,

denotation today. In the Netherlands, where the act of

Abortion, Politics, Economics/Exes). Though it remains

rape is legally defined as ‘a person who […] compels a

unmentioned, it can be assumed that the topic the latter

person to submit to acts comprising or including sexual

acronym implicitly refers to, rape, falls into the catego-

penetration of the body is guilty of rape,’ marital rape

ry of conversational material best to be avoided.

was criminalised in 1991 and the maximum sentence for convicted rapists now is twelve years of imprison-

To the good students and debaters that we are,

ment.

it is common practice to first research a topic before

6

spreading our opinion about it: the term rape stems

Uncalled-for reframing of the term rape,

from the Latin rapere which translates into snatching,

including new definitions (falling into the category of

carrying off. Both in Roman Law and Medieval English,

‘alternative facts’) can be found in the US, for exam-

rape used to describe the abduction of someone else,

ple. In the state of Nevada, a judge recently banned

typically female, with or without subsequent rape in the

vocabulary such as abuse, rape, and sexual assault

modern sense. European Studies students know about

from his courtroom, only allowing for usage of “sex”

the twofold meaning of this term through the myth of

in the context of sexual offence charges, so as not to

Europa, also called ‘The Rape of Europa.’ Zeus kidnaps

prematurely influence the jury. Activists repeatedly

Europa and subsequently seduces/rapes her, which is

emphasise the importance of distinct terminology for

difficult to make a distinction about because the terms

sexual intercourse taking place with the consent of all

are used interchangeably in ancient Greek mythology.

parties involved on the one hand, and forcible penetra-

The term rape began to appear in English literature in

tion on the other. These distinctions blur and are harder

the late 16th century and found its peak mentioning

to articulate when there is only one word allowed to

thus far in the mid-1990s. Similarly to its meaning

describe two different kinds of actions. “Sex” as the

sole appropriate term for both consensual sex and rape

that assault committed by acquaintances therefore does

sees the outcome as the single important fact in a trial,

not qualify as rape.

excluding the means used to get there. It negates the elements of intention and of choice, let alone the use

However, everyone, unlike many rape survi-

of force, which determines whether sexual penetration

vors, who is not at the risk of re-traumatization should

of someone else’s body constitutes a crime or not. Not

consider having uncomfortable conversations. In

an institutionally ingrained problem of discourse but

doing so, one contributes to the problem’s recognition

an individual’s rape excuse comes from the infamous

by society at large and not just activist circles. Though

Brock Turner case, during which the convicted rapist’s

sexual assault and sexual harassment are more open-

father described his son’s crime as ‘twenty minutes of

ly discussed now, in daily life that is mostly the case

action.’ Calling rape anything other than rape excuses

in women-only groups or in environments where all

the perpetrator, fails to acknowledge the victim’s bodily

involved are familiar with the topic and share similar

integrity and right to self-determination and calls for

worldviews. The need to feel safe and unchallenged is

mild sentences.

understandable when speaking about personal experiences, however it is necessary to include those groups

Rape survivors can be hesitant to call their experienced assault by its name

of society in discussions about rape that might not have them otherwise. Women, who are disproportionally affected by rape, should also talk to the men in their lives about this matter. Female-only discussions of rape contribute to the problem they aim to solve, which is the framing of rape as a women’s issue and therefore also women’s responsibility to solve, so the logic goes. Only

But still, in private conversation, rape is often

with women and men included in rape-prevention pro-

perceived as a stunning word, leading to feelings of dis-

grams, which acknowledge the patriarchal root causes

comfort among the discussants. Furthermore, rape sur-

creating perpetrators, can change be achieved.

vivors can be hesitant to call their experienced assault by its name, due to trauma. Why do even rape survivors

The cultural representations of society we are

find it difficult to name their attack accordingly, especi-

influenced by can make and break progressive trends.

ally when that is crucial for the prosecution of crimes of

In mainstream culture, a challenge to the silent occur-

sexual violence? The answer lies in one of the problem’s

rence of rape is happening, for example through the

sub-categories, called unacknowledged rape. Despite

criticism of rape scenes in TV series such as Game of

the fact that most rapes are committed by someone

Thrones. The series frequently featured violent and also

the victim knows, which is labelled acquaintance rape,

non-consensual scenes, presenting them in a minor

especially in this case it is more likely that the victim

way, which many felt diminished the gravity of rape

will not recognise what happened as such. This is due to

and rather presented it as a side story. However, there

various reasons: one of the initial reactions following

are also productions which do get it right. A recent

assault can be total control and suppression of one’s

positive example of the use of rape in film can be found

emotions and of the memory of the assault. Part of this

in the indie-movie Captain Fantastic, when the father of

reaction is denial, which also shows in the use of lan-

a large family is asked by his primary school child what

guage describing the assault, with the victim belittling

rape is. He looks uncomfortable, but gives a clear defini-

their own experience or memory. Especially when the

tion. When faced with this scene, the arising tension in

perpetrator is someone the victim knows well, they

the cinema audience was almost tangible. Nonetheless,

might fear disbelief, guilt or fear to cause disruptions

there is no need for euphemisms. Call it what it is: rape.

in the shared social circle. Furthermore, so-called rape

¢

myths are part of cultural assumptions sustaining rape culture. Part of these myths is the belief that rape usually occurs at the hands of a stranger, with the deduction

7

THE ETHICS OF HUMAN ENGINEERING

BY DAAN LESEMAN

AN IMAGE OF CRISPR

8

I

magine a world where humans were born without any defects. Where every person is as strong, healthy and intelligent as their genes would allow. It certainly is no

longer science fiction. That is because of the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, or CRISPR for short. CRISPR is a method that allows scientists to edit the genes of your DNA. With its discovery it has become incredibely easy and affordable to add wanted or remove unwanted features. Scientists have already located and altered gene mutations that could cause blindness, stopped cancer cells from multiplying and even made cells impervious to the HIV virus, effectively halting AIDS and stopping its destructive nature. Hearing about these breakthroughs is fantastic and allows humanity to be one step closer to a utopian society. Though, does it?

Admittedly, when hearing about a technique that

allows for DNA modification one gets excited about its potential. For example, while the neonatal mortality rate in the Netherlands is low, especially compared to a 100 years ago, every year over nine babies per thousand people die. This is still a high number. With CRISPR humanity could potentially bring this number down to an all-time low, maybe even prevent baby death at all. But it would not stop there. We could engineer our babies to become extremely smart, strong, and handsome at the same time. We could increase the human life span by at least a few hundred years, and basically render all human diseases ineffective.

HISTORY

Let us step back for a moment. Realising that one

could create a child to one’s exact specifications might sound like a Nazi’s wet dream for creating an übermensch population, but genetic engineering is not necessarily a science fiction subject. Ever since humans have invented agriculture or even kept cattle, they have genetically modified their crops choosing the vegetables they seeded and the animals they let reproduce. Most of what we eat today was in some sort of way altered from what the original plant used to be. We only let the bull with the most meat breed with the cows that produce the most milk or meat. This is a very slow process, with a high chance of failure since the recombination of DNA 

9

was based on chance. It was not until the 1960’s that the

sides of CRISPR. It is no longer a question of what if

refining of species of animals and plants got a whole lot

but should I. There is no longer an ethical point of view

faster. An example of this is the irradiation, the bom-

that will hold certain people back but only a lack of

barding of an object with radioactive beams, of seeds.

financial resources as they allow for the most and the

Irradiation caused mutations at an incredible fast pace.

best changes to the human genome, allowing for the

The seeds with the desired traits were kept, the others

smartest, strongest and most “beautiful” children. Or

thrown into the bin.

another potential situation could be that of a biological arms-race. Because every new change could be to guar-

Fun fact, one of these experiments led to the

antee a healthy life or to have an advantage over other

barley we now use for most of our modern beer. In

members of society. And as these changes continue to

short, humans have always been engineering other spe-

be passed on to the next generation, the accumulation

cies to fit our needs. You could even argue that evolu-

could lead to the new standard of human beings.

tion, survival of the fittest, is in a way a form of genetic engineering, because only the species that adapts the best to the situation at hand will survive. Most of these adaptations came from mutations.

It is no longer a question of what if but should I

THE SITUATION NOW

As explained before, CRISPR does basically the

same thing as humans have done for millennia, only

SHOULD WE?

at an unprecedented pace and with a never seen before

precision. We have gained in the last 40 years more

and the writer might have a negative opinion about

knowledge about how humans are built from an atomic

humanity’s ability of how to cope with this new way

level than we have since the dawn of modern humans,

of improving humans at an even earlier age, by no

some 200.000 years ago. Though CRISPR for now is

means should this technique be banned. Its potential

merely being used as a medical tool for born humans,

of helping humanity reach new heights is incredible.

it can be used for unborn humans to edit their genome

By simply editing some genes, healthcare costs would

(their genetic code) before they are even born. It is

be drastically reduced and human productivity on the

therefore not limited to just one person anymore but to

work floor would increase by tremendous amounts. The

all the offspring of this individual, and the generations

potential negative sides of CRISPR are, however, not to

that follow. But it does not stop there. Most people die of

be taken lightly. As with most controversial subjects we

old age. This could potentially be something of the past.

all should read into it, and discuss it with our friends,

Treatments are possible that halt or even reverse the

families, and our politicians. ¢

aging process. Though losing someone is an incredibly hard thing to experience, the world, and especially third world countries, have been experiencing the hardships of overpopulation for over 30 years. With people dying even later in life (-or not even dying at all) this will put an even bigger pressure on the earth’s climate and the scarcity of its resources. People that do not have a high standard of wealth will suffer the consequences from these developments. It might lead to more and more intense conflicts.

BIOLOGICAL ARMS-RACE

But with all these technological advances there

has not been enough debate about the potential down-

10

Though these are possibilities of CRISPR,

THE MARK OF CAIN IS A LABEL

The refugee crisis has somewhat disappeared from our minds, maybe because we do not want to think about it. But apart from its obvious implications, it may also foster further trouble. The label of the refugee solidifies an identity in transition, something that can challenge Western society at its core, Mats Licht shows.

T

he summer break is almost upon us once more.

roots of this phenomenon, one that reminds us of the

That glorious time when politicians are obliged

fundamental flaws of the system we live in.

to try to somehow stay relevant within the public

consciousness, while they are also locked out of any institution that could allow them to do so. It is also, almost ironically, the period in which people are the most attentive to whatever the media try to conjure up panickingly from the hot air they are left with when

Effectively, Turkey is paid by the EU to keep any problems far

parliaments are closed, simply because, for generations, it has been the time to redeem all that penned-up paid

What might strike us as a pleasant develop-

leave – sorry, Americans. So what are Europe’s care-free

ment in the so-called Refugee Crisis, after all what

masses going to be demoralised with this year? For the

disappears from the news cannot be too terrible, just

first time in years, this summer’s breaking news may

ask Yemen or the children of Yobe, is both greatly

have to be imported for the craving populace of Europe:

exaggerated and potentially fatal. While the ‘crisis’ is

Le Pen has been defeated, there is not a single large-

far from over, its disappearance into second-row news

scale football tournament to be played, not even any

could spell the beginning of a human rights disaster

Olympics to offer temporary relief, but most impor-

looming just around the corner. In fact, the constant

tantly, we have not heard from our most constant news

stream of disorganised migration into Europe is far

spectre in months: refugees have been most painfully

from over, it has merely abated a little. This is due to

neglected by our news cycles lately. It is not just out of

one factor only: the de facto closure of a land route via

a personal attachment or professional obnoxiousness

Turkey. By cozying up to Turkish autocrat Erdogan, the

that we ought to concern ourselves with the topic again.

European Union reached an agreement in March 2016

A very real, very dangerous development sits at the

that comprehensively externalises any problems the 

11

continent might have with any pesky migrants trying

ciously constructed imagination: that of a world neatly

to reach its shores. Effectively, Turkey is paid by the EU

ordered, into geography, states and even peoples.

to keep any problems far away, by both actively keeping

any refugees from crossing into European territory and

taking back any potential escapees – the bill is footed

of the events that transpired since 2014 might be the

by the EU, of course. While payment is not nominally

newly awakened label of the refugee itself. The term

monetary, the agreement’s conditions only thinly veil

has been contested vividly in the media, yet so far no

the human trafficking that is taking place: refugees are

convincing alternative has been proposed. ‘Disorgan-

used as bargaining chips by Turkey for easier visa, re-

ised’ or even ‘illegal immigrants’ create dichotomies

newed accession talks to the Union, and up to six billion

that are obviously politically motivated, that of “good”

euros of EU funding, ostensibly to improve the condi-

versus “bad” migration, while “migrants” alone denies

tions of refugees residing within its borders. With over

the unique situation that refugees, for lack of a better

three million Syrians alone lingering in the country,

name, find themselves in. If the discussions about label-

that money is quickly turning into welcome infrastruc-

ling the people and the events they have been involved

ture subsidies.

in tell us anything, it is that the concept of the refu-

The largest and most destructive consequence

gee itself seems to be deeply troubling to the Western

Being a refugee constitutes an intrinsically unnatural state by Western standards

perception. This condition is not due to the inherent contradictions of the concept proper. Westerners are perfectly happy to accept an arbitrary delineation of compelling conditions that distinguish refugees from dreaded “economic migrants”. Dreading poverty in most parts of the world is caused by external factors

The good that Europe is buying, or being held

just as much as war in similar regions is, and whoever

ransom for, depending on the cynicism of the observing

should really get to decide that the bomb-based loss of

party, is a simple one: peace. Peace not of war but of

your food supply bestows upon you special privileges,

mind, a state that keeps blame and the responsibility

while the simple collapse of your country’s agriculture

to act strictly outside the ever more fortified borders of

does not? Injustice suffered does not nourish the one

“the continent”. The increasingly militant insistence

over the other, the hunger felt is the same. The problem

on the establishment of European borders is but one

that seems to unravel Western civilisation at the seems

consequence of the whole debacle that will return to

as soon as the talk is of refugees lies in that the very

trouble us in the future. It would also be wise of Turkey

concept challenges the foundations of our world.

to realise that with that amount of undesirables within its own borders, the renewed accession talks are bound to be a farce, even regardless of any damage Erdogan has done to the country’s prospects in the meantime.

So is the abating attention for the “refugee problem”

Nearly all current conflicts are based on identity issues

merely an example for the old saying of ‘Out of sight,

out of mind’? It would hardly appear so if any attention

was paid to it any more at all, since the closing of the so-

along nationalist parameters. In fact, it is positively

called Balkan route has also led to a surge in much more

obsessed with the issue of identity. Nearly all current

dangerous maritime migration. This year alone, more

conflicts are based on identity issues, from the various

than 50,000 people have reached Europe by boat, the

ethnic wars of Africa to the ostensibly religious conflict

vast majority coming from northern Africa. How many

in the Middle East. During the past 100 years or so, we

more have drowned on their way is, as always, unclear.

have built comfortable lives on the fact that nations ex-

It seems that simply shutting the door on a fact does

ist, that they simply are with all their inherent ugliness

not make its causes magically disappear. What it does,

and illogicality. One of the most important characteris-

however, is to maintain an already fickle and capri-

tics of nations was established by Benedict Anderson in

12

It is undeniable that said world still functions

his seminal Imagined Communities as just one of these

ulations if measures are taken quickly to naturalise

inconsistencies: Nations are simultaneously universal,

them, to give them a status that makes sense to a world

meaning everybody has one, and specific, meaning that

obsessed with ordering people. The longer they remain

each one is separate. However it may be practically ap-

unordered, the more established their role as pariahs

plied, this assumption lies at the very basis of Western

will be. The Palestinians of Lebanon will enter the 69th

society. It is the reason why we so adamantly attempt

year of such a status this July. They live lives separat-

to spread state nationalism everywhere under the guise

ed by force from the country’s population, kept apart

of democracy. Refugees, however, challenge this notion

by barbed wire and armed guards for decades. They

in a number of ways: Firstly, they encompass a vast

are mostly stateless, the most unnatural of all refugee

array of supposedly different people. Who was a Malian,

statuses. In return for their crime, they are barred from

Syrian or Iraqi everywhere else now becomes part of an

owning property, denied work permits and kept from

amorphous and consequently alarming entity, which is

maintaining the camps they have been forced to live

only constituted by its members being “refugees”, not

in since 1949. In a multi-ethnic country like Lebanon,

any logical, that is racial or cultural, reasons. It is the la-

where peace within the confines of a Western-style

belling as “refugees” itself that robs them of their iden-

democracy is always unstable, their biggest crime is

tities, however. This makes delineation between smaller

perhaps even a different one: they force us to think

groups difficult if not impossible, greatly upsetting the

about identity. In Europe, we are trying to keep that

nationally ordering mind of the common Westerner.

Cases in point are given by the polemicising and often chaotic attempts at differentiating between Muslims and all other refugees. The Western order demands clarity, it needs to know what to expect of people based on their origin. It does not account for hybrids or fringe cases, even if they are created by our own hubris.

Secondly, and more importantly, being a refu-

In fact, the West collectively suffers from a crisis of itself: we live in a world that is obsessed with identity, yet refuses to address it

gee constitutes an intrinsically unnatural state by Western standards. They defy the natural order of things by

issue out of our lands and out of our minds. Thanks to

not belonging to a state. Stateless are of course a perfect

Turkey, the identity question is settled for now, so we do

case, but anyone who is forcibly removed from their

not have to concern ourselves with it any longer. But by

country of belonging yet not fully embraced by a new

deferring the problem, we are only letting it return with

one fits the description. Refugees upset our organic

a vengeance.

world view by defying the simple notion that every hu-

man ought to have a nation. It is as though these people

crisis of itself: we live in a world that is obsessed with

did not have an eye colour or a gender: their existence

identity, yet refuses to address it. But we cannot hide

is simply wrong. They cannot exist within the Western

behind illusions built in times past much longer. The

system because their very presence challenges our most

larger dynamics of the world are already forcing us to

fundamental axioms about people. In fact, refugees re-

re-evaluate the foundations on which our worldview,

mind us of the facts of life that we would rather not be

but also our own world is built. In order to tackle the

reminded of. They remind us that our conception of the

challenges of the present and to not repeat the mistakes

world along national lines in the sand is simply wrong.

of the past, we must face the demon that has built us:

And people hate to be wrong.

identity. ¢

In fact, the West collectively suffers from a

In the most extreme cases, people’s disdain for

that which challenges their integral assumptions can take atrocious forms. Refugees in Europe can only be spared the fate of other long-standing refugee pop-

13

MOURNI WITCHES

BY HANNA BLOM

O

n the 24th of February, 2017, followers of

see the point of any of this, and definitely felt no urge

witchcraft casted a mass spell on Donald

to grab an orange candle, carve the name of the “presi-

Trump, #magicresistance. While many oth-

dent” and burn his picture while chanting ‘You’re fired!’

ers felt hopeless with the Trump presidency in sight,

a couple of times.

people worldwide plead to the Wiccan deities to ‘‘bind Donald J Trump, so that his malignant works may fail

Witchcraft is not taken seriously. It is routinely

utterly.”. The spell they casted was binding and there-

ridiculed and the view that the media has shaped of

fore did not mean to cause harm, but rather to stop

witches is either that of an old hag or vicious temptress.

Trump from doing any harm. Christian conservatives

This, while there is so much more behind the culture

were not charmed by this attempt of the witches to get

and history of people who claim to control the world

involved with politics and the spiritual war that had

with their magic.

supposedly now been declared. Joshua Feuerstein, baseball-cap-backwards-wearing pastor, known for igniting

It is difficult to talk about the true history of

the Starbucks red cup outrage, referred to the witch-

witches, knowing what is authentically a part of witch

craft as ‘bippity-boppity-boo’, which failed to compare

culture and what is part of the false stereotype. After

to the power of Jesus.

having visited a lot of websites, some of which have not been updated since 2001 and titles like ‘a guide to

Making fun of witchcraft is a custom almost

as old as witchcraft itself, and after hundreds of years,

the misunderstood and the maligned’, I will try to tell a cohesive story.

it is getting boring. While Feuerstein is not the average moral compass, many others have mocked the witches.

People with normal jobs, opinions and hobbies could not

ple first banded together in groups. Sorcery, like setting

14

Witchcraft, of some sort, has existed since peo-

ING FOR S out offerings for spirits you needed help from or using

to create anti-witchcraft laws after the idea started

charms, was part of all ancient societies. There is a

spreading that witches were able to create bad weath-

debate about from which group witchcraft was derived.

er, fly in the night and change their shape. By the 13th

Some say it was from very spiritual Celtic groups, but

century, witchcraft was coined as devil-worship.

in the West our view of witchcraft was mainly formed

Old, conventionally unattractive women who kept to

by mythologies and folklore of ancient peoples, such as

themselves and their potion-making, became the target

Egyptians, Hebrews, Greeks and Romans.

of witch trials, though we cannot say they were all unattractive, because witches were also connected to their

During the early Christian period, demons and

sex, as they were accused of seducing good Christians to

the Devil were not part of witchcraft. Christian ele-

sin. Within their towns they often assisted during sick-

ments were mixed within Anglo-Saxon magic. Actually,

ness and birth with the wisdom they had acquired over

in Early Christian methodology, when saints and divine

the years, but their efforts were soon forgotten when

relics were already involved, the difference between

the town was hit with a tragedy. Independent women

Christian practices and old pagan techniques of amu-

who kept to their studies were seen as dangerous and

lets was not clear magic of a form superior to the old

the culprits of natural disasters.

pagan way. An influential Christian theologian in the fifth century claimed that all pagan magic and religion

Moral panic occurs when public fears and state

was invented by the Devil to lure humanity away from

interventions greatly exceed the objective threat posed

the Christian truth. He deemed the witches powerless,

to society by a particular individual or group who is/are

so at least at first, there was no need for the Church to

claimed to be responsible for creating the threat in the

go after this error of the pagans. From the seventh to

first place. The group supposedly carrying the respon-

ninth century, the Church began to influence civil law

sibility of the threat has taken different forms. With ď ľ

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Independent women who kept to their studies were seen as dangerous and the culprits of natural disasters. the repercussions of moral panic, the mindless finger pointing and scapegoating, there is a large group that benefits.

Sometimes moral panic can be used as a tool to direct the fear and anger towards a minority, like Nixon’s War on Drugs did to incarcerate black people. The moral panic around witches caused the deaths of 50.000 to 80.000 people.

During the 90’s, occult-based tv shows and movies

starting gaining enormous support. Youth culture embraced the witchcraft in Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Craft, impacting girls all over to wear their eyeliner thick and speak heavy tongued of curses and wishes. Magic and mystery temporarily entrusted young women with a sense of power. From the way they dress to way they speak, people mock young girls and anything they value, but at this moment, women knew they had the force of nature on their side. Though the aspect of demons and the devil were prominent, it was used not to shame but to empower. The ideas that had been spread about witchcraft were used to entrust women with a sense of authority. The shows even gained support from witches such as Wiccan Phyllis Currott.

Witches broke away from the Disney idea of “magic-

is-evil and instead were finally shown as the independent and strong women who use their powers to help and elevate people. Real life witches are still waiting to see any form of recognition. Witchcraft has seen mockery, demonising and sexualisation throughout the centuries. It is important to learn that witches were intelligent women, executed for stepping out of bounce. The trials should be seen as a tragedy and the witches who still carry out the traditions should be praised. Mourn for the thousands of women who burned and drowned because their significance of torment, that after having been burned and drowned they are still here, is a beacon of light in today’s world. ¢

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TICKET TO EUROPE THE CONTINENT THAT HAS EVERYTHING

Just a few more weeks and then it is finally summertime. If you are not struggling with writing your thesis, you can hopefully enjoy your freetime abroad. However, you do not have to leave the continent in order to find the perfect vacation. Europe has it all. By Michelle Kooiman

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E

urope has rich histories, many cultures and great nature. It is the perfect continent to go skiing, sunbathing and culture sniffing . The introduction of the

euro and the Schengen Area makes it way more easy to travel through many countries without having to trade currencies and wait endlessly in front of borders. The EU even declared Europe as the number one destination in the world. Still, the EU introduced big propositions in the Lisbon Treaty that must regulate and stimulate tourism in member countries. Brussels wants to support tourist related businesses in order to create healthy competition. The EU also has put great effort into promoting and upholding the image of Europe being the ultimate travel destination.

But is there a need to continue stimulating this

image if Europe is already overflowing with tourists? According to the Dutch government the EU should not. Big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht have grown fast in popularity with tourists. Although it might be seen as a positive development at first, since it will create more jobs in the tourist sector and helps the economy grow, the great influx of tourists has some downsides.

Eastern and Southern member states have a lot to offer

The housing market of Amsterdam is a good example

of negative side effects of being a popular touristic city . Prices for houses and rental homes have gone through the roof ever since the city has grown in popularity, especially with internationals . This is partly due to the successful concept of Airbnb. Both companies and individuals see big money in renting out space. More and more people are opening ordinary homes for tourists. Not only residents are renting out their rooms when available, but also companies have started to buy houses just to rent them out to tourists. Authentic neighbourhoods have turned or are turning into international districts. Other European cities are also dealing with these Airbnb-problems.

The Dutch government has declared that they would

like to take matters in their own hands when it comes to regulating the influx of tourists. The promotion of destinations should be a task of the member states. Too much promotion can lead to problems the EU does not always have an answer

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to. However, there are member states who could use a push from the EU when it comes to tourism . Especially lesser developed member states in Eastern and Southern Europe can offer tourists an amazing time. These countries also depend way more on the tourist industry. The EU has successfully stimulated tourism in former Soviet satellite states.

After entering the EU, the societies of these member states have opened up. These countries have a rich past in which the recent domination of the former Soviet Republic is often still noticeable. They thus have a lot to offer and tourism can stimulate the economy.

You do not have to go far in order to create a memorable summer

The EU can also increase integration concerning

tourism since more non-European destinations are less popular due to political conflict. Turkey, for example, depends heavily on tourism, but ever since the great influx of refugees, the fight against terrorism in the Middle East and the tense situation that arose after the military coup of July 2016, tourists are looking for safer alternatives. Also North African countries, that can offer great sunny vacations at the Mediterranean Sea, are less popular ever since the Arab Spring and the threat of a terrorist attack. EU countries are profiting greatly from these developments. Spain even broke a record of welcoming the most foreign tourists visiting the country.

Working on the integration of tourism in the EU is

a good thing. However, Brussels should primarily focus on areas that could benefit from the support. Sunny vacations in the South and cultural trips to the East are the strong pillars of tourist integration of the EU. The economically stronger member states, most often the member states in the West, should be able to regulate tourist attraction on their own.

Europe is big and has innumerable pretty places for

tourists to visit. So you do not have to go far in order to create a memorable summer. If you are struggling with schoolwork this summer, you can easily postpone your vacation and turn your summer trip into a winter trip. Europe has it all. ¢

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A RACIAL HISTORY OF TANNING

BY LEVENTE VERVOORT

I

fondly remember an episode of Friends, in which Ross’ attempt to spray paint his skin ends in complete and utter catastrophe, when he fails to count to five ‘Mississippilessly’. He does not turn around

in time to get his backside done and the rest of the episode his friends ridicule the double paintjob because he looks ‘ebony and ivory’. Rewatching this episode and spending some time in Amsterdam’s parks this early summer sparked a question in me: why do people want to get tanned at all?

I argue tanning is hardly a universal practice but even if it would

happen all over the world, that is in large part because of Western hegemonic aesthetics. Tan itself is the name of a colour, a ‘pale tone of yellowish-brown’. Let’s plunge into, I daresay, the exiting depths of English etymology: ‘tan’ is derived from tannic acid, an organic acid harvested

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from oak bark (which is brown) used traditionally to

The beauty industry developed cremes, sprays, masks,

prepare leather (which is skin). Wine also contains the

lotions, lamps, beds and booths to bring the sun ever

stuff, because they ripe it in oak barrels.

closer to us. Longing for the sun has its modern Icarian fall in the ever clearer effects of ultraviolet abuse; skin

Tanners slap animal hide during the prepa-

aging, sunburn, melanoma and skin cancer.

ration of leather and colloquially tanning also means giving someone a spanking. What is interesting, is that

The cultural history of tanning is a gendered

both tanning as a leather colour and tanning as physi-

and racial story. When Coco Chanel accidentally got

cal punishment entered the vocabulary way before its

sunburnt after visiting the French Riviera, her fans

current sunbathing-meaning. So, skin tanning must

turned out to love the ‘new look’. Also in France, Jose-

be a fairly modern phenomenon. More so, tan had a

phine Baker became the one of the first global stars

profoundly negative meaning for ages. Compare Shake-

of Black African descent. At a time when white men

speare’s 1609 Sonnet CXV to the Fair Youth, in which he

performing in blackface was everyday business, Baker

wishes Time would not ‘tan sacred beauty’, depriving it

and other black women were racially fetishized, the

of the freshness and beauty of youth.

public admiring their ‘caramel’ or ‘chocolate’ skin.

If we consider that the beauty ideal follows the style of

Advertisers thrived on the sudden reappreciation of

those who have the power and money to make them-

brown skin. Women’s magazines encouraged sunbath-

selves pretty, it is not surprising a bronzed skin was not

ing and concurrently pushed their readers to reveal

popular for a long time: the sun hardly ever shines in

more skin, trimming down swimsuits’ sizes up until

castles and indoor jobs were difficult to get by as most

the introduction of the bikini in 1946. In the process the

worked on the land. To be brown was to be a labourer.

Until the late 19th century in Europe and the United States, pale skin was a symbol of high social class among white people. Victorian women would carry parasols and wear wide-brimmed hats and gloves; their homes featured heavy curtains that kept out the sun.

Some even used lead or arsenic to whiten their skin. But

The cultural history of tanning is a gendered and racial story

as the working classes moved from country work to city factories, and to crowded, dark, unsanitary homes, pale

white beauty ideal has not stopped incorporating Black

skin became increasingly associated with poverty and

features. The Kardashian family is just one example of

ill health.

non-Blacks flirting with blackness, fetishising full lips and emphasising the sizes of their buttocks, but also

In the early twentieth century tanning sudden-

appropriating various aspects of black culture without

ly became immensely popular. Tanning was all the rage

bearing the social consequences of speaking out for

in Scandinavian countries in the 1920s and sunshine

minority rights. Beauty is still in a large part defined by

was promoted as treatment for countless ailments

those who pay most for it.

ranging from depression to constipation. Having brown skin had been proletarian thus ugly throughout in

In some Asian countries tanning is still very

Europe since Modernity. But everything changed when

uncool. Building on a tradition of whiteness as signify-

the trade unions attacked and were able to bargain paid

ing purity, youth and virtue, mostly women, but men

vacations for some (instead of the means of production

too inversely go a long way to prevent them from being

for all). Promptly, being tanned meant you had spent

‘spoilt’ by the sun as well as using artificial skin whiten-

a nice fortnight on the Spanish Costas in January. A

ers. In Brazil and other Latin-American countries many

brown skin on a white body equalled wealth and health.

studies have shown that colourism (i.e. discrimination

Being tanned by the sun turned into a status sym-

on the basis of skin colour, also between people of the

bol, to such an extent that at one point it did not even

same race) is a more important factor in establishing

matter anymore if your colour was actually authentic.

social inequality than ‘race’, that also encompasses 

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ancestry. Still, many white and brown Brazilians alike spends hours on sunbeds with only some lines of duct tape covering their private parts, in order to get as dark as possible over their entire body. In everyday life, being able to “pass as white”, is more important than descent: people with clear black features are discriminated not by whites only, but also by lighter skinned peopled with the same ancestry.

These examples of tanning habits prove again

that whiteness is to a much lesser extent connected to skin colour than blackness: it is rather perceived as a blank page on which one can draw all sorts of pretty things, a brown colour for example, without having to fear social repercussions. Such is the painful reality of tanning. The whiteness in European Brazilians allows them to steal the beauty of the very blackness their African and Native countrymen are discriminated for.

It does not matter if you are in Asia or Brazil,

whiteness defines power, and power defines beauty.

Whereas white people have the privilege to tan at will, black and brown people all over the world to great lengths to become more whiter or less dark. But their culture goes beyond the colour of their skin. While white people can cherry pick “exotic” features as they please, people of colour have to bleach, scrub and paint their way out of oppression.

Having asked around why some of my white

friends - men and women - like to tan, most reply they think brown skin is prettier, or healthier, it makes their skin look younger (but rids it of the pimples). None of them wanted to be brown throughout the year though.

And plenty of them said it would be weird of people of colour to go tanning, because they ‘are already dark enough’.

This is why Ross’ paintjob-gone-wrong is funny

in a painful way. When the assistant in the tannery asks him what grade of darkness he wants (‘we have one, two and three’), Ross says: ‘I like your colour, what are you, a two?’ The man answers: ‘No, I’m Puerto Rican …’ People do not choose the colour of their skin. No matter what you think about tanning, it is not trivial and taints more than skin only. ¢

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It does not matter if you are in Asia or Brazil, whiteness defines power, and power defines beauty

“WE LATEN ONZE STEM LETTERLIJK NIET HOREN�

Jason Rouse heeft voor deze editie van Eurovisie als doel om lezers een eerste kennismaking te laten maken met (publieke vraagstukken voor) dove mensen. Hij ging daartoe in gesprek met dr. Corrie Tijsseling (voorzitter belangenorganisatie Dovenschap) en Lisa Hinderks (voorzitter belangenorganisatie Nederlandse Dove Jongeren en UU-student).

Dovenschap komt op voor de gelijkwaardigheid van dove mensen en hun toegang tot de maatschappij.

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D

e belangenbehartiging van mensen met een gehoorbeperking is van oudsher in Nederland versplinterd. Er wordt veel gedifferentieerd

tussen verschillende gehoorproblemen. Er zijn in Nederland zeven belangenorganisaties voor mensen met een gehoorbeperking. Er is een belangenorganisatie voor Doven, Dove Jongeren, slechthorenden, slechthorende jongeren, Doven die pas later doof zijn geworden, ouders van Dove kinderen, en ouders van slechthorende kinderen. Tijsseling merkt op dat Nederland hier in Europa vrijwel uniek in is. ‘In Engeland bijvoorbeeld’, zo merkt Hinderks op: ‘is iedereen gewoon samen één groep.’.

Als context voor de differentiatie is een me-

dische maatstaf wellicht handig. Over het algemeen wordt iemand slechthorend genoemd bij een gehoorverlies van 30 tot 90 dB, en Doof bij gehoorverlies van meer dan 90dB. Tegelijkertijd verklaart deze medische maatstaaf niet waarom er in Nederland wel veel wordt gedifferentieerd maar in veel andere Europese landen juist veel minder.

Je audiogram is je sociale status

Tijsseling duidt het bestaan van de vele organ-

isaties als een (achterhaald) overblijfsel van de verzuiling. Tegelijkertijd merkt ze op dat het voortbestaan van de differentiatie in de vele organisaties ook uit te leggen is. Ze kijkt daarvoor naar de waarden die gehanteerd worden door veel mensen met een gehoorbeperking in Nederland. Tijsseling merkt op dat in Nederland heel sterk geldt dat: ‘de gradatie van het niet kunnen horen, [samenhangt] met je [sociale] status.’ Hinderks noemt als voorbeeld een interactie waarin een slechthorend persoon tegen haar zei: ‘Ach ben jij doof, wat zielig.’, wat illustreert dat er een scheiding en een hiërarchie is op basis van je gehoorstatus. Tegelijkertijd moet uit dit fragment ook opgemaakt worden dat er weerstand is tegen dit discours. Hinderks en Tijsseling vinden de opmerking beiden storend, en identificeren zich meer met de samen-één-groep-benadering die Engeland typeert.

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De groepsbenadering die Hinderks en Tijsseling

voorstaan, kan ook stilistisch in taal uitgedrukt worden.

Dit kan door Doof met een hoofdletter te schrijven. De hoofdletter illustreert dan dat Doof zijn niet (alleen) een medisch construct is, maar (ook) een identiteit. De term dove mensen wordt daarnaast ook vaak gebruikt.

Met dove mensen wordt niet expliciet positie genomen in het debat medisch construct vs. identiteit. Als een auteur het woord doofheid gebruikt, verwijst die naar het medische construct. Als doof met een kleine letter geschreven wordt, lopen de interpretaties uiteen.

Toen de unieke situatie van Nederland be-

sproken was, ging het gesprek meer in de richting van een bredere discussie over Europese verschillen. Is de positie van Doven bijvoorbeeld gekoppeld aan de welvaart van het land? Tijsseling merkt op dat de welvaart van een land wel enigszins meespeelt in de positie van Doven, maar naar haar mening is voor het begrijpen van Europese verschillen discours het sleutelwoord.

Voor het begrijpen van Europese verschillen is discours het sleutelwoord Tijsseling identificeert twee tegengestelde discours: rechten vs. beperkingen. Tijsseling verduidelijkt het onderscheid door een uitspraak te doen die past bij het rechtendiscours: ‘Ik wil ondertiteling op de TV omdat ik recht heb op informatie,’ en een uitspraak die past bij het beperkingendiscours: ‘Ik heb ondertiteling nodig omdat ik niet kan horen.’ Tijsseling beargumenteert als voorstander van het rechtendiscours dat over het algemeen de gelijkwaardigheid en toegang tot de maatschappij voor dove mensen beter is geregeld in landen met een rechtendiscours. Engeland en de Scandinavische landen zijn voorbeelden samenlevingen met een rechtendiscours. Nederland en Duitsland zijn voorbeelden van samenlevingen met een beperkingendiscours.

Na het bespreken van Europese verschillen, liep het gesprek over in het bespreken van Europese overeenkomsten. Tijsseling formuleert dan een droom, die veel dove mensen in Europa hebben: een Europese universiteit voor Doven. Een plek waar je je zonder 

25

belemmeringen kunt ontplooien. Op dit moment is er maar één universiteit in de wereld voor Doven: Gallaudet University in de VS. Het lastige voor de Europese situatie is dat gebarentaal geen universele taal is: ieder land (of zelfs iedere regio) heeft een eigen gebarentaal. ‘De vraag is dus welke gebarentaal gehanteerd moet worden,’ aldus Tijsseling. Hinderks plaatst de droom voor een plek van optimale zelfontplooiing in breder perspectief en formuleert daarmee tegelijkertijd de moraal van dit artikel: ‘Als horende ga je ervan uit dat alles beschikbaar is, dat

Alles is gebaseerd op geluid, daar kunnen wij niet aan meedoen

alles toegankelijk is. Er wordt nooit gedacht hoe het zou zijn als je niet kunt horen. Horende mensen hebben altijd een voorsprong, altijd. En dat hebben wij niet, dat haal je ook nooit in. Dat is vaak de grootste frustratie. Vooral nu [ik het kan vergelijken] met mijn horende broertje [die binnenkort gaat] studeren. Dat is al zo’n verschil met toen ik ging studeren. Terwijl we dezelfde opvoeding hebben gehad, dezelfde mogelijkheden kregen van onze ouders. Bij hem gaat het heel makkelijk en heel vanzelfsprekend. Terwijl ik tegen zo veel dingen [op] moet vechten om hetzelfde te bereiken als mijn broertje. […] Terwijl we gewoon hetzelfde zijn qua intellect. De maatschappij beperkt mij.’ ¢

Verantwoording Dit artikel is primair gebaseerd op het interview met Tijsseling en Hinderks. Tijdens het interview is er gebruik gemaakt van een gebarentolk. Het interview is omwille van de verwerking op audio opgenomen. Tijdens het schrijven van dit artikel is slechts beperkt aanvullend (literatuur)onderzoek gedaan. Het artikel is wel geïnformeerd door mijn academische achtergrond. Ik ben bachelorstudent Bestuurs- en Organisatiewetenschap (aan de UU); bachelorstudent Pedagogische Wetenschappen (aan de UU), en premaster/ bijvakstudent Communicatiewetenschap (aan de UvA).

Ik heb zelf geen gehoorbeperking, en het is waarschijnlijk dat dit het artikel op enige wijze heeft beïnvloed. Ik heb geprobeerd het interview zelf evenals de verwerking zo transparant mogelijk vorm te geven. Tijsseling en Hinderks hebben vooraf aan het interview onderwerpen aangedragen waarop ik me kon inlezen, in aanvulling op onderwerpen die ik zelf had voorgesteld. Daarnaast is dit artikel vóór publicatie ter goedkeuring voorgelegd aan beiden. Een belangrijke noot is daarnaast dat het artikel vooral anekdotisch opgevat moet worden. Mocht je interesse gewekt zijn, zoek dan bijvoorbeeld eens op Google Scholar naar de meer diepgravende artikelen van Corrie Tijsseling.

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Send us your article to eurovisie@ses-uva.

UPCOMING EVENTS

BRUSSELS WEEKEND

JUNE 17-19

In the weekend before the, for first year European Studies-students mandatory, UvA Brussels Day, SES organises a city trip to this vibrant European capital. Keep an eye on our Facebook for informaton about signing up.

HITCHHIKE COMPETITION

JULY 1-3

For the third year in a row, we will conclude the SES year with the, already traditional, hitchhike competition. After visiting Antwerp and Ghent during the previous editions, the Hitchhike Committee chose a new, secret location for this year’s competition. The couple that arrives first on this location, that will only be announced on the day of the event itself, will be awarded with an amazing prize. The competition will take place on the 1st of July. After arriving on the secret location, we will stay there until the 3rd of July to end the year in style. Participants will be selected based on their anonymous motivations. Deadline for signing up is April 5th.

Š studievereniging europese studies 2017