Jack
Mmfad
•Created by Clark'sDesertBot on 1/30/2024 in #topic-of-the-day
Appropriation vs. Appreciation - Topic of the day 1/30/24
Thanks, I saw your earlier message about Navajo jewelry developing through trade with Europeans and thought that was very informative. I think it gets at a deeper question that I had which is "who am I as a potential appropriator to determine what is instead appreciation", but maybe that's the wrong way to look at it, and the right question is "what was the intent of the creator", such as the difference between jewelry and headdresses that you pointed out
305 replies
Mmfad
•Created by Clark'sDesertBot on 1/30/2024 in #topic-of-the-day
Appropriation vs. Appreciation - Topic of the day 1/30/24
This makes sense and I think is a good way to think about it. However, I also imagine an implicit conversation that happens when someone from that culture sees someone else wearing such jewelry, and potential doubts regarding good intent. Does that take place at all? How much does that matter?
305 replies
Mmfad
•Created by Clark'sDesertBot on 1/30/2024 in #topic-of-the-day
Appropriation vs. Appreciation - Topic of the day 1/30/24
Similarly, I feel like a lot of the "image" associated with Native American jewelry, at least in a more masculine context as worn by white people, is the ideal of the American Southwest -- rugged individualism, manifest destiny, etc. But these ideals arise from the displacement and genocide of Native Americans. So, again, I see great benefit in supporting Native American artists, but does it perpetuate a harmful historical image? Worn certain ways (see certain images from certain Western inspo albums on reddit) I think it does perpetuate those ideals that directly resulted from subjugation of people from the culture from which the items arose. Again, feels like a major catch 22.
305 replies
Mmfad
•Created by Clark'sDesertBot on 1/30/2024 in #topic-of-the-day
Appropriation vs. Appreciation - Topic of the day 1/30/24
Thanks for all the thought provoking posts so far, I have really appreciated reading them. I have a bunch of complicated thoughts about specifically the appropriation of Native American jewelry that I am curious about others' takes on. I have noticed that the answer to "should I wear it?" is usually "if it was made by and supports a Native American artist, yes" but I'm unconvinced this tells the whole story. I feel like the default assumption when someone wears something from a historically persecuted or otherwise minority culture that they don't belong to is that it is a form of appropriation - to zeometer's point, why have you chosen to do so? From an outsider's perspective (which I think is what's relevant here as a test for what is or looks like appropriation, both of which are important imo) they don't know if a particular item was purchased supporting a Native American artist or not, so it kinda feels to me like a post hoc justification rather than legitimate celebration, at least to that outside party (see "I cringe when I see white men with turquoise" (paraphrasing)).
Like, why should someone be able to choose to wear jewelry from a culture that is not their own? However, I see great benefit in supporting an artist making the art from that culture, but does this actually address all of the other complicated dimensions of appropriation? It feels like a bit of a catch 22.
305 replies