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helwenL and I were talking about cultural appropriation this morning, after I read a friend's post on the wonderful conference she's at and the cultural experiences she's had so far (including one that's an incredible mix of cultures musically), and I was thinking then of the Native American issues that have come up this year with people wearing feathers and bonnets at parties, etc. Of course it's possible to buy a lot of these special things, so the modern (western?) mind might say "I bought it, I can do what I want with it!" As a person who has been mistaken for belonging to one of the tribes I've had my own journey in this regard -- as a young person I wanted to be an Indian because being Eurasian was difficult to figure out, with so few people like me around. In America I was Chinese to other people; in Hong Kong, I was White. Eurasian wasn't its own culture, so there was nothing to read about it. There was plenty to read about on different tribes though, and I even went to some pow pows, although I never claimed to be something I wasn't. One guy was pretty cool though, when we were talking about it, because he had tried to guess what tribe I was from -- he said "Your people just didn't cross the bridge, that's all".
Another time I was talking to a vendor about the beautiful buckskin dresses, but wasn't sure about getting one and she said as long as it was worn respectfully, she didn't see my not being of the tribes as a problem. I ended up not getting one, but more for financial reasons at the time. Still, I'm glad I asked.
In Steampunk, cultural appropriation comes up, as well. I think it's an important part of Steampunk, because people doing Steampunk aren't trying to rule the world, or tell people that their culture is superior to everyone else's, so there needs to be some thought about what you're doing/making/wearing. Also, I think unless one is British, then dressing up as a Victorian British person is also kind of a cultural appropriation, even though we normally think of this concept in terms of "minority" cultures. But all people have a culture, so it bears consideration.
And that's one of the things about "culture" -- there isn't a "White" culture, any more than there is a "Native American", "Chinese", "Hispanic", etc. culture. Each of these can be broken down into different smaller groups -- and then there's social status, etc. You can't just look at a person and tell exactly who they are -- you need to get to know them. Our social structure is such that we're trained to categorize, label, and pigeonhole, when that really doesn't work on people. Statistics can be a tool, but we should never forget that they are only tools, only as useful as the care with which they are constructed.
I was also thinking this morning that one of the reasons people wear things from other cultures is because it's different, new-to-them, exotic; maybe they crave new experiences or maybe they think their own culture (if they know anything about it) is boring. (I'm talking about people who do this without really thinking about it, not people who have spent time doing the research and learning about another culture, and who can then do/make/display/wear things with respect to that people).
I think it's worth really exploring the history of a people -- any people. You will learn wonderful things. You will learn about things that are strange (to you). You will learn about similarities between different peoples. You will also learn terrible things, and that may or may not stop your desire to learn.
Because the more you learn, the more you will realize that in certain ways, all people are intrinsically the same. We all have art, music, stories, technology; we have heroes and villains, good deeds and shameful ones. And that's important to remember; there is no people anywhere in place or time with a history that is unmarked, for good or ill. There are historians, textbook writers/editors/publishers, "news" media, and politicians who are always re-writing history to make this or that person/group look better, blame someone else, etc. Currently there are textbook people trying to write slavery out of U.S. American history, for instance.
The martial arts instructor did not start out knowing how to walk, nevermind knowing martial arts. The published author first had to learn how to form words and sentences. We cannot learn from history if we willfully ignore it or erase it.
And we ourselves may be helping to erase the truth, in the things we choose to share in public forums and social spaces, if we choose to post black and white memes -- memes that posit that there are only two sides to anything, and that one side is obviously good and/or smart and the other is obviously evil and/or stupid (Dem vs Rep, Men vs. Women, etc). Most of us want to be "smart" and "good"; most of us will bridle or take outright offense at being labeled "evil" or "stupid". Some people say "Well, I'll respect them when they respect me." I want to be better than that. I'll be honest, there are some people I just don't talk to -- but I try to be better than that. Because I need to be able to respect myself.
Food for thought.
Another time I was talking to a vendor about the beautiful buckskin dresses, but wasn't sure about getting one and she said as long as it was worn respectfully, she didn't see my not being of the tribes as a problem. I ended up not getting one, but more for financial reasons at the time. Still, I'm glad I asked.
In Steampunk, cultural appropriation comes up, as well. I think it's an important part of Steampunk, because people doing Steampunk aren't trying to rule the world, or tell people that their culture is superior to everyone else's, so there needs to be some thought about what you're doing/making/wearing. Also, I think unless one is British, then dressing up as a Victorian British person is also kind of a cultural appropriation, even though we normally think of this concept in terms of "minority" cultures. But all people have a culture, so it bears consideration.
And that's one of the things about "culture" -- there isn't a "White" culture, any more than there is a "Native American", "Chinese", "Hispanic", etc. culture. Each of these can be broken down into different smaller groups -- and then there's social status, etc. You can't just look at a person and tell exactly who they are -- you need to get to know them. Our social structure is such that we're trained to categorize, label, and pigeonhole, when that really doesn't work on people. Statistics can be a tool, but we should never forget that they are only tools, only as useful as the care with which they are constructed.
I was also thinking this morning that one of the reasons people wear things from other cultures is because it's different, new-to-them, exotic; maybe they crave new experiences or maybe they think their own culture (if they know anything about it) is boring. (I'm talking about people who do this without really thinking about it, not people who have spent time doing the research and learning about another culture, and who can then do/make/display/wear things with respect to that people).
I think it's worth really exploring the history of a people -- any people. You will learn wonderful things. You will learn about things that are strange (to you). You will learn about similarities between different peoples. You will also learn terrible things, and that may or may not stop your desire to learn.
Because the more you learn, the more you will realize that in certain ways, all people are intrinsically the same. We all have art, music, stories, technology; we have heroes and villains, good deeds and shameful ones. And that's important to remember; there is no people anywhere in place or time with a history that is unmarked, for good or ill. There are historians, textbook writers/editors/publishers, "news" media, and politicians who are always re-writing history to make this or that person/group look better, blame someone else, etc. Currently there are textbook people trying to write slavery out of U.S. American history, for instance.
The martial arts instructor did not start out knowing how to walk, nevermind knowing martial arts. The published author first had to learn how to form words and sentences. We cannot learn from history if we willfully ignore it or erase it.
And we ourselves may be helping to erase the truth, in the things we choose to share in public forums and social spaces, if we choose to post black and white memes -- memes that posit that there are only two sides to anything, and that one side is obviously good and/or smart and the other is obviously evil and/or stupid (Dem vs Rep, Men vs. Women, etc). Most of us want to be "smart" and "good"; most of us will bridle or take outright offense at being labeled "evil" or "stupid". Some people say "Well, I'll respect them when they respect me." I want to be better than that. I'll be honest, there are some people I just don't talk to -- but I try to be better than that. Because I need to be able to respect myself.
Food for thought.
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no subject
Date: 2014-05-30 06:01 pm (UTC)This sort if thinking leads to some poor newbie who wore a pith helmet to a steampunk event getting shouted at and accused of all sorts of hate-group behaviors and motivations. This actually happened, sadly. Who knew that a simple pith helmet meant that you support genocide and slavery?
I don't disagree that we as educated humans need to be considerate of cultural misappropriation, and of not wearing insulting or demeaning stereotypical outfits. But it's possible to take it too far, when someone is just itching to be insulted.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-30 06:46 pm (UTC)The key is whether someone is trying to become a member of another culture or trying to give the impression they are of that culture simply through trappings and with no understanding or real knowledge of that culture, or connection to it. That would be appropriation, to my mind. Folks doing that pretty much deserve what they get.
Just wearing elements of it isn't sufficient..although as Danabren said, some folk are just itching to be offended. Yes, we should be considerate of folk, but that does not mean we cannot borrow things from one another.
This topic came up in the belly dance community when a gal accused non-middle eastern women of appropriating a culture not their own.
We tend to be a bit oversensitive these days. Lot of angry folk. Lot of people looking to cause or find trouble. Too many people too willing to bring old grievances out for airing too often. Sadly.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-31 02:46 am (UTC)Most of what I've seen on this (in SP) has been directed toward, say, adding Chinese stuff to your outfit. Outside of SP, I'm friends with a number of Native Americans, so I get to see the stuff on people wearing war bonnets as fashion statements, etc.
Nobody should go crazy about this stuff.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-31 03:15 am (UTC)Of course, in some cases, like more subtle things than a war bonnet, people might have no clue as to where something comes from...
That's sad about the problem in the belly dance community -- I expect there's other middle eastern women who are happy to share.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-31 11:27 am (UTC)The troubles come down to those who are itching to find a complaint and those who don't give a damn about anything but what they want. Put them together and there we go. I find it interesting that this usually comes up when someone who looks very different from those in the origin culture adopts elements for use.
I suspect it has to do with feeling as if one is just another face in the crowd, no identity to call ones' own. A lot of folk fear the concept of a homogeneous society. Some take it too far.
I don't like it either, but more because getting everyone to conform to a look, a way, or what have you is a control device. Yeah, there's that paranoid streak again. ;)
If we go back far enough, all of us wore feathers, furs, beads, quills, leather, etc. It is in all of our ancestry.
Most of the gals in the BD community weren't having it...but it is there, even in the dancing.
Interesting situation to contemplate. :)
no subject
Date: 2014-05-31 03:51 pm (UTC)Self-esteem or self-confidence issues perhaps -- especially in a changing world.
In massage therapy school we had people objecting to the dress code because they claimed it threatened their identity. They came up with a code initially of slacks and polo shirts because we all hated the polyester (and somewhat translucent) scrubs they'd given us as part of the registration package. Basically the school was looking to train people to be used to wearing professional clothing for being professional MTs, but got too specific apparently. It got reduced to don't show cleavage of any kind, but I really wondered at the people whose identity was that tied into clothing.
My personal view on it is that it matters more when it's extremely public and is used in an insulting way.
More and more people, not just on this but everything under the sun, seem to react in extreme ways, bent on slamming people into the ground.
I try to have an awareness of this, in part because I actually seem to be able to "get away with" wearing whatever the heck I want; a mixed-race privilege, if you will.
Know what you're wearing
Date: 2014-05-31 06:30 pm (UTC)In the same way, I've observed some people saying "Don't wear a feather head-dress (or religious symbol), it MEANS something. Wear a laurel wreath, or a tiara instead!" All this shows is that they are unaware that those mean something to the cultures who used it. Symbols are symbols. They mean different things in different context. Ah well.
Are we really expecting everyone to conform?
Date: 2014-06-02 06:28 pm (UTC)On the other hand, we are all children of the same planet, and we all have the right to celebrate, share, wear or enjoy whatever we want to enjoy, and what business is it of someone else's if I wear a feather in my hair? Do certain tribes 'own' or copyright feathers of all birds? Preposterous! Do they trademark a campfire? Do they own the concept of dance? Do they own the right to make a spear, or make buckskin and wear it? Why aren't they fighting amongst themselves for the one true Native culture who own's moccasins, or the bow and arrow?
This is just so much wasted energy. Our species is close to extinction, and we all need to work together to give us a future, and we aren't going to do anything if we just sit around and fight about this crap. The job to turn our culture around from being a death seeking apocalypse is so massive, we just don't have time to check to see if someone is wearing the right buttons. I say, whatever gets you through the night, fine. Let's focus on the real target, and stop playing around with who might hurt someone else's feelings. Chances are, that person will find SOMETHING to be offended by, and if they do, well, that's their problem. Good luck with that. Because if we are going to make our happiness depend on what someone else is doing or might do, we better prepare ourselves for a life of misery. People are people, and it's a big world. Get over it, let go, and let's get this baby turned to something that will be powerful and amazing for all of our children.
And after we work side by side with each other on this journey, maybe people will just lighten up. Seriously.
We of course, do need to make reparations to native peoples, absolutely. I am not belittling that. But that will come. We are moving towards it. But demanding micro-managed behavior isn't the answer here.
Just my opinion!
Re: Are we really expecting everyone to conform?
Date: 2014-06-02 09:20 pm (UTC)And I hope you don't think I was demanding anything. Certainly not my intent. This is more along the line of trying to have some respect for each other in general -- hard to get folks to work together if they don't think they're being listened to at all.
It's true we have some very important work to do!
The feather thing is definitely an interesting thing - lots of cultures, not just Native American, and also used for secular adornment too. Someone posted a page of every non-NA person they could find wearing a feather(s) a week or so ago and I pointed out that some of them weren't even close to being NA or sacred in any way.
Re: Are we really expecting everyone to conform?
Date: 2014-06-02 10:51 pm (UTC)I see it more like, someone is in a lot of pain and they want to lash out and get angry and righteous at someone, so it's easier to lash out at a hippy at a festival than it is to get angry at Monsanto, or Shell, or some other fill in the blank, earth raping company. I mean, you get to harass someone, make them feel bad, and walk away all 'right and stuff'. But guess what? It changes NOTHING. Nope, not even for the stupid 'I raised awareness' excuse that people give as their reason for their actions.
I say, go after your real target, you know? Go after the people who are actually killing our kids and our animals and our planet. Don't pick on someone who you can intimidate or control or whatever. What good is that gonna do?
And the other, last thing I will mention is this: If you want respect for your opinion, fine. I am good with that. I will give you respect for you to have your opinion, and I can appreciate your stance, even if I don't agree with it. But you also have to reciprocate. You have to also respect my point of view too. And if you can't do that, then, we don't have the basis for a mutually learning, connecting and beneficial relationship. We have you trying to tell me what to do, or how to live my life. I am not down with that. So, if you can't give respect, then maybe you shouldn't expect everyone else to respect yours....
Okay, I'm done!
And thanks for this good thread and your well crafted post!
Re: Are we really expecting everyone to conform?
Date: 2014-06-02 11:10 pm (UTC)