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Question about cultural appropriation
4 years ago
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So , just for reference, im not white, nor white passing even, i'm mixed and African.
Anyways, I was doodling my fursona earlier in a princess jasmine esque desert princess outfit, I stopped myself after the sketch and really asked myself if it was okay, I had never considered it before, no have I drawn art like this before that I can recall. I did some research but couldn't quite find the answers I was looking for, maybe I wasn't typing in the correct things.
So far I've found out that the outfit that I've drawn is most likely closest to a belly dancing outfit, a really fantasy one at that,, but i found it originally originated in North Africa, where my ancestors are from, so,, I think (???) Its alright?
But I would like to ask, at the end of the day it was a sketch that took me less then 10 minutes to make, I am not at all attached to it and I'm open to changing it if it makes anyone uncomfortable or feels like cultural appropriation, im here to listen and learn basically.
Here is rhe sketch in question:
https://twitter.com/_heartspark/sta.....913695744?s=19
And please don't give me any stupid arguments like I should do it anyways just because you want to be edgy.
Edit:
I'm disabling comments here now just cause I did get so many replies and I just can't keep up with it 😅😂 there are also a plethora of comments saying more or less rhe same thing, but I really do appriciate all of the input left here aside from a few edgelords who left angry comments, how dare I try to be considerate of other peoples cultures, especially if it gets in the way of my furry boner 😂
anyways, genuinely thankyou guys so much! This has been helpful and very interesting to talk about, sorry if I didn't or couldn't reply to you, at a certain point I would just be saying thankyou for the input over and over again. Also, if you have more to add that you don't think anyone else has said then feel free to dm me. I cant promise a reply as I'm working today. But I'll do my best to get back to you. Thankyou 💖
Anyways, I was doodling my fursona earlier in a princess jasmine esque desert princess outfit, I stopped myself after the sketch and really asked myself if it was okay, I had never considered it before, no have I drawn art like this before that I can recall. I did some research but couldn't quite find the answers I was looking for, maybe I wasn't typing in the correct things.
So far I've found out that the outfit that I've drawn is most likely closest to a belly dancing outfit, a really fantasy one at that,, but i found it originally originated in North Africa, where my ancestors are from, so,, I think (???) Its alright?
But I would like to ask, at the end of the day it was a sketch that took me less then 10 minutes to make, I am not at all attached to it and I'm open to changing it if it makes anyone uncomfortable or feels like cultural appropriation, im here to listen and learn basically.
Here is rhe sketch in question:
https://twitter.com/_heartspark/sta.....913695744?s=19
And please don't give me any stupid arguments like I should do it anyways just because you want to be edgy.
Edit:
I'm disabling comments here now just cause I did get so many replies and I just can't keep up with it 😅😂 there are also a plethora of comments saying more or less rhe same thing, but I really do appriciate all of the input left here aside from a few edgelords who left angry comments, how dare I try to be considerate of other peoples cultures, especially if it gets in the way of my furry boner 😂
anyways, genuinely thankyou guys so much! This has been helpful and very interesting to talk about, sorry if I didn't or couldn't reply to you, at a certain point I would just be saying thankyou for the input over and over again. Also, if you have more to add that you don't think anyone else has said then feel free to dm me. I cant promise a reply as I'm working today. But I'll do my best to get back to you. Thankyou 💖
Comment posting has been disabled by the journal owner.
Like pretty much anything I see in movies and TV, particularly from the early 2000s and before, I just kind of assume is "this is a whole cloth fabrication by white americans after hearing a 30 second elevator pitch about some other culture, and then forgetting 90% of what they heard after getting high on cocaine".
So from that point of view, maybe this is a good opportunity to share some education.
OMG this has me ROLLING
If I do end up finishing the sketch page with the piece in question I will most definitely make sure to leave some education in the description of it to give credit to its origin and hopefully inspire and encourage people to learn and take a deeper look into it, I think ita super important to try to respect other cultures that you're inspired by, genuinely thankyou so much for your input
I wanted to make sure you saw what they said.
Obviously there's ways one could be toxic about it, but I don't think sketching a character in a particular outfit is one of them, unless you're being intentionally mean-spirited about it. If you just like the way it looks, appreciate the aesthetic or the history behind it, anything positive like that, you're fine. Just my two cents.
Simply put, Cultrual Appropiation would mean you are stealing/HiJacking the culture and claming it for yourself despite being of a different culture or having no relation to it. And I would hope you much less anybody isnt creating art for such a purpose or an intention like that.
Its completely fine and normal to want to be accurate to do it justice. But its not to think of the art as appropriating and use this as an excuse to stifle and destroy creativity.
View this more as Cultural Appreciation that you like and enjoy the culture, and you celebrate it.
Only thing I'll comment on is I'm glad more & more people are being mindful like this when dealing with something from a culture they're unfamiliar with and/or not a part of. Even if it checks out & things are fine, it's so good that people are taking the time to inquire & learn. Kudos to you, Inkfang.
In general, many cultures have been erased or 'reimagined' to be acceptable to the masses whom have no clue of their significance, so even something as 'simple' as someone using certain clothing from a culture not their own can be very upsetting to those within the culture if they aren't mindful. For those I see here in the comments saying "it's just clothes" or "cultural appropriation as a concept is BS", be careful because those who have had their culture dumbed down to a mere costume, 5 minute commercial fad, and similar find that incredibly hurtful.
But yeah I agree, I wish I didn't see so many comments just blatantly ignoring the fact that cultural appropriation does absolutely exist and can actively harm people and is very hurtful :/ hopefully people can learn, but I dont have the energy to like, argue with strangers about it
Wearing something from another culture is not cultural appropriation. Africans particularly love seeing people from other cultures embracing their culture like this, its almost exclusively Americans that seem to have a big complex about this type of thing.
- An African.
When it comes to designing outfits like that I think along the lines of "Is this genuine celebration of a culture or straight up fetishization". The way I decide if it's fetishization is if I use it to tokenize (they're exotic, one of a kind, etc and highly desired for that point and that point alone) or sexualize the character.
I think (personally) that celebrating a culture respectfully and doing your research is okay as long as it doesn't fall into the above?
https://www.theatlantic.com/enterta.....iation/411292/
And I never knew feathered headdresses were considered sacred, but I'm not sure it means nobody else can do things with feathers in their hair.
This is one of many western things I truely hate, and it needs to stop.
If you've researched and looked into cultural attire and represent it respectfully - even with your own flare or design choices you shouldn't worry about it.
Again, you can't appease everyone - someone somewhere will be upset about something, but don't let one person ruin your creativity and dissuade you from drawing something you want. (Again, as long as it isn't in a way to intentionally bastardize or denigrate the culture or people)
For example, if one were to appropriate Native American culture (as this one, unfortunately, is the most appropriated) it could play out where they think the eagle dancers look cool and dress “sick” so they give their character that aesthetic despite that character having no relation, respect, or the honor of being allowed to dress that way, let alone “dance.”
It’s a two way street. The creator must understand the culture and the reason behind certain aesthetics/clothing, and then the character must be respecting that culture when they are drawn or written with it on.
I always feel its harder if you're dealing with furries instead of humans here but, if you're throughly researching it and using the culture/clothing properly, respectfully and to its original intention, i think you'll be good.
I try to think of it in a reverse situation to see if it works out.