This seems so basic and yet I had never seen this explained in this way before. Makes so much sense!

For me, what really helped me understand this issue was learning a little bit about semiotics. Semiotics is the "study of signs." In language/culture there is always a signifier (in this case "mohawk" cuts/dreadlocks) and a signified (indigenous ( Read more... )

Apologies if I'm a total noob and this has been asked before ( Read more... )

I don't think this was posted already ?

Illegal 'Alien' Halloween costume pulled from distribution

I find it particularly surprising that Amazon.com ever stocked this. They are such a huge chain!

I just started taking yoga classes (hello, bad back, how I wish to be rid of you), and wow, I see where the questions about cultural appropriation come from. Does anyone have any reading material they would recommend on the topic of cultural appropriation (and to be blunt, whitewashing) and American yoga ( Read more... )

An earlier post by arxacies raised the perennial question of white Americans who feel that they don't have a culture, or at least a culture worth celebrating.

Easter in Orange County explores some of the same issues, touching on American rootlessness, cultural appropriation, Jewish identity and being "unmarked". A very thought-provoking read.

Good afternoon ( Read more... )

I have a lot of sarongs. I don't wear them for any other reason than because they're one of the very few skirt styles that fit my body well and I enjoy brightly colored fabric. I was showed the correct way to tie them by a Malaysian friend of mine several years back, so I have at least a reasonable idea that I'm wearing them in an appropriate ( Read more... )

I was musing more on cultural appropriation (especially of clothes) and of our "rights" versus others' pain, and I remembered a passage in the Bible that startled me a few years back. Obviously it'd be pretty obnoxious to assume that this is going to be any kind of authoritative to people of other religions or of no religion, but if you're ( Read more... )

 I should be able to handle this on my own, I know, but I really need to find out how others see it ( Read more... )

As a follow on to some of the discussion in the comments at the post linked by  bifemmefataleyesterday, I'd like to prompt a discussion here about culture appropriation, particularly as it relates to clothing.

This is something that is probably one of my biggest hangups, other than just recognizing my white privilege generally and trying to work against it. ( Read more... )