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OPINION
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2023
Día de los Muertos deserves better Alicia Alvarez
PRODUCTION EDITOR
The representation of Día de los Muertos in the media is abysmal. Día de los Muertos is an incredibly significant, annual holiday in Mexican culture, featuring ofrendas, cempasuchil and food to honor the dead and welcome them back to the realm of the living according to an Oct. 22, 2022 New York Times article. Cempasuchil, or marigolds, are flowers that are traditionally used to guide the spirit of a loved one back from the cemetery into the home during this holiday. Ofrendas are altars made by each family featuring cempasuchil and offerings for dead loved ones. Yet all I see representing this gorgeous tradition is cheap decorations next to the Halloween aisle in my local Target. There’s only frumpy costumes and a whopping two animated movies from big-name production companies. I’m so damn tired of hearing “Oh! You mean like Coco?” every time I talk about the holiday. Yes, the movie is great. No, it doesn’t encompass the entire story. The phrase “my culture isn’t your costume” has
been featured annually on my Instagram story every time Halloween rolls around. I’ve seen too many uneducated idiots dress up as Catrinas with poorly-made Día de los Muertos-themed costumes. It makes my blood boil. La Catrina is an icon of Día de los Muertos, a female skeleton with a painted skull that is meant to mimic the highsociety women of when it was created, 1910, according to an Oct. 18, 2019 article from National Geographic. I’m a loyal patron of Spirit Halloween and I know there’s aisles and aisles of other shitty costumes to choose from. Dress up as a slutty princess and call it a day, at least then I’ll have respect for you, but leave my culture out of it. I’m a college-aged woman, I’m no stranger to using Halloween as an excuse to walk around in lingerie, but at least I have the wherewithal to not slap a culturallyappropriated piece of fabric on my body. Appropriation is the act of taking something and making it your own without the right or proper authority according to the MerriamWebster Dictionary. In this context, appropriation of a culture would be taking something from a given heritage and mocking it or using it without the right to do so. I know nothing about
GRAPHIC BY ALICIA ALVAREZ
Japanese Geishas, so I would never prance around in makeup mimicking their culture and art form for an Instagram post. Día de los Muertos should be a time for me to reflect upon the lives of my ancestors and celebrate the legacy they left behind. Instead, I spend it angrily scrolling through social media as I see post after post of ignorant people making a mockery of the holiday. My Instagram photo of my ofrenda should not be followed by another post of a girl drunkenly trying to speak Spanish with poorly-done Calavera makeup look from Halloween. To make this already distressing situation worse, some people
don’t even realize that Halloween and Dia de los Muertos are two completely separate holidays. I’ve had wellintentioned friends outside of Latin culture approach me asking what I’ll be dressing up as for “Halloween part two.” Imagine my horror when I realize they’re asking me if I plan on visiting my abuela’s grave in a skimpy costume. I never got to meet my abuela, and I don’t intend to greet her soul while wearing a skintight bodysuit. It doesn’t help that big conglomerates have lumped the two holidays together by combining their decorations, costumes and movies. People only ever seem to watch “Coco” and
“Book of Life” when October rolls around. News flash people, those movies are better suited for November. I understand that unless people are surrounded by Latin culture or take a Spanish class in high school, it’s unlikely that someone will know the history behind Día de los Muertos. This doesn’t excuse ignorance and disrespect though. Companies like Disney should not be the sole representation of this holiday. Until it becomes as well understood and respected as celebrations like Christmas and the god-forsaken Americanized version of Cinco de Mayo, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves. I would love to see Día
de los Muertos recognized and celebrated by all of my friends, regardless of ethnicity. I would love to educate them on how to create beautiful ofrendas and cempasuchil flowers made out of paper instead of ripping a costume out of their hands while we’re out shopping. I’d be happy to teach them the history of each ritualistic aspect instead of feigning a smile while they tell me how much Miguel’s story from “Coco” resonated with them. Until then, I’ll grumble into my pan de muerto and continue to repeat the same mantra. My culture is not your costume. Follow Alicia on Twitter @alicialvarez02
Barbie is more than a doll, it's a lifestyle Maya Benmokhtar STAFF WRITER
Sometimes I don’t remember what I ate for lunch the day before, but I can surely remember receiving my first Barbie doll at the age of four. Barbie dolls can be a canvas for creativity and imagination. Between all the different outfits and accessories, having a Barbie doll allowed me to create my own unique stories and scenarios. She (Barbie) is not just a doll, she has been a fashion icon for decades. Her e ver-e volv ing wardrobe reflects different fashion trends throughout the years, making her a source of inspiration for someone like me with a passion for fashion. Her robot closet in the episode “Closet Princess 2.0” of “Barbie Life In The Dreamhouse,” is one of many dream-like Barbie feats. I’ve always loved Barbie’s story. She has been designed in various careers and roles, from a doctor and astronaut to a chef and teacher. This diversity inspired me to pursue my dreams and aspirations. For me, Barbie holds sentimental value. I have
so many fond memories of playing with Barbie dolls during my childhood. Barbie is more than just a doll, she is a cultural icon and a brand that has had a significant impact on culture, fashion, and the toy industry. The stereotype of the “long blonde hair and thin body” of Barbie has changed over the years. I applaud Mattel, the creator of Barbie, as the company has made efforts to diversify by introducing dolls of various ethnicities, and body types, making her more inclusive and representative of different people, such as myself.
is pink. Barbie pillows on the couch, sequins and glitter everywhere, I even have assorted sets of Barbie mugs, glasses and plates for special guests. For me, Barbie brings me comfort and joy. According to an article by Adobe, pastel pinks inspire feelings of kindness and compassion. Pink is a nurturing, playful and nostalgic color that takes people back to their childhoods, or at least it does for me. After the release of the “Barbie” movie, I’ve been crying tears of glitter watching Barbie make an insane comeback.
Pink is a nurturing, playful and nostalgic color that takes people back to their childhoods, or at least it does for me.
Although I am too old to play with the dolls, I am not too old to be a fullon pink Barbie-glam girl. The Barbie brand extends beyond the doll itself and includes products from clothing to accessories, video games and even house decor. If you walk into my apartment, everything
I am living for all the pink advertisements and collaborations from some of my personal favorite brands. I even have a French Barbie pin-up doll tattoo on my upper right arm and I am proud to show it off any chance I get. While Barbie is indeed a doll, her significance
MAYA BENMOKHTAR | SPARTAN DAILY
goes beyond being just a toy. She has had an extreme influence on how people perceive beauty, careers and even gender roles as seen in The “Barbie” movie, making her a symbol of cultural and social change.
Barbie has inspired me doesn’t mind having a to chase my dreams and pink velvet couch with proved my point that yes, Barbie accent pillows. everything is in fact better in pink. Barbie will continue to be a part of my life for Follow Maya on Twitter many years to come, I just @NoeMaganaR hope my future spouse