why mythologies are not all equal and cultural appropriation needs to be taught more
So, Patricia Briggs, an author whose work I enjoy, wrote a statement on using Native American culture in her work. Now, while I agree that Mercy's brand of Native American supernatural needed to be fleshed out and explained, there is a reason why I am really not looking forward to reading that book. Not only because of the cover, which decided to illustrate her Native American heritage by giving her two huge feather earrings while posing seductively in front of a wall of what I can only suppose are cultural symbols.
I'm going to copy-paste a bit here to give you what I think is the most problematic piece of her statement:
So I worried and fretted. Then I decided to do exactly what I’ve done with Russian, UK, German and Norwegian (among others) myths, traditions and histories. I mined the treasure trove of stories, treated them with due respect, but used them in ways they were never meant to be used. I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who have gone before and paved a way for me play in their stomping grounds. Doubtless those who want to be offended, will -- allowing me to make them happy, too, which pleases me as much as it pleases them.
Now, the idea that Native American culture and traditions are in any way comparable to the white European culture and traditions she listed is- ridiculous, but what really scrapes at my nerves is her snippy 'those who want to be offended will.' Really.
Patricia Briggs, you do not, in any way, see that Native people, whose culture and traditions and people have been genocided and erased and forcibly wiped out will be legitimately offended by you taking their culture, no matter how 'respectful' your intent was? You really think these people are going to be offended, not because you took something that is solely theirs (and it is, because it is the only thing they have for themselves,) but that you used it in a popcorn-reading supernatural urban fantasy story with a sexy girl on the front cover and a werewolf romance as the main plot?
Now, I am not a Native American. I can't fully understand their struggles, their pain, and their culture. I'm not saying you can't use Native culture or other cultures in your stories, because I think it's do-able after research and careful, respectful observation. (Look at Mike and Bryan's ATLA.) But I do know what appropriation is and I do know that not all cultures are open to my artistic license and that treating a culture's religion/myths respectfully does not equally being gleeful about twisting them into 'something that they were never meant to be' and then issuing a pre-emptive faux-pology that acts as a smack in the face against any Native person whose culture and traditions you are using and twisting for the sake of your story.
I DO know that if anyone of the culture I was writing was offended by my portrayal it was probably not them wanting to be offended, it was them being hurt or unhappy because I fucked up a piece of THEM and should apologize for that. Have some goddamn sensitivity, Patricia Briggs.
Why the fuck are people so stupid about Native anything? Seriously? Between this and the painful MLP episode I feel like ripping my hair out in frustration.
I'm going to copy-paste a bit here to give you what I think is the most problematic piece of her statement:
So I worried and fretted. Then I decided to do exactly what I’ve done with Russian, UK, German and Norwegian (among others) myths, traditions and histories. I mined the treasure trove of stories, treated them with due respect, but used them in ways they were never meant to be used. I am not attempting to preserve culture, or record actual events or stories. Instead I bow my head in gratitude to those storytellers who have gone before and paved a way for me play in their stomping grounds. Doubtless those who want to be offended, will -- allowing me to make them happy, too, which pleases me as much as it pleases them.
Now, the idea that Native American culture and traditions are in any way comparable to the white European culture and traditions she listed is- ridiculous, but what really scrapes at my nerves is her snippy 'those who want to be offended will.' Really.
Patricia Briggs, you do not, in any way, see that Native people, whose culture and traditions and people have been genocided and erased and forcibly wiped out will be legitimately offended by you taking their culture, no matter how 'respectful' your intent was? You really think these people are going to be offended, not because you took something that is solely theirs (and it is, because it is the only thing they have for themselves,) but that you used it in a popcorn-reading supernatural urban fantasy story with a sexy girl on the front cover and a werewolf romance as the main plot?
Now, I am not a Native American. I can't fully understand their struggles, their pain, and their culture. I'm not saying you can't use Native culture or other cultures in your stories, because I think it's do-able after research and careful, respectful observation. (Look at Mike and Bryan's ATLA.) But I do know what appropriation is and I do know that not all cultures are open to my artistic license and that treating a culture's religion/myths respectfully does not equally being gleeful about twisting them into 'something that they were never meant to be' and then issuing a pre-emptive faux-pology that acts as a smack in the face against any Native person whose culture and traditions you are using and twisting for the sake of your story.
I DO know that if anyone of the culture I was writing was offended by my portrayal it was probably not them wanting to be offended, it was them being hurt or unhappy because I fucked up a piece of THEM and should apologize for that. Have some goddamn sensitivity, Patricia Briggs.
Why the fuck are people so stupid about Native anything? Seriously? Between this and the painful MLP episode I feel like ripping my hair out in frustration.