Arc and Fever weren’t deliberately racist, they’re just ignorant

After two exhilarating years of crop tops and mom-jeans, Arc and Fever decided to celebrate their birthday with another of their infamous events. I’m not one of those puritanical Klute-goers that ruthlessly mocks anything remotely resembling house music as for “edgy wankers”.

I think they’re a well planned and decent-soundtracked alternative to the Monk monopoly, and have enjoyed many of these nights myself. But their anniversary “Shanghai Showdown” event is something I’m struggling to defend.

Despite probably just being an unfortunate choice of words, their “oriental adventure” promotes a term loaded with post-colonialism and Western imperialism – which all sounds more like a European history degree than a cheeky session in Loft.

Hounded by groups like Compass, Arc and Fever were accused of cultural appropriation. In their defense, they seemed genuinely sorry and have revoked some of the more controversial elements of the night. Before the “political correctness gone mad” lot start screaming over their Nigel Farage audiobooks, let me explain why I can’t defend this event.

Without wanting to go all IR Theory 101, cultural appropriation is unauthorized use of symbols from another culture, most likely one that’s been traditionally oppressed or exploited. But this is Orientalism, which makes anything “Asian” sound mystical, unusual and ‘Other’. This is not Asian culture; it’s what the West and white students of Durham think is Asian culture.

While Arc/Fever are presumably not trying to reduce an entire continent into a vague “oriental” stereotype on purpose, it’s what they are doing. Talking about rice paddies, bamboo DJ sets and dragons is less creative décor, and more caricature.

Celebrating Chinese culture is not offering “Chinese face paint” to “make sure everyone looks the part for an oriental adventure.” Did they mean white faces and red lips of the geishas , a Japanese cultural legacy? It all comes too close to “blackface,” something which is never okay even if your Kanye interpretation is spot on.

This isn’t confined to Arc and Fever. Cultural appropriation is all over social media as this summer’s music festivals prompted controversy over “the bindi problem”. Across the West, white kids wear face jewellery, henna tattoos and Native American headdresses, more concerned with getting the perfect snap for Instagram than learning about the traditions they’re appropriating.

The problem with Shanghai Showdown was that I saw many of my friends had clicked attending, friends who would never think they were usurping the culture of an entire people. These friends would probably wear a bindi or a septum piercing without a second thought. On seeing this event, my housemate said: “If I knew anything about Chinese culture I’d probably be offended, but I’m not”. And this, for me, is the problem: Arc/Fever didn’t know they were doing anything wrong.

But we’re stealing culture from a minority group for the benefit of the dominant. I can’t speak for any minority group but my own – and I’m not sure bagels, black hats and beards would make a good party theme anyway – but I can imagine this event didn’t feel appreciative.

There’s no rule book for having a tolerant theme for nights out. I’m sure Monk’s Filth organiser will agree, and Fever/Arc lot seem to have done a good job of responding. But at the end of the day that’s what we all have to do: listen, learn and probably stick to snapbacks.