Chicago Blackhawks Logo

 

Chicago Blackhawks logo and Black Hawk, the person (1767-1838)

I decided to do my hack on the logo for the Chicago Blackhawks, the NHL hockey team representing Chicago, my hometown. After reading Root’s chapter on cultural appropriation I felt a lot more informed on the subject. One thing that struck me was when she wrote “The second problem with the fascination of other cultures concerns the refusal of many…of Western Culture to come to terms with the continuing consequences of colonial history” (Root, 75). I think this is especially relevant with the Blackhawks logo, but in a unique way. In my research, I found out a lot more about the logo. The Blackhawks, unlike the Cleveland Indians (who clearly use a very racist logo), have not gotten as much flak for theirs. One thing I found was they have a mascot that is an actual hawk (like the animal), no Native American imagery there. The name Blackhawks originated because the founder of the team was in the Blackhawk division in the Army (Indian Country Media Network). I further found out that the original Black Hawk was a Sauk Indian who was famous for fighting against the US in the War of 1812. He was caught at some point and was taken around different cities in America but was eventually released and actually, through an interpreter, was the first Native American to have a biography published.

This was a shock to me and really made me think about how complicated cultural appropriation can be. It seems very weird to me that the US army would adopt a name for a division from someone who fought against them. It makes me question, did they do it out of respect for his abilities? Did they do it to flaunt the fact they defeated him? I don’t know the answers to these questions. More importantly, would the answers matter? I believe they do, if they were doing it out of respect for what Black Hawk accomplished in his life then I think it would be ok. Black Hawk seems to have made a speech before he died in which he said he had made friends with the “White man” and there seems to be mutual respect (Wikipedia). Cultural appropriation is very complicated, the line between indulging in other cultures, or cultures simply evolving over time due to different people or traditions, and appropriation seems blurred. I think the question of whether Eminem and other white rappers are culturally appropriating Black Culture, which some people seem to believe, is a perfect example of this blurring. I definitely look forward to seeing the perspectives of my fellow students in this class. Maybe they can give me some further insight.

Sources: https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/culture/sports/why-is-the-chicago-blackhawks-logo-okay-but-washington-redskins-racist/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hawk_(Sauk_leader)

Henna, More than a Temporay Tatoo

On the right: traditional wedding henna designs.  On the left: henna booth (both images found on Google)

Henna designs trace back to Hindu and Muslim traditions.  Before a wedding, the bridal party would cover their hands with intricate designs.  The Henna paste would then dry and temporarily stain their skin with these beautiful pieces of art.

This art later become popular in Western Culture.  This is an example of appropriation.  Henna booths started to pop up at county fairs and amusement parks.  What once had cultural significance to Hindu and Muslim cultures was reduced to a temporary tattoo.

I will admit, I have gotten a henna before, I am sure many of us had, if not we have at least seen the booths somewhere.  There are lots of red curtains and pillows, maybe even rugs as if to mirror Indian design, but if you look closer the actual artists themselves are often white.  It is not that this culture is being shared with us through someone who identifies with it, but as Root describes, it is to “be bought and sold in the marketplace”, by individuals seeking a profit (and if you have seen those prices you know they most definitely are).

Some might see diffusing this culture into the American lifestyle is a way of honoring their tradition or at least recognizing it.  It is what I tell myself when I get a henna.  But ultimately the people from which this tradition originated do not benefit from the appropriation.

Sources:

Root, Deborah. Cannibal culture: art, appropriation, and the commodification of difference. Westview Press, 1998. Pg.67-96

Pictures found on Google

Cultural Appropriation: The Cross

Acculturation is everywhere and is embedded into American culture. A lot of the time we may not even notice appearances of acculturation, since the cultural significance is usually lost along the acculturation process.

In the article titled “Cannibal Culture,” author Deborah Root discusses cultural appropriation and how there is an overall negative impact. For example, though cultural appropriation may seem harmless from a surface level, Root argues that appropriation “reduces the living people and culture to the status of objects” (Cannibal Culture, 70).

This is exemplified in a number of fashion trends. One specific one that I will focus one is the cross. Though this fashion trend is not as prevalent as it was several years ago, it is still present in our culture. The cross is a religious symbol in Christianity and when it is used in secular contexts such as fashion trends, it can be seen as cultural appropriation since it seems to lose its significance.

For Christians, the meaning of the cross symbolizes what Jesus Christ has done for all people, out of love. He has died a life for us on the cross so that those who believe in him may live a life of freedom away from sin.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the cross, and I personally would not be offended if I knew someone wore it and was not Christian. Though, it is sad to see that a lot of the time, especially when in fashion trends, it loses its meaning as a result of cultural appropriation. This is especially evident in articles of clothing which have both the right-side-up cross, symbolizing Christ’s Crucifixion, and the up-side-down cross, most often used as an anti-Christian or Satanic symbol; both have very different meanings. It is highly unlikely that people of the faith would wear both version of the cross. 

There are times when it is unclear whether or not someone wears a cross because of a fashion trend, because they are Christian, or for both reasons. That is completely fine. That being said, I am not arguing that people should not wear a cross at all. Rather, I want to point to the fact that there is a real meaning and purpose to the cross rather than a simple fashion trend. The cross, along with many other elements of culture, become culturally appropriated, and a lot of the time we may not even notice it. 

Resources:

Root, Deborah. Cannibal Culture: Art, Appropriation, and the Commodification of Difference. Westview Press, 1998.

 

 

HACK #3 – Acculturation

Upon reading “Cannibal Culture: Art, Appropriation, and The Commodification of Difference” by Deborah Root, I was struck by the material appropriation of objects that originally held spiritual or other significant meaning. When Root discussed the confiscation of ceremonial objects, which ultimately robs them of their original meaning, I was reminded of the recent cultural appropriation of yoga in the United States. According to Root, appropriation is “commodification and use that overlook both the cultural context and the desires of the people of that culture.” (76)  Yoga is meant to be a deeply spiritual form of meditation, and while there are still aspects of this in the widespread practice of yoga we see today, it is mostly seen as a form of exercise. For example, yoga is a common practice in Buddhism, which is based on the journey of Siddhartha to enlightenment by giving up all his worldly goods. Western consumerist ideals have created even more separation from the traditional practice of yoga. Although yoga practices have a variety of goals throughout several cultures, the general objective is to isolate yourself from everyday life. So, buying a t-shirt to show how “into” yoga you are essentially defeats the purpose of practice of yoga in the first place.

 

Chinese Appropriation of American Culture

An authentic iPhone 5s (right) next to a Chinese replica iPhone (left).

The iPhone has become a ubiquitous American cultural icon in the 21^st century, with seemingly everyone in the United States being aware of its existence and iconography. This massive popularity has naturally translated into the product being well known and desired in other parts of the world. This incredible worldwide demand has lead to the iPhone having a ludicrously high price, inspiring many to create ‘knock-offs.’ A great example of this is the “replica” iPhones made and sold in China, which feature not only the utility of the pioneering smartphone, but also its aesthetic value. So, given the iPhone’s place as a culturally important icon in America, are Chinese manufacturers guilty of appropriation? I would argue that, based on Deborah Root’s definition of appropriation as theft in Cannibal Culture, these Chinese manufacturers are absolutely guilty. Root states that in order for appropriation to be theft, “The people from whom the material is taken are not consulted about the appropriations… and the primary motivation for appropriation is financial, with few, if any benefits accruing to the creators of the material” (Root, 72). We see in the case of ‘Chinese iPhones’ that both of these criteria are met; Apple is not receiving any royalties based on the use of their designs and icons, and the Chinese manufacturers are doing this to undercut the American business and make a healthy profit in the process. While I believe that most Americans, including myself, would prefer to buy a genuine iPhone despite the much larger price tag, this is clearly not true of Chinese consumers. This difference in culture serves to highlight this occurrence as an issue of cultural appropriation, as Root makes multiple references to the fact that difference drives the force of appropriation. This particular instance is interesting because it shows how a culture known for appropriation can itself be appropriated in the modern marketplace without any sort of conquest or colonization.

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Source:

Root, Deborah. Cannibal culture: art, appropriation, and the commodification of difference. Westview Press, 1998. pg.67-96

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