The Banality of National Identity: Justin Trudeau's Clothes in India

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The Banality of National Identity: Justin Trudeau’s Clothes in India - Kennen Sparks 1 as an expression of Indian national identity. Yet many The Banality of National believed they were overdressed as if for a wedding, or as some stated “out Bollywooding Bollywood.” Many also Identity: Justin Trudeau’s perceived it as a lack of recognition of the “regular” Indian —people who identify as Indian, yet do not normally wear Clothes in India the types of clothing the Trudeau family was wearing. Trudeau’s appropriation of Indian national identity through Kennen Sparks clothing helped him in some cases, yet overall it was deemed a “distraction” because using national identity in 02/28/2018 such a way can be a misrepresentation. National identity can be useful as a political capital, yet the continual over- the-top use of it becomes, as one critic put it, “desperate” because it is not a stable foundation in a geopolitical sense as national identity is fluid and contested. While it may seem trivial to talk about clothes and their importance to national identity, they form an important aspect of geopolitics because issues such as this play a big role in shaping geopolitical codes. National identity not only affects how people see themselves but also how they view others as well--which affects how a state chooses its friends and enemies and then justifies its actions to Wikimedia Commons: Hamandir Sahib (Golden Temple) the world. Just as much as clothing shows one’s national identity, geopolitical codes show the friends and enemies By: Kennen Sparks of a state while justifying them to the world and often rely This past week the prime minister of Canada has had on small or “insignificant” matters. plenty of coverage in the media, particularly because of his wardrobe. While many criticize Trudeau for a multitude of issues related to the India trip, understanding why Trudeau wore Indian clothing is made easier when viewed through the concept of national identity. National identity is an important part of geopolitics because it is the sense of attachment one feels towards a particular nation. This sense of attachment possesses banal qualities—we show this identity not just in spectacular displays, but also in the very basics: such as what we wear, what we eat, what language we speak. This banality of national identity shows why it is important to recognize the small or trivial gestures people make. Currently, many Indians are upset with the perceived lack of Canadian response towards alleged extremists and outspoken critics living in Canada that, for some Indians, seemingly threaten traditional Indian identity. When Trudeau and his son visited a Sikh holy site they both dressed as traditional Sikhs—a sign of respect needed after news broke that a convicted Sikh extremist living in Canada had been invited to Canada House for a dinner in New Delhi. National identity is playing a part in their presentation—by wearing traditional clothes, they are showing support for mainstream Sikhs. Trudeau and his family tried to constantly show that they were conscious and supportive of India by wearing traditional clothing.

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