quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
I seriously see nothing wrong with it. She wasn't mocking the culture. She took on something identified with a culture and wore it. It shows admiration. She didn't mangle it.

I'm Chinese and I don't have a problem with her wearing the dress either. I also think it conotates admiration for a style of dress.

However, I did find the pose with her friends pressing their hands together very much a culturally mocking gesture...it is much like folks who pull up the edges of their eyes for that "Asian Slant"

Being accused of “cultural appropriation” has about as much effect as being called a racist-which anymore is zero fucks given.

A pretty girl in a pretty dress, no more-no less, hand clasp or not.

I could maybe perhaps might consent to 'appropriation' if by symmerty Yukio Mishama's portrait or Kurosawa's Ran is included. But that would be a great waste of time. So, no.

Keep being lovely.

I have a Cherokee friend who made a good point on the issue of "cultural appropriation."

He said that there is nothing wrong with cultural appropriation. That is what happens when people from different cultures interact. Should we go back to Roman numerals since using 1,2,3, etc would be appropriating Arabic culture?

But the flip side is that there such a thing as cultural misappropriation. If you take an element of a foreign culture and you honor it, there is no issue. But if you don't honor the tradition from which that cultural artifact or practice comes from, that's where you go wrong. For example, my NDN friend has no problem with white people (or anyone else, for that matter) making their own regalia and dancing traditional dances as long as they learn properly, exercise proper protocol, and basically do it with a good heart. Cultural appropriation is actually the act of appreciating another culture enough to do what they do. He does not like it when people wear regalia and hop around like idiots for the purpose of making fun of indians like himself.

Here's another analogy: I don't think Americans would have a problem with Chinese people wearing civil war era uniforms for the purpose of putting on actual civil war re-enactments. I personally think it's kind of cool that someone would go to that kind of length to understand our history, tactics, decision-making etc. But If Chinese people dressed up in Confederate and Union uniforms hoping around on one foot shouting "Look, we're stupid American barbarians who can only solve problems with guns!" there would be an issue.

As far as the qipao-as-prom-dress-girl goes, I have no problem with the dress. The hand gesture demonstrates a bit of ignorance: the palms together thing is more Thai/Indian than Chinese. It's more of a "if-you're-going-to-do-it-do-it-right" issue for me, but if she learns from it, no big deal.

I think there is perhaps an element of intent as well. I wouldn't expect one to be an expert in appropriating some cultural aspect. I'm generally okay with something wrong based on a superficial understanding as long as there was no malicious intent albeit in a perhaps a little tacky exhibition.

Honoring without full awareness is okay. For example, when visiting shrines and temples in Asia, I don't really know the protocols and manners. I didn't even know the difference between a shrine and temple for awhile. Yet, it was nice to visit and appreciate. I'd try to mimic others so as not to be too out of place but I knew I was getting it wrong.

As with anything, there is a learning curve.

But agree that malicious intent or poking fun at a culture is generally not acceptable.

A lot of people just simply need to get over themselves.

I'm 1/2 Polish. I should demand reparations from anyone and everyone whose ever told a Polish joke. I'm offended dammit and I deserve to compensated while you all deserve to be shamed incessantly!

Or, the more appropriate action...grow the fuck up.

Just from the ones whose jokes you understood

:-)

If people were to stop culturally appropriating Chinese Food, for example, rest assured the headines would not be congratulatory and the nitwits complaining about this would be much more angry. It’s a no win situation with the whores of modern journalism.

Americans used to shake their heads over nonsense like this, blame it on backwardness, and be thankful it was essentially confined to those who didn’t have the benefit of education and were in the unfortunate position of being used as pawns by despots to preserve their postions of power and influence. We hoped to help them to rise to our level. Then mass media realized mayhem arouses more interest than good order and as such sells better and, after all, they’re in the business of peddling their wares. Now they’re the new breed of despots and consider everyone pawns. Go figure.

Just read where the response from Mainland China is very positive. They see it as a beautiful girl appreciating their culture.

Cultural Appropriation....

/sarc on
So....no more knives and forks in China. And, hey, they tell me the country with the largest number of English speakers is China. No more of that!

I seem to forget all the mention of the computer development that took place in China. So, hand in the microprocessors and back to the abacus, dudes.
/sarc off

In reality, people have been learning from other cultures since travel began, and that's a good thing. Did Marco Polo 'culturally appropriate' pasta? Did the folks in the third world growing crops scientifically and increasing food production 'culturally appropriate' the techniques?

And as it turns out, not a single actual Chinese person was offended of course. Just these little butt-hurt loser American SJW's with smart phones and too much time on their hands.

quote:

When Keziah Daum sported a traditional, Chinese cheongsam dress to her senior prom in Utah last month, she likely never intended her photos to go viral or be slammed as a “closet racist” over accusations of cultural appropriation. But days later, the 18-year-old began winning praise from an unexpected source — Chinese audiences and social media users.

On May 1, an article on Wenxue City News covering Daum’s story largely voiced applause for her look, the English-language outlet South China Morning Post reported.

“Very elegant and beautiful! Really don’t understand the people who are against her, they are wrong!” a supporter chimed in of the cheongsam, otherwise known as a qiapo. “I suggest the Chinese government, state television or fashion company invite her to China to display her cheongsam!”

“It is not cultural theft. It is cultural appreciation and cultural respect,” another agreed.


According to the Post, Daum’s story has been making waves across Weibo, a Twitter-like platform popular in China.

“Culture has no borders. There is no problem, as long as there is no malice or deliberate maligning. Chinese cultural treasures are worth spreading all over the world,” one user mused...

Utah teen shamed over 'racist' prom dress wins praise in China