The Insidious Nature of Neocolonialism in Pop Culture

The Miss Universe 2023 pageant, held slightly over a month ago, showcased various national costumes, each striving to highlight the ethos of each nation. Great Britain’s representation was thought-provoking for the description of the costume—a depiction of the Oxford English Dictionary, intended to reflect pride in the English language.

In the national costume show, Miss Great Britain walked the runway in a costume celebrating the English language. The host, Nick Teplitz, exclaimed that “Great Britain gave the world English, the official language of 67 countries.” This statement prompts reflection on the historical complexities tied to the legacy of colonialism.

The English language wasn’t a gift given to other nations; it was imposed on various nations during colonial periods. While the national costume aimed to highlight pride in the language, it provoked thoughts about the impact of language imposition on indigenous cultures. In several countries where English is now an official language, indigenous languages were deliberately eradicated.

The perspective presented at the pageant should be used in broader discussions of how languages were imposed by colonizers onto the people in the land that they claimed as theirs. While celebrating the English language is commendable, it’s essential to acknowledge its role in the disruption and, in some cases, extinction of indigenous languages.

The Miss Great Britain Universe team missed an opportunity to showcase the rich history of Great Britain through alternative themes for the national costume. Potential inspirations could have included inventions like football, cricket, and golf or celebrated literary giants such as Shakespeare, Dickens, Woolf, or Austin. Historical landmarks, universities, and even contributions like the invention of the world wide web could have served as sources of inspiration.

Multiculturalism could have been highlighted through a culinary display acknowledging Chicken Tikka Masala as one of England’s national dishes. This approach would have provided a more inclusive representation, acknowledging the interconnectedness of cultures.

The national costume should have been used to celebrate modern or historical events or people in Great Britain rather than to celebrate colonialism and the suppression of other cultures and their languages. One would hope that open dialogue including diverse perspectives will lead to a less ethnocentric representation on the Miss Universe stage in the future.