Fashion draws on cultural inspiration. I highly doubt that Hot Topic's buyers were like "omg lets make fun of native americans lol"
If your lives are so boring that you need to get up-in-arms about something that, in reality, you will never act on... focus on the fact that these pieces of crap were probably produced by underpaid workers in Malaysia.
I'm really wondering if you know / have you read anything about cultural appropriation (like, say, the links posted above), and why it is a bad thing. Because it isn't about *intent* and it isn't about *inspiration* (fyi - no one here believes Hot Topic set out to make fun of Native Americans, and that's not actually the reason for the complaints at all)
It's about marginalized races / cultures which are harmfully affected by imperialism. This, which I posted in my comment above, does a really good job (IMO) of succinctly explaining why this is problematic.
P.S. This is offensive, and I see it as something not open for debate, so I'm not really interested in any counterpoints or claims of how I'm overreacting.
Yes, I know what it is. The point that I'm making is if you care about it, don't waste your time and ours by ranting in a LIVEJOURNAL COMMUNITY about something as inconsequential as AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL.
You end up making yourself look stupid, and boring the hell out of everyone who just wanted to see pictures of Jessica looking ridiculous.
Based on the 9+ people agreeing with me, and the 3 or so people making unoriginal excuses for why cultural appropriation is okay, I'd say I didn't waste any of my time by bringing resources I have bookmarked in to the conversation, in case anyone was interested in learning about, rather than excusing, something which actually harms real people, some of whom might be members of LJ / this comm. Just a thought.
Fine. Bravo. Good for you. I can't wait to see what action you and these 9+ people take to actually do something that matters. No, seriously! Bated breath! Pins and needles!
And for someone who doesn't see this as a point open for debate, you sure are seeing this as a point open for debate.
Getting freaked out about cultural appropriation is awesome! I can't wait until next March when I can lecture Saint Patrick's Day party-goers about how they shouldn't be wearing green because that's culturally insensitive unless they were born in Ireland.
I will demand to see birth certificates even if their shirts say I should kiss them because they are "Irish" - they're not fooling ME!
I for one am glad you brought this up and shared this information here because, embarrassingly, I never thought about cultural appropriation until I stumbled upon a heated debated in a different LJ community. Learning opportunities shouldn't be restricted to educational or even relevant settings/topics.
Inconsequential? Are you kidding? You do realize the huge audience and following that ANTM has right? It is completely consequential and the point I'm making, if you care about it, is don't waste your time and ours by being an ignorant enabling brat and do some research on cultural appropriation. Get educated.
Er, you are seriously delusional if you think that any effort expended in this forum will create any type of consequential change. The energy would be better directed at those committing the offense, and not at those who just want to (again) see pictures of Jessica looking ridiculous.
Of course, as I understand it, there are 9+ people who disagree with me.
Fashion draws on cultural inspiration. I highly doubt that Hot Topic's buyers were like "omg lets make fun of native americans lol"
If your lives are so boring that you need to get up-in-arms about something that, in reality, you will never act on... focus on the fact that these pieces of crap were probably produced by underpaid workers in Malaysia.
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It's about marginalized races / cultures which are harmfully affected by imperialism. This, which I posted in my comment above, does a really good job (IMO) of succinctly explaining why this is problematic.
P.S. This is offensive, and I see it as something not open for debate, so I'm not really interested in any counterpoints or claims of how I'm overreacting.
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You end up making yourself look stupid, and boring the hell out of everyone who just wanted to see pictures of Jessica looking ridiculous.
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Based on the 9+ people agreeing with me, and the 3 or so people making unoriginal excuses for why cultural appropriation is okay, I'd say I didn't waste any of my time by bringing resources I have bookmarked in to the conversation, in case anyone was interested in learning about, rather than excusing, something which actually harms real people, some of whom might be members of LJ / this comm. Just a thought.
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And for someone who doesn't see this as a point open for debate, you sure are seeing this as a point open for debate.
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I will demand to see birth certificates even if their shirts say I should kiss them because they are "Irish" - they're not fooling ME!
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Of course, as I understand it, there are 9+ people who disagree with me.
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