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So I followed a link to a link to a link, and ended up at a post talking about how non-Asian people have appropriated Asian culture and how that is so wrong. There was a video, but I never got around to watching it - the comments were what got me (and then it was past my bedtime).
One of the things they discussed was the prevalence of Chinese and Japanese character tattoos on non-Asians (or even on Asians removed from the Asian culture, more on that later). Which, yes, if you have no idea - and we're not talking Googling it, here - what it says, don't do it. If you aren't fluent in a language, probably not best to permanently mark yourself in it (this also goes for people who have no grasp of the English language, there are plenty of those kind of bad tattoos out there,too). There's a whole website devoted to 'what your tattoo really means' (I... don't have the link with me on my phone, but if anyone's interested, I can get it).
And getting a tattoo of something you don't understand because it's cool and trendy is a little culturally insensitive. And, obviously, using bits of culture to mock is wrong, but what about a true appreciation of another culture?
According to the commentors, no, that is still not okay. Unless you were born, raised, and living that culture, doing anything with it is appropriation and therefore wrong. This applies to 'going back to your roots' as much as it does branching out into other cultures.
So, because I'm one generation removed from my German heritage, I cannot embrace lederhosen and polka! Okay, bad example. Um... I'm removed from my Irish/Scottish roots so no haggis or Riverdance. Erm. No better. Okay, because I was born and raised American, I can only do American things, like Monster Truck rallies and... oh, shoot me now!
Seriously, though, what falls into 'American' enough for me to do without appropriation? We're a culturally diverse society (at least, we're supposed to be), so what is 'American'? We're too young of a country to have much of a culture, other than what people brought with them (and the Native American culture, but you'll really be lambasted if you try to embrace that, so by 'American Culture' I am refering to the generations of immigrants from all over that make up the majority of the current population). We don't have much of an identity of our own. Everything is corrupted, adapted, borrowed bits. Who are we?
And are the Japanese in as much 'trouble' for stealing baseball from us?
What am I (as a privileged white American) still allowed to do? Origami is out, as is bellydance. No anime. No Russian bands or Irish bands or anything not... uh, what is American music? Please tell me I'm not stuck with country! And what can I eat? No English tea or Jamaican rum... No hummus or wasabi.
If there is no grey area, no way to appreciate and celebrate other cultures without this 'appropriation'... I don't know. I don't think I want to live in that world, it seems far too insular and boring.
If any other cultures was to embrace American things (especially Monster Trucks, NASCAR, and country music), please, by all means do! And... you really don't have to return them. Ever.
One of the things they discussed was the prevalence of Chinese and Japanese character tattoos on non-Asians (or even on Asians removed from the Asian culture, more on that later). Which, yes, if you have no idea - and we're not talking Googling it, here - what it says, don't do it. If you aren't fluent in a language, probably not best to permanently mark yourself in it (this also goes for people who have no grasp of the English language, there are plenty of those kind of bad tattoos out there,too). There's a whole website devoted to 'what your tattoo really means' (I... don't have the link with me on my phone, but if anyone's interested, I can get it).
And getting a tattoo of something you don't understand because it's cool and trendy is a little culturally insensitive. And, obviously, using bits of culture to mock is wrong, but what about a true appreciation of another culture?
According to the commentors, no, that is still not okay. Unless you were born, raised, and living that culture, doing anything with it is appropriation and therefore wrong. This applies to 'going back to your roots' as much as it does branching out into other cultures.
So, because I'm one generation removed from my German heritage, I cannot embrace lederhosen and polka! Okay, bad example. Um... I'm removed from my Irish/Scottish roots so no haggis or Riverdance. Erm. No better. Okay, because I was born and raised American, I can only do American things, like Monster Truck rallies and... oh, shoot me now!
Seriously, though, what falls into 'American' enough for me to do without appropriation? We're a culturally diverse society (at least, we're supposed to be), so what is 'American'? We're too young of a country to have much of a culture, other than what people brought with them (and the Native American culture, but you'll really be lambasted if you try to embrace that, so by 'American Culture' I am refering to the generations of immigrants from all over that make up the majority of the current population). We don't have much of an identity of our own. Everything is corrupted, adapted, borrowed bits. Who are we?
And are the Japanese in as much 'trouble' for stealing baseball from us?
What am I (as a privileged white American) still allowed to do? Origami is out, as is bellydance. No anime. No Russian bands or Irish bands or anything not... uh, what is American music? Please tell me I'm not stuck with country! And what can I eat? No English tea or Jamaican rum... No hummus or wasabi.
If there is no grey area, no way to appreciate and celebrate other cultures without this 'appropriation'... I don't know. I don't think I want to live in that world, it seems far too insular and boring.
If any other cultures was to embrace American things (especially Monster Trucks, NASCAR, and country music), please, by all means do! And... you really don't have to return them. Ever.