Yellowface is a really awful way to celebrate "diversity."

Vogue photo shoot features Karlie Kloss doing stereotypical geisha shit.



For real, Vogue? A photo shoot featuring a white model as a geisha? In the so-called "diversity" issue, no less.

The much-hyped March issue of Vogue features supermodel Karlie Kloss in a Japanese-themed spread, titled "Spirited Away." Okay, can we just stop right there? Red flags, so many red flags going up everywhere. Let's be real: there was no fucking way that Vogue was going to handle this right.

The spread, photographed in Japan by Mikael Jansson and styled by Phyllis Posnick, features Kloss in what is pretty much yellowface, going full geisha in various photos shot around Japan's Ise-Shima National Park. They've got Kloss in thick black hair, pale skin and kimono-like attire, posed in various Japanese-y backgrounds. There's even a friggin' sumo wrestler for bonus stereotypical Japanese-ness.

Museum ends kimono-wearing promotion amid protests

Critics accused the MFA's interactive exhibit of cultural appropriation.



So... the Museum of Fine Arts Boston recently announced "Kimono Wednesdays," an interactive art event inviting museum-goers to pose in front of Claude Monet's La Japonaise while wearing a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in the painting. I don't know about you, but dressing up like a white lady dressing up like a Japanese lady sounds like a fun way to spend a Wednesday night.

As you might have guessed, some folks were not cool with this cultural cosplay, and organized a peaceful protest to call attention to issues of orientalism and cultural appropriation in the promotion. Still, the museum pressed on with the stunt despite the outcry, handing out a one-page flyer to address the criticism, and flatly stating the MFA's position on the matter: "We don't think this is racist." (Well, I guess that settles it.)

But now, as a result of the negative response, the MFA has announced that it's changing its interactive kimono experience. Instead of trying on the kimono, museum visitors will be allowed to "touch and engage" with it.

Here's the release the MFA sent out on Tuesday:

Get Your Geisha On at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Museum-goers invited to do their best impression of Monet's "La Japonaise."



People of Boston, what better way to spend a Wednesday night than with some orientalist cultural appropriation! Plus, ya know, photos. So get this. The Museum of Fine Arts recently invited museum-goers to get their geisha on, à la Claude Monet. Every Wednesday night through the end of July, you're welcome to try on a replica of the kimono worn by Monet's wife, Camille, in his painting "La Japonaise."

Somebody call Katy Perry.

Racist Asian-themed drag party draws fire on Facebook

Geishas Gone Wild in New York City



What is this? File under racist Asian-themed parties... Yo, why can't people throw social gatherings without turning to tired, racist, orientalist stereotypes? One look at the geishas-gone-wild flyer for this Holy Mountain drag party happening in New York this weekend, and you've pretty much got all you need to know.

The party, organized by New York City nightlife personality who goes by "Ladyfag," is supposedly a tribute to the Sakura Matsuri and a "celebration" of Japanese culture... but I'm guessing the affair will likely amount to a lot of intoxicated white people dressed as half-assed ninjas and geishas and shit.

Wanna see some geishas? Fly Air France, apparently.

For the record, this is not a good way to get me to fly your airline.



I think I've generally trained my eyes to ignore the paid content that gets inserted on to my Facebook... but I couldn't help but do a double take when I spotted this craptastic ad for Air France.

Yes, I love seeing pointless cultural drag used to hock air travel. The ad, part of Air France's "France is in the Air" campaign, employs the usual geisha imagery with a white model rocking some yellowface for that Orientalist zing!

Katy Perry gets her geisha on at the American Music Awards

Because geishas will apparently love your ass unconditionally. Get it?



If you were watching the American Music Awards on Sunday night, no, that wasn't a big Oriental-flavored dream -- Katy Perry did indeed open the show with an all-out cultural dragfest. Baby, it was Geishapalooza 2013. Her performance of "Unconditionally" was complete with kimonos, giant-ass fans, cherry blossoms and more. Why? Because geishas will apparently love your ass unconditionally. Get it?

And 'cause, like, random Asian-looking stuff is totally cool. Here's the video:

Racist mockery greets riders at AIDS/LifeCycle

What the hell is this? What kind of racial mockery is going on here? Would you believe that this racist spectacle is somehow supposed to be in support of AIDS awareness?

Each year, thousands of cyclists take part in AIDS/LifeCycle, an annual 7-day charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to raise funds and promote awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS. I'm told that it's an amazing experience, and quite the love-fest. So what the hell is this crappy sight doing in the event?

Along the ride down the California coast, there are a number of official rest and food stops on the route for each day. To refuel and keep the riders' spirits up, the AIDS/LifeCycle crew sometimes go all out with a theme for each stop. This particularly theme, as you can see, is someone's bad idea for an Oriental theme.

Richard, who participated in the ride and took this photo, explains: