![dr-grumbles:
sophiologist:
tigersmilk:
sophiologist, paradiseinprocess:
most of the damn time.
—-This made me laugh.
As someone who loves to travel—a life goal is to make it to as many countries as I can—I’ve spent, you know, some time living with and interacting with cultures that are not those of where I grew up. Here’s my question: what’s the difference between admiration and appropriation? There are many things I love about other cultures, and that correspondingly I despise about Western and often particularly American culture. What’s a healthy way to interact with other cultures? To be affected and influenced by them? To express admiration for their values, or even to critique their values?
Sometimes I get the sense PC-ness, which I’m usually a supporter of I must say, would prefer we not address race or culture at all … but I think not to address it all misses a huge amount about people, as well as what makes us all different, unique, interesting.
Not entirely sure this makes sense but have had this question in the back of my head for a bit, still vaguely forming. Thoughts and comments very welcome.
Admiration: learning about [whatever it is], taking it upon yourself to understand its cultural significance, meaning, value, etc. Have a photograph of it, or hell, even books about it. go crazy admiring that shit.Appropriation: not understanding (to any degree) the relationship between your culture and theirs (did your ancestors conquer, enslave, genocide and/or oppress them? does your culture have a history of respecting theirs, and vice versa?) and buying/wearing/using it glibly. also, refusing to acknowledge someone calling you out on your cultural appropriation is just as bad as appropriating cultural objects without realizing it.
Agreed, and thank you. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: how do you show it? Not by wearing elements of another culture without knowing anything about or having any connection whatsoever to that culture, certainly.
One way to show respect is to make sure that what you are wearing is not a sacred item. Another way to show respect is to buy authentic items from native people. The things for sale are authentic, and they’re made for others to wear. These items won’t be sacred. And the best way to show respect is to educate yourself about the culture you’re representing by buying their crafts. Be able to tell anyone who compliments you on it where you go it, the craftsperson who made it, and refer business to them.You can truly respect a culture/community and still buy and wear their crafts. Thank you for being conscious enough to ask how to be respectful in your admiration.
And thanks for taking the time to express this! I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a couple of years a while back … I won’t even get into it because that’ll be another really long post. But these are really helpful points.](http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lbuw5nX4mX1qdd9ado1_400.png)
sophiologist, paradiseinprocess:
most of the damn time.
—-This made me laugh.
As someone who loves to travel—a life goal is to make it to as many countries as I can—I’ve spent, you know, some time living with and interacting with cultures that are not those of where I grew up. Here’s my question: what’s the difference between admiration and appropriation? There are many things I love about other cultures, and that correspondingly I despise about Western and often particularly American culture. What’s a healthy way to interact with other cultures? To be affected and influenced by them? To express admiration for their values, or even to critique their values?
Sometimes I get the sense PC-ness, which I’m usually a supporter of I must say, would prefer we not address race or culture at all … but I think not to address it all misses a huge amount about people, as well as what makes us all different, unique, interesting.
Not entirely sure this makes sense but have had this question in the back of my head for a bit, still vaguely forming. Thoughts and comments very welcome.
Admiration: learning about [whatever it is], taking it upon yourself to understand its cultural significance, meaning, value, etc. Have a photograph of it, or hell, even books about it. go crazy admiring that shit.
Appropriation: not understanding (to any degree) the relationship between your culture and theirs (did your ancestors conquer, enslave, genocide and/or oppress them? does your culture have a history of respecting theirs, and vice versa?) and buying/wearing/using it glibly. also, refusing to acknowledge someone calling you out on your cultural appropriation is just as bad as appropriating cultural objects without realizing it.Agreed, and thank you. R-E-S-P-E-C-T: how do you show it? Not by wearing elements of another culture without knowing anything about or having any connection whatsoever to that culture, certainly.
One way to show respect is to make sure that what you are wearing is not a sacred item. Another way to show respect is to buy authentic items from native people. The things for sale are authentic, and they’re made for others to wear. These items won’t be sacred. And the best way to show respect is to educate yourself about the culture you’re representing by buying their crafts. Be able to tell anyone who compliments you on it where you go it, the craftsperson who made it, and refer business to them.
You can truly respect a culture/community and still buy and wear their crafts. Thank you for being conscious enough to ask how to be respectful in your admiration.
And thanks for taking the time to express this! I lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, for a couple of years a while back … I won’t even get into it because that’ll be another really long post. But these are really helpful points.
