Retelling or appropriation?

[shweta_narayan]

I tend to find that abstract notions don't line up easily with actual examples, for me.

So here's an actual example that makes me wonder.

(I *will* write the story, and decide whether it's appropriation after it's written. I have written about 400 words and bits of the rest. -- I'm not so much asking for reassurance (though it's nice and I

Comments

[dichroic]

Can it be appropriation when it's your own culture?

I don't know. I'm thinking of Greek theater, where the same myths were recast and retold - but those were all within the tradition, and major story elements would not have been changed. What Shakespeare did with Lear and Macbeth seems closer to what you're doing, and those were his traditions in very similar ways to how this is yours. How do you feel about his?

[shweta_narayan]

I don't know.

I do stand outside that culture to some extent.
And it will be an upsetting retelling for some. I'm... poking... at (okay, entirely overturning) the kindly-brahmin archetype.

My feeling on Shakespeare is that 1) I am not him and 2) he was not part of a big internet discussion about cultural appropriation :)

[dichroic]

The teacher's reaction? That's the thing that leaps to mind :-)

[shweta_narayan]

:confused look:

[tekalynn]

I honestly can't say whether it would be appropriation or not. I can say that I'd be very interested in reading your version.

[shweta_narayan]

Thank you :)
I'm going to write it and then decide whether it can see the light of day.

...Somewhere in here my sense of power dynamics changed. It always used to be me as the little person and certain aspects of my culture as the 500-tonne anvil. Now I'm not so sure.

[shweta_narayan]

My examples of my society -- mostly my family -- are unlikely to accept or like any of my subversions.

Because I play in those dark areas they do not like to acknowledge. Especially not from me.

Some of that, I feel, is what makes the story worth writing at all. But when it's retelling another story... I dunno.

[asakiyume]

Your response to charlesatan got me thinking about any person who writes about a culture of origin from a slightly different perspective, quite apart from issues of cultural appropriation. When people write about their origins (and "origins" could mean a culture of origin, but also something like one's family, or one's city neighborhood--or whatever one wants to define "orgins" as being) in a critical way, or even in a questioning way, then it will upset people

[shweta_narayan]

I will absolutely upset people with what I write. I do, I have, I will.

I have sort of seen myself as the Valiant Rebel in this, to date. But it's more complicated than that, y'know? Because I might also hurt or silence people as well as upsetting them.

[asakiyume]

There's only so much care you can take for your readers, though--their reactions are theirs to have. You're approaching your writing and the world with goodwill, sincerity, and a willingness to listen. There's no more you can do. If people are hurt, maybe they'll grow. If they're silenced, maybe something else in life will get them to speak up. That part--how they react to your story--is their story. But it shows your good heart that you are concerned.

[shweta_narayan]

It's partly caring.

It's partly also just.. wanting to understand. There is an issue here that I don't really get, that is so complex it makes my had explode -- therefore I shall keep poking at it in different ways until it makes a sort of sense to me. :)

(And, I meant to say before -- lucky for me, I am not intending to change Krishna's awesomeness. He's far too much fun to write the way he is. I do like tricksters. *grin*)

[kaolinfire]

I vote this response to ditto.

[shweta_narayan]

Your parents don't own it either.
I would print that out and hang it over my desk, if I had a desk.

I do love the story, but I am troubled by some of the cultural assumptions -- and I think in general that's what pulls me to writing. There are certainly people who interpret that as me despising the culture, though I don't; my relation with it is rather more ambivalent than that.

Also, and maybe this is just me being weird, but I don't think you have to have any cultural right to the story but you do to the POV.

Hm. would you say this of any story? Including a culture's sacred stories?