‘Cultural appropriation is defined by Young (2015) as the use of elements of one culture by artists of another culture and shown in their related products of art. Adopting another culture’s fashion, food, symbols, and art into one’s own use are just a few ways of appropriation. Due to this act of appropriation, many controversial issues have resulted from it. One of the main issues that we have encountered is that of the commercialisation for profits that arises from the appropriation of New Zealand indigenous art into mainstream fashion (Shand, 2002). This problem is not unfamiliar to the world. Global players such as artists, designers and corporations who are in power have tried to alleviate the issue arising from appropriating other culture
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For example, New Zealand swimwear manufacturer, Moontide included women’s suits created from material that included interlocking curvilinear patterns and koru designs. These designs were from the indigenous people from Pirirakau hapu (sub-tribe) of the Ngati Ranginui people. Appropriation of the design from the indigenous people and subsequently being used to sell it through the swim suits have resulted in the problem of commercialisation. The Encyclopaedia of World Problems and Human Potential (1999) mentioned that indigenous communities may be under economic stress to turn into commercialisation of their traditional art, including objects which may be of significant symbolic meaning to their communities. Such act of commercialisation can slowly diminish the originality of their culture. This claim is further supported by Herle (2002) as she mentioned in her book that commercialisation of art might lead to the obliteration of indigenous culture and a decline in the standard of indigenous artistic products. While these issues should be tackled, the major and most prominent would be that of taking advantage and ill-treating indigenous people, enabling corporations to make huge monetary gains by controlling the production lines and where the goods are distributed (Herle, 2002). Many …show more content…
Often, there will be pros and cons for every possible solution and we should consider the suitability of it to national interest, legal and cultural environment, and the requirements of indigenous communities. If we can improve and add on to the existing infrastructure, then we might have a better shot at solving the problem of commercialising from cultural appropriation of the arts more effectively. When Metsavaht was asked about payment to indigenous communities for borrowing responsibly from another culture, he responded by saying that it is essential that corporation and artists alike respect another culture and make a way to recreate it for the consumers while maintaining the conventional knowledge (Varagur, 2015). Respect is shown when Author of Secret River, Grenville (2005) said that she tried not to write from the angle of indigenous human as it was almost impossible but only after thorough and cautious research with historical transcripts, did she tried portraying the roles of the Indigenous (Convery 2016). Giving indigenous people the respect they deserve along with the current existing solutions are a top-down approach whereby it involves the bigger stakeholders more and neglected individuals from indigenous
For example, New Zealand swimwear manufacturer, Moontide included women’s suits created from material that included interlocking curvilinear patterns and koru designs. These designs were from the indigenous people from Pirirakau hapu (sub-tribe) of the Ngati Ranginui people. Appropriation of the design from the indigenous people and subsequently being used to sell it through the swim suits have resulted in the problem of commercialisation. The Encyclopaedia of World Problems and Human Potential (1999) mentioned that indigenous communities may be under economic stress to turn into commercialisation of their traditional art, including objects which may be of significant symbolic meaning to their communities. Such act of commercialisation can slowly diminish the originality of their culture. This claim is further supported by Herle (2002) as she mentioned in her book that commercialisation of art might lead to the obliteration of indigenous culture and a decline in the standard of indigenous artistic products. While these issues should be tackled, the major and most prominent would be that of taking advantage and ill-treating indigenous people, enabling corporations to make huge monetary gains by controlling the production lines and where the goods are distributed (Herle, 2002). Many …show more content…
Often, there will be pros and cons for every possible solution and we should consider the suitability of it to national interest, legal and cultural environment, and the requirements of indigenous communities. If we can improve and add on to the existing infrastructure, then we might have a better shot at solving the problem of commercialising from cultural appropriation of the arts more effectively. When Metsavaht was asked about payment to indigenous communities for borrowing responsibly from another culture, he responded by saying that it is essential that corporation and artists alike respect another culture and make a way to recreate it for the consumers while maintaining the conventional knowledge (Varagur, 2015). Respect is shown when Author of Secret River, Grenville (2005) said that she tried not to write from the angle of indigenous human as it was almost impossible but only after thorough and cautious research with historical transcripts, did she tried portraying the roles of the Indigenous (Convery 2016). Giving indigenous people the respect they deserve along with the current existing solutions are a top-down approach whereby it involves the bigger stakeholders more and neglected individuals from indigenous