Mind the Gap

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40Q61ujLjw0

Coming of Age

Unlike myself, who found somewhat of a connection to where my Farish family crest derived from and learned about our history at the Museum of London, Karim came from two radically different histories which leaves him confused about himself.

 

As a multicultural person living in London during the 70’s, Karim grappled with all parts of his identity and who he was. He was part of a new bread in London that were starting to go against their expectations and social norms. The funky clothing that the youth were starting to wear helped express their individual freedoms.

The Poster For Hair at the V&A museum helps to show us how the youth during this time period were starting to go against their assumed “roles”. The younger generations were starting to be advocates for free love and freedom of expression.

After WWII, London was struggling with immigration from other countries, specifically India and Africa.
Even though these costumes used in today’s Lion King are much nicer than anything Karim would have worn, both Karim’s costume as Mowgli and the Lion King ones are trying to look stereotypical of the country they were trying to represent. And during Karim’s time, they just so happened to think that all Indians were very dark skinned without much clothing which he thought was offensive.
“It turned out that on stage I would wear a loin-cloth and brown make-up.”