Different Views Into Cultural Appropriation
Cultural appropriation happens in many ways, such as in fashion shows, movies, and holiday celebrations. When people appropriate a different culture they tend to use general stereotypes that were formed from racist views. However, the appropriation is mostly, almost never meant to disrespect the culture or the people of that culture. America is so diverse that cultural appropriation happens on a daily basis. The fashion industry and the media—music videos, film, award shows, etc—are big in appropriating cultures.
In the fashion industry it is well known that many fashion designers are inspired by different cultural traditions. Native American’s tradition is one. Designers create tribal apparel to capture the attention of the consumers. They are exploiting the Native culture to make a profit that will better their lives, and the crazy thing is that nobody realizes that it is happening. Charlene Teters states, “We are not mascots or fetishes to be worn by the dominant society. We are human beings. 1” Her statement expresses her feelings towards the appropriation of her culture. It also mentions mascots. Most people do not understand that Native mascots or team names are very offensive. They represent a time in the past, when Native Americans were called racist names – the redskins—and are imagined as racial stereotypes. To most Natives, mascots and team names are viewed as a defeat for their people, “they are the substance of colonialism and the essence of victory over the Native American in their use and display. 2” It is a clear reminder of the horrid past that their ancestors experienced, and the loss they endured from the dominant white race.
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The media, mass communication, has various ways in which the appropriation of the Native culture is displayed. The media is a source to receive information and entertainment. This can be a negative factor when receiving information about different cultures. Many movies and television shows contain characters that are formed based on stereotypes, especially Native American characters. This makes the viewers picture ALL Native people in that manner, which can be bad. One Native character to consider is Pocahontas. In result of the movie, “[She] represents one genre of image making that has been overlooked in the light of the media. 3” She was a real person that was characterized with false attributes to capture the attention of children. Nonetheless, it is seen as innocent, “animation is discontented as a rather innocuous form, principally because it is intended as entertainment for children. 4” This is a negative effect on children. Children will possible consider Native Americans to have lived a life like Pocahontas and to have the same characteristics, when in reality their were more false depiction than true ones.
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1.Delacruz, E. M. (2003, May). Racism American Style and Resistance to Change: Art Education's Role in the Indian Mascot Issue. Art Education, 56(3), 13.
2. Taylor, M. (2015). Indian-Styled Mascots, Masculinity, and the Manipulated Indian Body: Chief Illiniwek and the Embodiment of Tradition. Ethnohistory, 62(1), 120.
3. Bird, S. E. (1996). Dressing in feathers: The construction of the Indian in American popular culture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 264.
4. Bird, S. E. (1996). Dressing in feathers: The construction of the Indian in American popular culture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 264.
2. Taylor, M. (2015). Indian-Styled Mascots, Masculinity, and the Manipulated Indian Body: Chief Illiniwek and the Embodiment of Tradition. Ethnohistory, 62(1), 120.
3. Bird, S. E. (1996). Dressing in feathers: The construction of the Indian in American popular culture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 264.
4. Bird, S. E. (1996). Dressing in feathers: The construction of the Indian in American popular culture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 264.