Last week’s Rose Cafe was about modern primitivism, which dived into nuances of culture and society that I had never really thought about. It was very enlightening and it was clear that GRF Sam was very passionate about the topic which made the discussion much more engaging and enjoyable. We started by looking at various pictures and watching short clips to get an idea about what is meant by words like “modern” and “primitive.” A lot of society’s perception about these things is shaped by the ideas of colonialism. One really interesting example was comparing Pablo Picasso’s racist depiction of “primitives” vs. Josephine Baker (a black entertainer of the 1920s) and her performance of the banana dance. The differences between the two remain relevant today as we have important conversations about cultural appropriation and why it doesn’t necessarily go both ways. This is due to the context of history which is filled with oppression and struggle for minority groups.

Another interesting topic discussed was about the juxtaposition of primitivism in today’s post-modern society. For example, the trend of the Paleo Diet (in which you eat only as a caveman would) seeks to return to a ‘healthier’ time when there were no manufactured and genetically modified foods. In reality, it is impossible to sustain a population of our size without GMOs and with modern technology and medicine, you are definitely better off in today’s age. A caveman’s average life expectancy was only 35 years after all. One of the take-home messages from the discussion was to be cognisant and to think critically about the instances of modern primitivism in today’s society.