Comments on: Cultural Appropriation vs. Inspiration

By: About That “Cultural Appropriation” Thing… | Bonne Vie

About That “Cultural Appropriation” Thing… | Bonne Vie — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:57:31 +0000

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By: The Wholestyle Network » Blog Archive » Wholestyle Exclusive: About That Appropriaton Thing

Sat, 08 May 2010 16:03:45 +0000

[...] Michelle of Wicked Whimsy and I had this conversation a few months back and everything I read on this affirms our stance that when you’re going to borrow “looks” you should at least know what you’re borrowing – know why your look is significant to a culture, so that you can respectfully represent that people. [...]

By: FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com

FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:24:08 +0000

For me, it depends. (Wrote the same comment on Birdie’s site)

1. I wouldn’t touch or “bastardize” anything that is sacred to the culture.

2. I wouldn’t appropriate or feel inspired by anything that I don’t understand.

When the No Doubt fan phase was out of control and Gwen Stefani had that bindi in between her eyes, girls started wearing bindi stickers on their foreheads in school even though they had no idea what the significance of it was.

3. I don’t really mind it when people use items like cheongsams (Chinese dresses) or Saris (Indian dresses), or take inspiration from the culture. But to literally wear the costume is another ballgame.

Something has to change for me — it cannot be the exact replica, but maybe a DETAIL from the dresses can be taken such as the hook up by the neck for the cheongsam and the colours & beading on a sari.

As Sheena said on Birdie’s blog, don’t make it a gimmick to sell your clothes or jump on the bandwagon.

4. I don’t particularly like anything very racially sensitive such as blackface. It brings up a lot of hurt, hatred and resentment. Why would anyone do that, even just to make a political statement or cause trouble? I know it’s controversial but that is going too far. It becomes less about the clothes and more about the ideology, which is nice.. but make your demonstration in a different, more diplomatic way.

Awesome posts. Great food for thought!
.-= FB @ FabulouslyBroke.com´s last blog ..January 2010 Budget Roundup =-.

By: Glendy

Glendy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:07:23 +0000

I agree and if you’re planning to wear something from a specific culture, eg. an amazonian tribe then buy their hand made necklaces or bracelets as accents to your outfit but one cannot say I am wearing an “amazonian tribe” look. What really disturbed me last year was the use of “yellow face” by Karl Lagerfeld in his film Paris-Shanghai, so ridiculous! I was inspired this spring by early 20th century Chinese ad art and geisha images, that doesn’t mean I want to imitate these women and their culture but rather take inspiration from the color palette and accessories of the images. I loved reading your post darling

Much love,
Glendy

By: hannah elizabeth

hannah elizabeth — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:19:07 +0000

this is a well thought out topic – i always feel kind of strange about the word “tribal” because it’s sooo unspecific and some word are thrown around so much that they lose meaning… definitely a thought provoker!

By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:38:45 +0000

Michelle – I think it is awesome to honor your ancestry (and so cool that you can trace it back so far!)

I just like to think of my ‘ancestors’ as any people in history that I feel a kinship to, regardless of my ‘bloodline’, you know? Maybe because we were only ever able to trace one side, my mother was adopted, but also she raised me to look at different cultures, religions, world histories and take into my heart the parts that I felt connected to somehow. I think it is something everyone should do at least a little bit and perhaps that ends up manifesting itself into your wardrobe…

But again that brings us back to the need for the education and respect of it’s origins – i guess that is always the bottom line.

PS. thanks for the post, Michelle, what a great topic… it has really got me thinking!!

By: Amanda

Amanda — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 02:44:05 +0000

I agree about the need to know and appreciate where different styles and symbols originate from – in fashion, tattoos, etc. Maybe I’m a snob, but it drives me crazy when people get or wear things just because “it looks cool.” One example that springs to mind is celtic knots, or even crosses, as students at high school where I work wear giant sparkly ones with no regard to the symbolic significance. Part of the beauty of clothing and other ornamentation is the story and meaning behind it, making it, essentially, three dimensional, and much more than a material item.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..I have an important meeting in like twenty minutes…. =-.

By: Birdie

Birdie — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:27 +0000

You do have to do the investigating, like Alicia said – appropriation is more just “yoink! I’m using that and this and this other style too”. You’re not giving much thought to where it came from and why it’s culturally significant.
.-= Birdie´s last blog ..Not too Shabby =-.

By: Alicia

Alicia — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:50:40 +0000

I think the line exists were someone decides not to at least investigate what is being appropriated and what it may mean to someone of that culture. There should be some background knowledge when dealing with something that could be taken as completely offensive if worn around an “appropriatee.”

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:46:41 +0000

Adventures & Kristen: I do agree with you in general; I think it bears explaining that a large part of heathenry is honoring your ancestors, which is where I think it comes into play for me. And on one side of the family, we have our ancestry traced really far back (my grandparents on my dad’s side are Mormons, which is how I know that, for example, this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnus_III_of_Norway is a great great grandpa WAY back).

I don’t think it’s always a good reason, though. On my mom’s side I’m an eighth Native (we have no idea what tribe, long story), but I don’t think that would give me an excuse to walk around in anything resembling Native garb, since I don’t have any idea what tribe we are, and thus I know nothing of the culture, I wasn’t raised on a reservation (hell, I’ve never even been to one!), etc. In that case, I think it would be totally insensitive and asinine of me to be like “What? My great-grandma was Native! I can totally wear this!”.