A Few Discoveries and An Ethics Question

[browngirl]

• An MBTA flexible pass will still function after having been stuck in a washing machine for a week.
  
• This cold makes me sound rather like The Littlest Jagermonster.
  
• Balsamic vinegar is sadly wasted on a person with no sense of smell.
  
• OTOH, changing diapers is not nearly as onerous.
  
• tibicina is a great houseguest -- well, we already knew that. *grin*
  

So, I hear people muse about cultural appropriation, about people taking elements of other cultures than those they 'belong' to, and using them without really understanding them or otherwise misusing them.

Now, I generally believe that culture is learned, not genetic, so people who honestly are interested in a culture are entirely capable of learning it. (Hence my use of Scare Quotes around 'belonging' above.) For example, I roll my eyes at well-to-do children who affect the poses of hoodlums -- but that has to do with posturing, not with particular ethnicities.

That said, though...

I've been fascinated for years by the Scandinavian practice of honoring Saint Lucy the Lightbringer on the Winter Solstice (you knoe me and light imagery) so I decided to make her the theme of my Winter Holiday Card this year (thus making it a little more Christian than I really should for true ecumenicalism, but that;s *another* neurotic LJ post). And then I wondered if I was unfairly strip-mining a culture I don't actually belong to just for my own amusement, or if I was being inspired by an idea from another culture and translating it in a respectful way.

And that's about where I'm currently at. *muses*

Comments

[cornute.livejournal.com]

[Christian hat on] I'm perfectly okay with people who are inspired by, respect, or downright "have a thing for" figures or ideas from my faith even if they don't belong to it.

It only really bothers me when they start deciding that they can say who or what that idea "really stands for," as if their interpretation superceded ours.

It's like knowing someone as a cousin versus knowing them as a sibling or spouse. One has a more intimate and knowledgeable view than the other, and the other shouldn't pretend it's exactly the same.[/Christian hat off]

And hey, I think St. Lucia is pretty neat myself-- and I'm not Catholic...

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

What does your Christian Hat look like? I'm imagining a big Pilgrim Hat with a cross-shaped buckle. :D

Seriously, thank you. You always give me such pertinent and useful advice.

[cornute.livejournal.com]

I always think of it as a cross between a papal miter and a jester's cap, myself! Pilgrim hats make my ears look big.

(Seriously, my "Christian hat" is a headscarf. But that's another story.)

[jenny_evergreen]

In general, I think things done without any thought at all or with actively disrespectful intent are the problem; obviously, yours is neither.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

I try. :D *curtseys*

[flabosib.livejournal.com]

I think that if more people thoughtfully learned about other cultures, we'd probably be much closer to world peace.

Study it, ask questions from those who know and acquire that which sings to you. Thus, you broaden your world view and begin to think of more of the world as "us" rather than "them". Once we are all us, there is no them.

Okay, that's not as clear as I want it to be, but the allergy meds are fogging things up...

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think this is really lovely and hopeful. Thank you. :D

[cornute.livejournal.com]

"...you broaden your world view and begin to think of more of the world as "us" rather than "them". Once we are all us, there is no them."

What a lovely sentiment, and it makes perfect sense.

[karadin.livejournal.com]

I guess it depends on intent, I am not Japanese or Russian, but my manga involves both cultures, I'm doing my damnest to get everything, costumes, history, cuisine, religions, you name it, right, but I'm bound to get something wrong, especially considering that I can only get my material through things that have been translated into English, I suppose if we all stuck to 'our own' culture, there would not be as many opportunites to learn anything.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

And learning really is so wonderful. So. *big smile*

[alcinoe.livejournal.com]

My grandmother was Swedish, and I say it is okay. ;)

Really, I have never had a problem with people using other cultures ideas and customs, as long as they are respectful while doing it. After all, that is what America is, while some stuff does remain true to it's origins, some of that will be melded in with the "Greater Culture" of America. Look at Chinese food and Tex Mex food.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Yay! I have permission!

I really do think my perspective as an American influences my philosophy on these things--- this is something I love about us.

[ceo]

I hereby give you permission to strip-mine my ancestral culture. :-) Be careful with the candles in your hair.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

As I said to you before, I rolled around laughing when I read this. Thank you. :D

*goes to buy LEDs to rig up electric 'candles' for my hair*

[catalana.livejournal.com]

Okay, putting on my professional ethicist hat now (remember kids, don't try this at home):

I think you're fine. You are treating the beliefs with respect, not ridicule. You are reflecting upon your actions, rather than simply doing them and not worrying about their ramifications. And, as you note, culture is social. We do not come out of the womb knowing anything about a particular culture; we soak it up as we grow and learn. There are aspects of British culture which are my own because I spent three years there. There are aspects of other cultures which are my own because I have learned about them.

Art, in particular, tends to be a blend of numerous cultures, perhaps because so much of it is symbolic and transcends any particular culture. I can appreciate paintings without being Christian. I can write songs about elaborate elvish rituals without being an elf myself. (And we wouldn't want authors to be restricted to what they had themselves experienced when they wrote - we'd lose so much cool stuff that way!)

As long as you treat it carefully and think about the impact your work has on yourself and others, you are acting rightly.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, thank you for putting on the Professional Ethicists's Hat for me. I will continue working to live up to these guidelines.

Altthough now I'm picturing you dressed as an Elf. :D

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

I'm American which means all my culture, such as it is, is taken from someone else. I'm also of mixed 'race' so I have no idea what types of behavior would be considered 'appropriate' by some other group. That said, I see nothing wrong in general with adopting a custom or practice from someone/somewhere else. I'm Christian but I see nothing wrong with wishing someone of a different belief a Happy Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Solstice/Winterfair or whatever they celebrate, nor am I upset if someone says Happy Whatever to me.

I've been honored to received your holiday cards and magnets and I treasure them. I think the more respectful 'cultural mining' the better.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

*blush* Thank you, Sgt. Jafo. *grins and hugs your knees*

PS Tell Jez I said hi!

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

*hugs back* Jez says hi and hugs also.

[dandelion-diva.livejournal.com]

I'm with everyone else. For me, it's all about respect. And you are being respectful. So, don't worry, hon. :)

Love you.

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Now all I have to worry about is writing the poem! Thank you. :)