Lecture Notes on RCTA Community and Race Change Concepts

Introduction

• Discussion on personal experiences with race and identity.
• Exploration of the idea of changing one's race, particularly in the context of social media.
• Introduction of the RCTA (Race Change to Another) and ECA (Ethnicity Change to Another) communities, especially on TikTok.

Personal Reflections

• Speaker shares personal desires from 10 years ago to be perceived as more attractive by fitting into a different racial stereotype.
• Acknowledgment of feeling pressure based on societal beauty standards.

Current Trends (2024)

• Online communities influencing perspectives on race change.
• Growth of communities on TikTok related to race change concepts.

Overview of RCTA

Definition

• RCTA: Stands for "Race Change to Another"; refers to beliefs regarding transitioning from one race to another.
• ECA: Stands for "Ethnicity Change to Another"; also associated with similar beliefs.

Concept of Transracialism

• Debate within the community about terminology and definitions.
• Distinction between race and ethnicity:
  • Race: Based on physical characteristics and social meaning.
  • Ethnicity: Cultural attributes including language, heritage, and customs.

Community Behavior

• Individuals in the RCTA community using various methods to alter their perceived race, including the use of subliminal messages.
• Subliminals: Messages presented below conscious awareness, aimed at influencing belief and appearance.
  • Example: Beliefs around success in changing appearance through subliminals without significant effort.

Online Influence and Culture

• Increase in content related to race change becoming visible, potentially driven by media trends.
• Instances of online trolling and critique surrounding this community.
• Discussion of individuals who express a desire to embody or transition into specific racial identities, such as trans-Asianism.

Cultural Appropriation vs. Appreciation

Definitions

• Cultural Appreciation: Genuine respect and understanding of a culture.
• Cultural Appropriation: Borrowing from another culture without understanding or respect, often for aesthetic purposes.

Discussion of Critiques

• Concerns about fetishization of East Asian cultures within the RCTA community.
• The issue of selective borrowing and double standards in beauty standards.

Historical Context

Beauty Standards Over the Decades

• 2000s: The ideal beauty was predominantly white, thin, and blonde.
• 2010s: The rise of racially ambiguous beauty standards and black fishing phenomenon.
• Current Decade (2020s): Shift towards desires to present as East Asian, influenced by K-pop culture.

Conclusion

• Standing against the idea that one can simply choose to change their racial identity for aesthetic or social gain.
• Importance of authentic cultural representation and understanding.
• Encouragement of dialogues on identity, race, and societal pressures.

Closing Remarks

• Invitation for viewers to share thoughts and engage with the topic.
• Acknowledgement of sponsor, CyberGhost VPN, emphasizing online safety and access to greater content.