Is this marketing email from Fashionphile cultural appropriation?

[ccbaggirl89]

Really? This is offensive?? I got the email and was like... ok, delete, not a fan of zebra print. Didn't even register this could be anything. So nope, nothing meaningful nor offensive to me.

 

[SomethingGoodCanWork]

Spirit animals are also a big part of my culture. But no, I'm not offended. The fashion industry might be big business but it's pretty silly over-all and not worth getting offended by. And as I pointed out in another thread that was unfortunately closed, I'm from a culture that's been appropriated by almost all other cultures on this earth. Again, not offended. And not surprised at the lack of gratitude from many of these cultures that have and are now reaping the benefits from appropriating "my" culture, considering the current vogue de jour of entitlement.

Personally, I totally cringed when I saw this email earlier today. Full disclosure, I m currently teaching a course on Native American dramatic literature so I m a bit immersed in this topic at present.

Shouldn't a Native American be teaching that course? The irony, fabuleux.

I appreciate your point of view but please don’t put words in my mouth and read my posts carefully before replying. I never said I was offended, I simply asked a question. I specifically addressed the fact that I was not part of that community, and that, consequently, do not claim to be offended.

You may disagree, but I do believe that I have the right to ask a question about cultural appropriation—even though I am white. I am a well-educated person with an interest in this topic and I am simply trying to engage our lovely tpf community on a difficult but important conversation. I am not “patronizing “ anyone and I am not telling anyone “how to feel.”

Really? This whole "discussion" about cultural appropriation is based on the premise that if you don't succumb to its current identity politically driven decree, you- as you put it earlier- are not walking at the "same pace", i e insinuating everyone will have to catch up to the right-pace way eventually. My prediction is many will more likely go their own way.

And speaking of reparations, seeing as you brought it up. When are reparations due to all Europeans whose millions of ancestors were abducted in to slavery by African and Arab slavers? These slave traders went as far up as Iceland and the Faeroe Islands, but Eastern Europe was especially plagued. There is so much more to say on this most interesting but somehow historically "forgotten" enslavement of millions of Europeans, but I'll oblige if you or anyone else should wish.

I'm glad to hear you appreciate a different perspective because I'm happy to supply it.

 

[Sheikha Latifa]

As someone from a different culture - you cannot imagine how annoying it is when people are too sensitive around you and when they decide for you what should be offensive to you. It makes me feel like an idiot who needs special treatment and protection. If you want me to feel as an equal - treat me as such, don’t patronise me

Sorry, just a small remark as this thread seems to be more of an American discussion

 

[Melissa Ann]

As someone from a different culture - you cannot imagine how annoying it is when people are too sensitive around you and when they decide for you what should be offensive to you. It makes me feel like an idiot who needs special treatment and protection. If you want me to feel as an equal - treat me as such, don’t patronise me

Sorry, just a small remark as this thread seems to be more of an American discussion

Your opinion is just as valid. We have many cultures here, but I’m sure this is something that comes up all over the world.

As for micro aggressions, some are just things it is past time we eliminate from our lexicon. Some seem kind of silly, but if someone tells me it bothers them, I certainly don’t want to upset the, further!

 

[2cello]

I don’t know why you are so dedicated to insulting me over and over again in this thread.

FWIW, I am really not intending to insult you personally. I think you are pretty cool. I *am* taking a couple shots at academia in general for being kind of bossy pants. Somebody theorizes something and the rest of us are just supposed to fall in line.

 

[SomethingGoodCanWork]

Is it absolutely impossible to come to tPF, where the- judging by this and many other similar threads- surprisingly underprivileged and oppressed high end consumers of this world congregate to casually display their luxury car fobs and multiple thousand dollar bags, and not have identity politics and agendas shoved in your face? An actual non political luxury forum, would certainly be a true mercy considering every bl***y other thing is not, these days.

Maybe at some point we all just have to let go of the real or imagined resentment and sins of all (yes all) of our forefathers and foremothers and just get on with getting on like the adults I'm presuming the majority of us to be.

 

[jellyv]

not have identity politics and agendas shoved in your face? An actual non political luxury forum, would certainly be a true mercy considering every bl***y other thing is not, these days.
e.

An ironic complaint coming from you, given your own persistently political posting. Regardless, the mods are evidently cool with this particular thread. As long as that's so, you are free to exit any thread you don't appreciate. I know there are threads that drive me bananas and I just steer clear.

I for one found it worthwhile and interesting to talk about something over than minuscule defects on a wallet's edge.

 

[Vlad]

I looked through this thread and found it to be a respectful, thought-provoking discussion on a controversial subject. Keep calm and carry on...

 

[Dooneysta]

You are a “non Native” and doing exactly that. Most people speaking about how they are offended about appropriation are white people.....patronizing non-white groups telling them how they should feel and speaking on their behalf. And they don’t even see the irony.

Based on the premise, it is ridiculous to even ask the question in the OP to anyone but a member of an indigenous group native to the Americas. And how many of those are posting in this thread? Or on purseforum?

Of Native American ancestry. I’m not unadulterated Native American, but many people these days are not one hundred percent one thing, as the new ancestry kits are making clearer and clearer (take that, racists!!)
Not offended by on the warpath/off the rez/spirit animal/Indian giver/people wearing turquoise bears/etc. Spouse born on a rez. These terms are not ‘micro-aggressions’ in either of our eyes. Of course, since I don’t speak for Every Indigenous Person, any other who IS insulted is welcome to be. But for that reason, that we are not all offended as a hive-mind bloc, it seems a waste of valuable time and a red herring to spend so much time as a society getting worried about what offends ‘us’. What actually offends my sensibilities is the homeless rate, substance abuse rates, the high suicide, unemployment, and poverty rates; the lack of access to healthcare, coupled with the invisibility of these things to society, not using the term ‘pow wow’ to describe the weekly department meeting.

Native Americans need better healthcare, better primary education and more access to college or trade schools,reservation infrastructure, etc, not kindly verbiage. If you check out sites that are dedicated to native causes, with a ‘how can you help Native Americans’ bent to them, you will not see loud touting of ‘use PC terms and stop the verbal micro-aggression’ as A Way To Help Native Americans. No, it’s going to be ‘volunteer, donate, buy native-made products, let your legislators know you want pro-Native bills passed and more funding for reservation schools, water projects and elder care’ and so on.

Fussing over whether wearing moccasins around the house is offensive is of little import to actually helping Native peoples getting ahead. Local authorities and congresspersons safely avoid having to actually appropriate any money (aka take any risk) and just watch people froth over sports team names instead. As Sinead O’Connor said long ago now (about a different issue)

“Fight the real enemy!”

 

[Vlad]

Am I mistaken to believe that the term spirit animal has been adopted as a hip cultural statement in recent social media history? Its use is hardly limited to the fashion industry. I've seen the term used in reference to all sorts of performers, cartoons, athletes, etc.

Then I am happy to admit that I am rather vague about what constitutes true cultural appropriation and what doesn't.

 

[Dooneysta]

Am I mistaken to believe that the term spirit animal has been adopted as a hip cultural statement in recent social media history? Its use is hardly limited to the fashion industry. I've seen the term used in reference to all sorts of performers, cartoons, athletes, etc.

Then I am happy to admit that I am rather vague about what constitutes true cultural appropriation and what doesn't.

Exactly! There isn’t one definition, is part of the problem. Some say any use of another culture’s ‘thing’ qualifies, some say the ‘borrower’ must be a member of a dominant group borrowing from a traditional minority group, others say it only qualifies if the borrowing is dominant-on-minority WHILE also being unacknowledged and inappropriate. If we can’t agree on the definition of the word ‘blue’, whether Smurfette is or isn’t will continue to be disagreed on by otherwise reasonable people.

 

[Melissa Ann]

I for one found it worthwhile and interesting to talk about something over than minuscule defects on a wallet's edge.

OMG. You it the nail right on the head! Lolololol.

 

[fabuleux]

Shouldn't a Native American be teaching that course? The irony, fabuleux..

It’s an intro course to Multicultural Dramatic Literature and Performance Practices in the United States. What this means is that it includes several units: African American Dram Lit, Asian American, Latinx, Native American, Muslim American, and LGBTQ+.

As a side note, good luck finding a Native American professor with a PhD in performance history, dram lit, and crit who would take a job at my school! Someone with that profile would be super hot on the market.

Your comment raises an interesting question though: Should only people of Jewish faith teach the holocaust? Should only an American citizen teach American Politics? Can a man teach a course on Feminism?

 

[Swanky]

Y’all know politics aren’t allowed. Please choose your words and battles more carefully.
I removed the last few posts...

 

[KimTX]

I don’t think it is appropriate. It’s the use of another culture’s spiritual beliefs to advertise. And that seems disrespectful to me. This is something they hold sacred. Don’t use it to sell shoes.

(Also it almost implies skinning your spirit animal for accessories. Which is a bit of a no no.)

At first glance, I didn't find it offensive, but your POV makes perfect sense to me. The idea of skinning your spirit animal is all wrong.