Shambha-lovelies!
I think I just threw up in my mouth. Cultural appropriation isn’t cute And is that henna?
wtf is a googly third eye?
I honestly need to log off because I’m already having a horrible day and seeing this ignorance is making it even worse.
I just want to cry.
I know it's a subtle difference, but a googly third eye =/= a googly bindi. There was a conscious decision not to call them bindis. I know it seems like the whole concept of third eyes/chakras/bindis is an appropriation of eastern religion, but it's a deeply universal symbol.
[Side note: I had nothing to do with the Henna. I only supply the Googlie Eyes]
Though Culture is not a Costume is an absolutely marvelous slogan, it's just that: a slogan. It's not exactly true to the nature of Culture. Or costumes, for that matter. Stereotypes are not a Costume! Yes! But Culture itself is a costume. Each thing that we wear or identify with is part of a long narrative of pastiche, appropriation or evolutionary reaction between the meetings of cultures.
Now, my BA is in World Arts and Cultures/Cultural Studies, so you'll forgive me if I consider this partly academically, and I think that I maybe take a different approach to this issue. That said, I appreciate the comments and the opportunity to think further about this.
Wearing LITERAL cultural pieces that do not "belong" to you (bindis, headdresses) is different than REINTERPRETATION of symbols as an act of art or expression. There is a fine line here, and the measure of one's intention is too wobbly a barometer to make an ongoing distinction. It really is a case-by-case basis.
There are certain costume pieces that serve no purpose outside of decorative appropriation. I'm thinking of that FratBro shit.. sombreros, bling, and turbans come to mind. (Note: I was in a fraternity. There were some deeply inappropriate costume choices around me. Hindsight/growth/learning to be better as we go...) Then there are certain cultural elements that have a deeper connection to the inner worlds, the more-universal spaces where symbols are shared between cultures. The third eye is prevalent in Jewish (my heritage) mysticism, as well.
Moreover, the entire symbol has become deeply engrained into the New Age, post-modern amalgamation of Eastern and Western philosophy, ushering in a new era of creativity, collective identity and [insert hippie word of choice]. Nationalistic/religious/philosophical distinctiveness is melting away around the fringes and as a Humanist, I personally welcome that dissolution.
Unfortunately, as much as we might try to keep a symbol unadulterated, the very nature of postmodernism requires that no such thing can be considered sacred if it cannot also be re-imagined. Then it's up to the individual to be disgusted by it, humored by it, offended or apathetic. And to engage in dialogue, as I'm trying to, as opposed to your outright, holier-than-thou dismissals.
I opened up an old notebook on my computer to ponder the issue. Here are a few quotes pulled from my Intro to Cultural Studies notes...
Robert Lowie: "Culture is a thing of shreds and patches." Gandhi: "No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive." Geertz: (my notes fr Professor speaking) Culture is semiotic, a series of webs that man is caught up in, that he himself has spun. A quest for interpreting meaning.
The words Synchronism and Bricolage also show up repeatedly.
Long windedly, I simply say that I see and respect your Googlieness and recognize that we are on the same side of this argument, but maybe I'm just playing a little bit more with the fire. The Festival community that I'm involved with is deeply in conversation (with First Nations and amongst ourselves) to find the right balance of sacred symbolism and finding our own language around ancient concepts.
The struggle is real and I thank you for the criticism.