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Can we talk about cultural appropriation?

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241 Responses

s. batcakes avatar
s. batcakes from BatcakesCouture 10:43 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
For discussions like this, I think all people should read the tiny but epically genius booklet "Cultural Etiquette: A guide for the well-intentioned". Available on Amazon, takes like a half hour to read. Has this, among other things, to say about cultural appropriation: "Now it is perfectly natural for human beings to share and blend cultures, but let us face a hard reality: 20th century white society is culturally addicted to exploitation. Cultivate an awareness of your own personal motivations. Do not simply take and consume. If you are white and you find yourself drawn to Native American spirituality, Middle Eastern religion, African drumming, Asian philosophies, or Latin rhythms, make an effort to maintain some kind of balance. Don't just learn the fun and exciting things about us and then go home to your safe, isolated, white, privileged life. Learn about the history of the people whose culture you're dabbling in. Learn how our history relates to your own, how your privilege connects and contributes to our oppression and exploitation. And most importantly, make it a fair exchange--give something back. "

I find the featured sellers descriptions pretty offensive. I hope this quote I am leaving explains why.
s. batcakes avatar
s. batcakes from BatcakesCouture 10:54 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT edited
And I wholeheartedly agree with what calaverasYcorazones said.

Janet Nechama Miller avatar
Janet Nechama Miller from PlanetJanetArt 11:19 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
I think this is a really important conversation to have, especially for artists & crafters. Thank you OP for posing the question with genuine curiosity and openness!

I also agree with CalaverasYCorazones on this topic. I totally understand that folks are well-meaning and have nothing but great intentions, but there really is a big difference between intent and impact. The reality is that even something done or said with good intentions can hurt others.

I feel that glossing over topics around race, racism, exoticism, tokenism, cultural appropriation, etc. by using the term "overly PC" is highly offensive to the many individuals and communities who have been displaced, hurt, killed, and/or otherwise impacted by the very real history of colonization and racism in the US and around the world.

I want to second the recommendation to check out this blog about cultural appropriation from an Indigenous point of view: nativeappropriations.blogspot.com/ I've used it quite a bit to teach about these topics with my 7th grade class. It has tons of interesting points to ponder and discuss with others.

I also recommend reading Peggy McIntosh's "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," especially for any white folks interested in learning about the many "invisible" ways in which we benefit from institutional racism. If you paste the title in Google, the article will pop up for you to read.

Much luck to all of you with your shops!
s. batcakes avatar
s. batcakes from BatcakesCouture 11:24 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
I would like to add that I think the Etsy Admins that pick the featured sellers should also check out these links and books.
Heather avatar
Heather from bdii 11:26 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
I have had a few customers describe my work as tribal, but I don't use that as my tags or descriptions. I don't think that just because it has feathers, it should be called tribal. There is a long cultural history behind that word that I don't even know about enough to label my work as tribal. I may look like I know a thing or two about it because of my ethnic background, but I don't.
Janet Nechama Miller avatar
Janet Nechama Miller from PlanetJanetArt 11:26 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
Satanica, that is a good point. I totally agree!
Ann avatar
Ann from chicagolandia 11:29 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
I think of terms like 'tribal' and 'gypsy' as a reference to style less than a cultural slang term for a people, nothing that I would ever have thought would be deemed as offensive in any way.
s. batcakes avatar
s. batcakes from BatcakesCouture 11:30 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT edited
I actually don't mind the tags tribal- I think I even used it once or twice (I felt a little dirty but how else do I get the Burners? Ha!).
I am finding the descriptions of the featured sellers items a little over the top, tho.
Initially I was like, "What's all the fuss about? It's just a tag." but upon looking at the shop itself well I think a little reading is in order.


s. batcakes avatar
s. batcakes from BatcakesCouture 11:56 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
And upon further reading I also see the FS doesn't even have the symbolic meaning right on her rooster feathers. Roosters don't fly.
I also take offense that these shops that tell all of the "meanings" of their sourced-in-china materials.
It's a little snake oil salesmen to me.
Beth McCormack avatar
Beth McCormack from MiriTextiles 11:59 am Jul 3, 2012 EDT
Cultural appropriation is a very serious thing to a lot of people. It's not "hyper PC" or "someone getting offended over nothing." I, personally, don't get offended over anything like that, but I am me. I can't comment on or judge another person's experience. I try as hard as I can to respect their perspective.

Cultural appropriation objectifies the culture of origin and legitimizes the dominance of the appropriating culture. As an example, take the Indian head-dresses that are so popular. These head-dresses are ceremonial items and are considered sacred. To take these head-dresses out of context and sell them as party wear is to minimize their significance. Basically it's saying, "we can take your stuff." "We can do what we want with your stuff and, by extension, you and your people and land." It's a subversive action. It turns a sacred item into a commodity to be bought and sold or curated by the dominant culture.

Like I said, this is a very serious thing to a lot of people. It's part of an overall campaign (albeit subconscious on most levels) to dominate.

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