western activism doesn't work.

Summary

This video discusses the complexities of activism, particularly the pitfalls of Western celebrities engaging in performative acts in countries with strict laws against LGBTQ+ rights. It critiques Matty Healy's on-stage kiss in Malaysia, highlighting the unintended consequences and the need for culturally sensitive, locally-driven activism. The video also touches on the historical impact of Western colonial laws on current anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and advocates for a more nuanced approach that supports local activists and respects cultural contexts.

Takeaways

• 🎤 Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, has been involved in controversial acts of public affection towards men in countries with strict anti-homosexuality laws, including kissing a bandmate in Malaysia and a fan in Dubai.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The act in Malaysia was criticized for potentially harming local LGBTQ+ activists and communities, with some accusing Healy of a white savior complex and not considering the local context.
• 📖 The Malaysian anti-LGBTQ+ laws are rooted in British colonial laws, which have influenced more than half of the 76 countries that criminalize homosexuality today.
• 🌐 Western celebrities sometimes face backlash for performing in countries with problematic legislations, as seen with Beyoncé's performance in Dubai and Lady Gaga's in Azerbaijan.
• 🏛 Historically, Western powers have imposed their values on other cultures, including strict gender roles and religious education, which have been challenged over time.
• 👥 The script discusses the importance of local activism and the pitfalls of performative activism, emphasizing the need for support from Westerners that is sensitive to local contexts.
• 🌍 The video touches on the concept of 'modernity' and how it has evolved from a focus on nuclear families and religious education to recognizing and ensuring basic human rights.
• 📚 It highlights the story of Soong May-Ling and the resistance of progressives like Ruan Lingyu, showing that Western definitions of modernity do not always equate to liberation.
• 🎬 The transcript mentions the film 'New Women' as a symbol of the struggle for gender equality and the tragic real-life story of its lead actress, Ruan Lingyu, who committed suicide.
• 👸 The example of Vogue Arabia's cover featuring Princess Haifa Bint Abdullah Al Saud is used to illustrate the performative nature of liberation and the silencing of actual activists.
• 🌱 The script concludes by advocating for localism in activism, citing the French climate activism movement 'les Soulèvements de la terre' as an example of effective, locally-focused action.

Q & A

What was the main topic of the video suggested by Chloe?

The main topic of the video was about unconventional forms of love and how it can transcend societal norms such as gender, class, and race, with a focus on the actions of Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, in countries with strict anti-homosexuality laws.

Why did Matty Healy kiss a bandmate on stage in Malaysia, and what was the reaction?

Matty Healy kissed a bandmate on stage in Malaysia as a spontaneous act, expressing regret for agreeing to play in the country due to its anti-LGBTQ+ laws. The reaction was mixed, with local activists criticizing his actions as a 'white savior' complex and potentially harmful to the local LGBTQ+ community.

What is the 'white savior' complex mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to Matty Healy's actions?

The 'white savior' complex refers to a pattern where white individuals perceive themselves as rescuers of non-white communities, often without understanding the complexities of the local situation. In the context of Matty Healy's actions, the term is used by local activists to criticize his perceived lack of consideration for the local LGBTQ+ community's struggles and his potentially harmful impact on their situation.

How did the Malaysian anti-LGBTQ+ laws originate, as discussed in the video?

The Malaysian anti-LGBTQ+ laws originated from British colonial laws. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, which outlawed certain natural practices, served as a model for anti-homosexual ideology laws throughout the Commonwealth, including Malaysia.

What is the significance of the 76 countries criminalizing sexuality and their connection to British colonial laws?

More than half of the 76 countries that criminalize homosexuality do so using laws derived from British colonial legislation. This highlights the lasting impact of colonial-era legal systems on contemporary LGBTQ+ rights issues in many countries.

How did the concept of 'modernity' evolve from the colonial era to the present, as discussed in the video?

The concept of 'modernity' evolved from representing traditional Western values such as the nuclear family and religious education during the colonial era, to recognizing and ensuring basic human rights in the present day. This shift reflects changing societal values and the growing importance of human rights discourse globally.

What was the role of Soong May-Ling in promoting Western ideals of modernity in China, and how was it received?

Soong May-Ling, the wife of the President of the first Republic of China, Tchang Kaï Chek, was an educated woman who embodied the Western model of a modern woman and sought to spread this model throughout China. However, her efforts were not entirely successful due to cultural resistance and the limitations placed on women, as exemplified by the film 'New Women' and the tragic real-life story of its actress, Ruan Lingyu.

Why was Vogue Arabia's cover featuring Princess Haifa Bint Abdullah Al Saud controversial?

The cover was controversial because Princess Haifa was portrayed as a symbol of female empowerment and progress in Saudi Arabia, despite not having contributed to lifting the ban on women driving or supporting women's rights activists who were imprisoned by the royal family for their advocacy.

What is the significance of the French climate activism movement 'Les Soulèvements de la terre' mentioned in the video?

Les Soulèvements de la terre was a French climate activism movement that brought together diverse groups to focus on local actions against environmentally harmful projects. The movement's significance lies in its localism and its ability to mobilize a wide range of people around specific, impactful actions, demonstrating the effectiveness of localized activism.

How does the video argue for a more localized approach to activism, and what are the implications of this approach?

The video argues for a more localized approach to activism by emphasizing the importance of understanding and responding to the specific cultural, social, and political contexts of each community. This approach recognizes that effective activism must be tailored to local needs and realities, rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all solution. The implications of this approach include more sustainable and impactful activism that is better aligned with the goals and values of the communities involved.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Unconventional Love and Activism

This paragraph discusses the notion that love transcends societal norms such as gender, class, and race, using Lionel Richie's quote as a starting point. It highlights the actions of Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, who kissed a bandmate in Malaysia, a country with strict anti-homosexuality laws, as a form of protest. Healy's previous similar act in Dubai is mentioned, along with the backlash he received from local activists who felt his actions were more about self-promotion than genuine support for the LGBTQ+ community. The paragraph also touches on the broader issue of celebrities performing in countries with problematic legislations and the mixed reactions to such performances, using examples like Beyoncé's performance in Dubai and Lady Gaga's in Azerbaijan.

05:03

🏛 Colonial Legacy and Modernity's Aesthetic

The second paragraph delves into the historical context of anti-LGBTQ+ laws in countries like Malaysia, tracing their origins to British colonial laws. It contrasts the modern Western ideals of human rights with the colonial-era impositions of morality and societal norms. The narrative then shifts to China in the 20th century, discussing the 'New Life Movement' and the role of Soong May-Ling in promoting a Western model of modern womanhood. The discussion includes the impact of the film 'New Women' and the tragic real-life story of its lead actress, Ruan Lingyu, whose suicide became a symbol of resistance against restrictive societal norms. The paragraph concludes by examining the performative nature of Western activism and its superficial impact on local progress, as exemplified by Vogue Arabia's cover featuring Princess Haifa and the subsequent imprisonment of actual activists.

10:08

🌍 The Importance of Local Activism

The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of local activism and the pitfalls of a top-down, Western-centric approach to human rights advocacy. It criticizes Matty Healy's actions as an example of performative activism that failed to consider the local context and the work of indigenous activists. The paragraph references Hillary Clinton's famous statement linking women's rights to human rights and discusses the use of human rights as a tool for Western influence. It also points out the changing media landscape and the growing recognition that effective activism must be tailored to local cultures and contexts. The discussion includes the French climate activism movement 'Les Soulèvements de la Terre' as an example of locally focused, inclusive activism that addresses specific environmental concerns. The paragraph concludes with a call for awareness, support for local activists, and a reflection on the role of Westerners in global activism.

Keywords

💡Unconventional forms of love

Unconventional forms of love refer to relationships or expressions of love that do not adhere to traditional or societal norms. In the video, this concept is used to highlight the idea that love transcends boundaries such as gender norms, class, and race. The video discusses how societal beliefs and opinions can shift as a result of unconventional love being more openly represented and accepted, as exemplified by the actions of Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, who kissed a bandmate in a country with strict anti-homosexuality laws.

💡White savior complex

The white savior complex is a term that describes a phenomenon where a white person takes on a role of authority or heroism in a non-white community, often in a way that is perceived as patronizing or misguided. In the context of the video, this concept is used to criticize Matty Healy's actions in Malaysia, suggesting that his public display of affection with a bandmate might have been seen as an attempt to 'save' or 'enlighten' the local community, rather than a genuine act of solidarity or support for the LGBTQ+ community there.

💡Colonial laws

Colonial laws refer to the legal systems and regulations imposed by colonial powers on their colonies. The video discusses how many of the anti-LGBTQ+ laws in countries like Malaysia are a result of British colonial laws. These laws, such as the Indian Penal Code of 1860, were used to criminalize homosexuality and other 'unnatural' acts, and they continue to influence legislation in former colonies, even after the colonial era has ended.

💡Performative activism

Performative activism is a term used to describe actions or behaviors that are meant to appear supportive or activist in nature but are criticized as insincere or self-serving. The video uses this term to critique the actions of celebrities who engage in high-profile displays of support for causes, such as LGBTQ+ rights, but may not have a consistent or genuine commitment to the cause. The video suggests that Matty Healy's kiss on stage could be seen as performative, as it drew attention to himself rather than the local LGBTQ+ community in Malaysia.

💡Slacktivism

Slacktivism refers to actions that superficially appear to support a social cause but require little effort or commitment. The video mentions slacktivism in the context of discussing the rise of online activism that may not lead to meaningful change. It contrasts this with the need for more engaged and local forms of activism that are grounded in the specific needs and contexts of the communities they aim to support.

💡Localism

Localism is the focus on local issues and the empowerment of local communities to address their own needs and concerns. The video advocates for localism in activism, suggesting that effective activism should be tailored to the specific cultural, social, and political contexts of the community it aims to support. It contrasts this with top-down, Western-centric approaches to activism that may not be effective or appropriate in different cultural contexts.

💡Human rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled, regardless of nationality, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status. The video discusses the evolution of human rights discourse, particularly in the West, and how it has been used to exert soft power and influence abroad. It also critiques the way human rights are sometimes used as a tool for Western countries to assert their values and norms on other societies.

💡Cultural specificity

Cultural specificity refers to the unique characteristics, values, and practices of a particular culture or society. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding and respecting cultural specificity in activism, arguing that effective support for social change must take into account the distinct cultural contexts and histories of the communities involved.

💡Virtue signaling

Virtue signaling is the act of expressing opinions or sentiments that demonstrate one's good character or moral stance, often with the intent to gain social approval or recognition. The video critiques virtue signaling as a form of performative activism that may not lead to meaningful action or change. It suggests that true activism requires more than just expressing support for a cause; it requires genuine engagement and commitment.

💡LGBTQ+ legislation

LGBTQ+ legislation refers to laws and policies that affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. The video discusses the complexities of LGBTQ+ rights and legislation, particularly in the context of countries with colonial histories and ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ rights. It highlights the challenges faced by activists and communities in navigating legal restrictions and societal attitudes towards LGBTQ+ individuals.

💡Modernity

Modernity, as discussed in the video, refers to the cultural and societal characteristics associated with industrialized, Western societies, particularly in terms of progress, development, and adherence to certain values and norms. The video explores how the concept of modernity has been used to impose Western values on other cultures, often with unintended or negative consequences. It contrasts historical notions of modernity, such as the nuclear family and religious education, with contemporary understandings that emphasize human rights and individual freedoms.

Highlights

Lionel Richie's quote about love transcending gender norms, class, and race.

Matty Healy's controversial kiss with a bandmate in Malaysia and its implications.

Healy's previous incident in Dubai and the difference in media response.

Local activists' criticism of Healy's actions as a white savior complex.

The impact of Western celebrities' performances in countries with problematic legislation.

Beyoncé's controversial performance in Dubai and the backlash from LGBTQ+ activists.

Lady Gaga's performance in Azerbaijan and its political implications.

Healy's message of pro acceptance and its unintended consequences in Malaysia.

The historical context of British colonial laws influencing anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in former colonies.

The Indian Penal Code of 1860 and its role in shaping anti-homosexual ideology laws.

The evolution of Western definitions of modernity and civilization over time.

The story of Soong May-Ling and the challenges of Western modernity in China.

The tragic tale of Ruan Lingyu and the limitations of Western-inspired modern women ideals.

The performative nature of liberation and its impact on Saudi Arabia's image.

The disconnect between Western activism and local activists' efforts in promoting human rights.

The importance of localism in activism and the need for context-specific approaches.

The rise of slacktivism and performative activism versus the need for genuine local engagement.

The French climate activism movement 'les Soulèvements de la terre' and its focus on local actions.

The call for Westerners to support local activists and learn from local struggles.

Transcripts

This video topic was suggested by Chloe, a member of my patreon community.

So thank you to her for suggesting

I make a video about it and for the sources she shared with me.

Love will conquer all, said Lionel Richie.

And he was not wrong in the representation of unconventional forms of love

have helped improve understanding that love can transcend gender norms,

Class, race. Love can shift people's beliefs and opinions.

That is undoubtedly what Matty Healy thoughts a few seconds before he decided to kiss

a band mate on a stage in a country with very strict anti-homosexuality laws.

It is not the first time he does it.

In 2019, he had already kissed a male fan in Dubai,

a country that is also known for anti LGBTQ legislation.

This time, he told a crowd that he had made a mistake

This time, he told a crowd that he had made a mistake

This time, he told a crowd that he had made a mistake

by agreeing to play in Malaysia.

Quote: “When we were booking shows, I wasn't looking into it.”

“I didn't see the fucking point of inviting the 1975

to a country and then telling us who we can have sex with.”

Local activists quickly denounced what looked like some white saviour complex.

Venus Darling, a malaysian non-binary, said

the incident served absolutely no one, but Matty Healy by doing what he did.

He dragged my community into the spotlight when my country

is still grappling with the resurgence of Islamic conservatism.

Activist Ayman Hareez Muhammad Adib says that, quote,

“Healy's actions will bring about a vehement opposition

from the majority of people who are still healing from their colonial trauma,

unaware that their own bigotry is itself a colonial remnant.”

But it is not the first time that celebrities get a backlash

after performing in countries with problematic legislation.

In early 2023, Beyoncé was paid a reported $24 million to perform

at an official opening of luxury Dubai Hotel Atlantis, the royal

in front of an invitation

only audience of celebrities, influencers and journalists.

Several months before that, she had a released renaissance,

which was supposed to pay tribute to black queer culture.

Many LGBTQ+ activists did not like it, but some fans said that

following this logic, Beyoncé shouldn't even perform in her home state, Texas,

given that LGBTQ plus legislation also exists over there.

Finally, in 2015, Lady Gaga sang Imagine by John Lennon at the opening

ceremony of the European Olympics in Azerbaijan.

Her performance was seen as an endorsement of the authoritarian regime of Ilham

Heydar Aliyev and his brutal human rights crackdown against Azerbaijani citizens.

imagine there No hell

below us,

it’s easy if you try.

Now, Matty Healy did not only go and get the money,

he also used that opportunity to share a pro acceptance message.

But by doing so, he reopened an unhealed wound

and it backfired immediately.

Healy's stunt comes

only a few weeks before highly contested state elections in Malaysia,

where conservative political forces are expected to gain seats.

Healy’s provocative white savior stance was automatically used

by conservatives to legitimize their own LGBTQ+ agenda.

And, you know, it's even worse than that.

Well, the Malaysian anti LGBTQ laws

are a product of British colonial laws.

So try to imagine how it must feel to have

a careless British boy coming to a former colony and lecturing it

regarding the very laws his country established centuries ago.

Not good.

What's funny about it, in a way, is that Healey and the colonizers

have something in common.

They both believed that they were doing something that was right.

Sure, the definition of what is civilized today we rather use the term

“Modern has” changed. Back then, civilization

modernity was the nuclear family and a religious education.

Now it means recognizing and ensuring basic human rights.

Back then, the majority of people thought that homosexuality was immoral

and that it should also be the rule

in all British colonies, colonies that often had looser norms.

In Malaysia, for example, as early as the 15th century, we have records

of Malay androgynous priest or sida-sida

who served in the palaces of sultans.

The sida-sida

There were typically male bodied priests or courtiers who undertook androgynous

behavior such as wearing women's clothes and likely engaged

in sexual relationships with individuals of the same sex or both sexes.

Westerners did not like that. The Indian Penal

Code of 1860 was the first law

to outlaw a natural practices in the British colonies.

It went on to serve as the model for anti-homosexual ideology laws

throughout the Commonwealth.

Of the 76 countries that criminalize sexuality more than half

do so using the British colonial law. For example, Malaysia's archaic penal

code says that, quote: “Whoever voluntarily commits carnal intercourse

against the order of nature shall be punished with imprisonment

for a term which may extend to 20 years, and should also be liable to whipping.”

Now, it's clear that the West does not approve of such laws anymore.

Things really change in the 20th century during which

the defense of human rights became increasingly popular.

As an example,

the achievements of the feminist movement gave rise to the modern women.

So women who was educated, who could vote but had to remain desirable.

That model became trendy.

It was exported abroad because it signaled a modernity. That was the case in China.

The president of the first Republic, Tchang Kaï Chek, and his wife Soong

May-Ling, established a new life movement to counter the rise of communism.

Soong May Ling was close to American elites.

She was the daughter of a wealthy businessman,

an educated woman who regularly gave advice to her husband

but never tried to elevate herself above the expectations of what

a woman should be.

Because of her looks, because of her beliefs, she embodied

the model of the Western modern woman, a docile, educated and desirable woman,

and she really wanted to spread that model all of the China.

But it didn't work exactly as planned because of a movie.

In 1935, Ruan Lingyu, played the role of a young woman

who wanted to become a writer in a movie titled New Women.

She naturally complies with Soong’s new Western inspired women ideal

as she believed it coincided with her desire to emancipate

that that was the way for her to become a writer.

However, she soon realized that her life was rather limited.

It wasn’t more fulfilling

than the life of her mother or grandmother

because she had to comply with gender norms and expectations.

The modern woman is still alienated, the character

Wei Ming will never become a writer.

Faced with that depressing reality,

she chooses to end her life.

The film was heavily criticized

because it went against the values of the Chinese society.

President Tchang Kai Chek wanted to materialize a society

then partly inspired by Westerns gender norms and religion.

In fact, the actress, Ruan Lingyu ended up taking away her life,

just like her character.

When that happened, 100,000 people gathered at the funeral.

She became the symbol of a generation of women who wanted

to be treated as equals and live their lives as they wished.

Many of those women left to join the communist movement and experience

something that was much closer to their vision of an equal society.

The story of the rise of Soong May-Ling and the resistance of progressives

like Ruan Lingyu is proof that the application of Western powers

definition of modernity

onto other countries won't necessarily translate into liberation.

Only women who were part of the elites like May-Ling,

could occasionally take on roles that were restricted to men.

The rest of the country

The rest of the country

had to comply with conservative norms and therefore strict gender roles.

In other words, the modernity of the West was primarily understood

in terms of aesthetics.

In fact, we could argue that even in the West,

the modern woman was an aesthetic more than a reality,

since domesticity remained an essential part of women's lives.

In other words, the women look modern, but they are not liberated.

The esthetic of modernity is immediately what comes to mind when I see this.

This is Vogue Arabia's cover featuring Princess Haifa.

Bint Abdullah al-Saud in her car.

The photo was meant to celebrate the, quote, trailblazing women of Saudi

Arabia ahead of the lifting of a ban on women driving.

End of the quote.

The editor in chief, Manuel Arnaut, says that the magazine wanted to “celebrates

the exciting and progressive changes, transforming the kingdom”

and “that embodying this new era of female empowerment is Her Royal Highness

princess Hayfa Bint Abdullah Al Saud.”

The problem is that the princess did not do anything to help lift the ban.

Quite a contrary,

the royal family has been accused of jailing the very female

rights activists who for years fought for the right to drive.

In fact, a year after the issue was published,

the royal family imprisoned another Saudi princess, Princess Basmah,

who has been very critical of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane

and the state of women's rights in her country.

So yeah, you can be vocal as a princess, but not too much. A vogue cover is

okay

but a series of targeted political attacks sends you to prison.

Liberation is purely performative and further help

the royal family's strategy to appear less problematic to Western powers.

So that's what Western activism looks like when it is applied abroad.

I mean, it's a win win situation, isn't it?

On the one hand, the West continues to exert power, soft power,

to be more specific, over former colonies and the east in general

and on the other hand, Eastern elites adopts

the aesthetic of human rights to gain legitimacy on the global scene.

And in the meantime, local activists like Wajeha al-Huwaider,

[difficulty to pronounce]

I'm going to do it again.

In the meantime, local activists like Wajeha al-Huwaider, Fawzia al-Oyouni

Manal al-Sharif, who are responsible for the advances made are silenced.

They were put in prison. The Matty Healy

situation is quite coherent

with that. Healy went on stage.

He did his own thing without really considering what

LGBTQ activists were already doing in Malaysia

or how we could support them instead of doing what he did.

He reproduced the top down approach of human rights politics,

one that is centered on the unity of the Western savior

rather than the complexity of local communities.

It's an approach that was established

in the mid-20th century and reinforced in the later 20th century,

when Hillary Clinton famously said women's rights are human rights.

It was around the time the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High

Commissioner was created.

The Defense of Human Rights became the West most precious cause,

as it was proof that they still had an international role to play.

They could continue to exert influence

abroad through the defense of human rights. In Love Fall on Us

Written by journalist Robbie Corey-Boulet, Lambert, an African LGBTQ+

activist, says that, quote, support from international activists

is most readily available when the chances for spectacle

and for scoring political points are highest,

end of the quote. The African activist interviewed

for the book explains that international human rights

discourse does not allow Africans to discuss the issue on their own terms,

but instead to respond to what Westerners do and what they say.

Now, as I mentioned at the beginning of the video,

Healy had already kissed a men on stage in 2019 in Dubai,

another country with strict anti-homosexuality laws

and the media coverage of the event was so much nicer than this time.

This time, the media outlets who talked positively

about the whole event faced a pretty serious backlash.

So things are changing very slowly,

that's true,

but people start to understand that activism isn't one size fits all.

In order to be effective, not just performative, activism

has to take into account the specificities of each culture, each country.

I think it's fair to say that localism is the way to go,

and our job as Westerners is to raise awareness, to support local activists,

to ask those with influence, to speak up and choose their side.

But our job is also to look at what works elsewhere

and see how it can inspire our fights at home.

Now, I've been dying to talk to you about les Soulèvements de la terre.

It's a French climate activism movement that gathers, gathered,

it was dismantled by the government.

It gathered dozens of organizations, including farmers, urban activists,

anarchist, politicians, with people from all social backgrounds

except the super wealthy and of all generations.

It specificities that it is focused on key local actions.

The megabassine construction site at Saint-Soline,

or the high speed train line

between Lyon and Turin. These two projects are really bad for the environment

and before someone asking the comments,

Yes the Lyon-Turin train line is detrimental for the environment

because all the lines already exist and could be renovated

and better used instead of financing this huge project.

So those actions are very local and people say, you could say, that

they won't change anything down the line, but it is wrong.

In fact, we need more actions like that.

We need more local actions to show that, we're there,

we'll protect the environment or whatever cause we're fighting for,

we’ll protect those cause everywhere necessary.

So you see, there is no universal recipe, a program to be applied

or the same repetitive actions being done. Instead the sort of activism done

by les Soulèvements de la terre is adapted to its environment.

It adapts to the people in that environment,

and it seeks to bring everyone involved around the table.

And I knew that it sounds like I'm only discovering what true activism is.

I know it's not ground-breaking.

This form of activism is very, very old,

but I think that with the rise of slacktivism, performative activism,

the influencer activist, virtue-signaling, it is important to remind ourselves

of the importance of localism, the importance to get out and touch grass

and sabotage your local pipeline or slash SUV tires.

I'm joking. Or maybe not. You'll never know.

Anyway, that's it for today.

I hope you enjoyed it.

As always, the conversation continues in the comments section.

Don't forget to like, to subscribe

,if it's not already done.

As always, a big

thank you to my patrons and a special thanks to top tier patrons.

and the other patrons who preferred to stay anonymous as well.

I always forget to thank them, but you're there.