Since its inception, our “Appropriation (?) of the Month” column has explored what and when something might be considered a misappropriation, a cultural borrowing, or something else. The answer isn’t always clear or simple, and is often nuanced or contextual.
For thousands of years, societies around the world have incorporated elements of other people’s heritage in their art, literature, architecture, and other cultural expressions. Most often these acts are benign, with new ideas, practices, and products being spread or developed through cross-cultural encounters, trade, or migration. These borrowings inform who we are—from our clothing styles, to the foods we eat, and the music we listen to. But there are also countless examples where cultural heritage is used in unwelcome, improper, or even harmful ways—often a consequence of the power imbalances resulting from colonialism.
We hope you’ve been paying attention for it’s now time for the midterm exam. Please close your books, clear your desks, and begin your multiple-choice exam. For each example provided, please select what you think is the most appropriate answer and then briefly explain your choice (leave your answers in the comments section below).
1. Brian Jungen’s Prototype for New Understanding #5, 1999 (Nike Air Jordans athletic shoes, human hair; 22 × 27 × 5 inches (56 x 69 x 13 cm). This work is part of Jungen’s series of a “reconstructed” of traditional Northwest Coast ceremonial masks (photo: Catriona Jeffries Gallery).
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
2. Inuit Snow goggles. Found throughout the Arctic, these were worn to prevent snow blindness. Traditionally, the eye protection was carved from bone, ivory, or wood (as shown at left, Inuit Goggles photo by Julian Idrobo from Winnipeg, Canada [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons). The Ijaak form on right (photo: Madina Design) is made of plastic.
***hint, follow this link to learn more***
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
3) “Egyptian Room," Harrods Department Store, London (photo: G. Nicholas).
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
4) Tollund Man, Denmark. The most famous and most photographed of all of the so-called bog bodies of northern Europe, the remains of this individual were recovered in a peat bog and date to about 2,400 years ago. His remarkably well-preserved image serves as a testimony to the preservative powers of the moor sediments, which can help preserve your youthful appearance by using “Moor Mud” (photo: Moor Mud Supplies).
***hint, follow this link to learn more***
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
5) Pictographs used in design of gas station/convenience store marquee, Kamloops, British Columbia (photo: G. Nicholas).
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
6) British Museum, London (right), an example of the Greek Revival style, as inspired by the Acropolis in Athens (left) and other buildings of that era (photos: G. Nicholas)
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
7) Karl May Festival: each year in Germany, so-called Indian hobby groups meet to celebrate 19th-century author, Karl May and his "American West" adventure books. Many events that revolve around Native American/First Nations are held (photo: “Campfire,” from the series Karl May Festival, by Andrea Robbins and Max Becher 1997–98, Artsy.net).
**hint: follow this link to learn more***
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
8) Nk’mip Pinot Noir Wine, Osoyoos, British Columbia. The bottle label displays the logo of the winery, which is a prehistoric stone projectile point combined with a pictograph image (photo: BC Wine Lover Blog).
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
9) Marketing traditional foods:
- President's Choice Ancient Grains breakfast cereal: "By supporting the use of these rare and ancient varieties of grains, you're encouraging the continued cultivation of these treasures from the past, which might otherwise be lost forever."
- Soapberries: "Wilp Sa Maa'y is 'House for Berries' in the Gitxsan language. The Wilp Sa Maa'y Harvesting Cooperative supports local employment and the sustainable harvest of wild forest products."
- Ancient Quinoa Harvest: "Although new to North Americans, [quinoa] has been cultivated in the highest continuously farmed region of the earth, the South American Andes, since at least 3,000 B.C. The ancient Incas called it 'the mother grain' and revered it as sacred."
- Guayake Yerba Mate: "Guayaki's Mission is to cultivate sustainability by working in harmony with indigenous cultures and their environment to produce prodcuts that promote Market-Drive Conservation" (photo: G. Nicholas)
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
10) Land Rover Accessories: "Masai® is an exclusive range of high quality vehicle enhancement accessories and parts" (photo: Omega Automotive Ltd.).
Check one:
- a) Misappropriation
- b) Cultural Borrowing
- c) Other
Please explain answer.
Extra Credit: The 1491s — “The Indian Store”
Please comment on the reflexive discourse embedded in this video relating to the appropriated appropriating the appropriators.
Comments
is counter-appropriation a thing?
okay these were written before i read the 'cheat/answers' at the end:
1. Brian Jungen's 'Prototype...'
c) Other: I would call this counter-appropriation, if that's a thing. I think Jungen is making a statement about the common appropriation and commodification particularly of "native" masks, especially from the northwest coast. The figure is specifically reminiscent of Tsonoqua (sp), the wild woman of the woods who eats children, her lips puckered as if to consume all in sight. The use of Nike in this case is poignant given their corporate and capitalist interests -- consumption is the key theme. So, because of its intent as a political statement, I would call it counter-appropriation.
2. Inuit snow goggles
b) Cultural Borrowing: I'm actually torn on this answer and think it hinges on who the artist is. If this is an Inuit artist commodifying their own heritage, that seems okay to me and would be classified as 'commodification,' rather than misappropriation or cultural borrowing. If it isn't, then it's cultural borrowing and commodification. But I think I distinguish between misappropriation and cultural borrowing based on the nature of the object itself, and as an outsider, I don't *think* snow goggles were particularly sacred or emotive objects. If they were/are, then it would be misappropriation.
3. Harrods Egyptian Room
a) Misappropriation: Related to above, these motifs and large statues were, in the Egyptian context, related to worship and rituals around death. Using this architecture for a store is kind of tacky and disrespectful -- I'd feel weird about shopping in a graveyard too.
4. Moor Mud
a) Misappropriation: This is just disrespectful of the sacred, spiritual and emotional nature of humans and our varied relationships to death. Using human remains to sell a product isn't just misappropriation, it's just wrong.
5. Pictographs in Kamloops
a) Misappropriation I am pretty sure that pictographs were generally created as part of a ceremony or spiritual experience. I'm not sure why they're on the gas station marquee except to look cool and give the gas station a "heritage-y" feel. The designs are therefore totally out of context: their sacred nature suggests to me that they should be avoided in every-day use and particularly in exploitative commodification (e.g., to make money).
6. British Museum
b) Cultural Borrowing I am torn on this answer too because it IS appropriation, and the parthenon was a temple, so has that sacred aspect to it. However, unlike Harrod's use of the Egyptian tombs, the British Museum is not using the architecture in a commercial setting but is itself a sort of 'temple' to history. I suppose then it's the commercial and capitalist nature that turns cultural borrowing into misappropriation, and this is in direct proportion to the degree of sacredness the original object/motif has.
7. Karl May Festival
a) Misappropriation: This is actually just kind of racist. I'm not sure if it's misappropriation or just racist.
8. Nk'mip Wine
c) Other: This is 'other' because it is a First Nation run winery, so I cannot say it's cultural borrowing or misappropriation, because these designs are part of the Nation's own heritage. It is commodifying their heritage, which they are perfectly at liberty to do, and the only thing I would really question is whether the pictograph designs have any kind of sacred or spiritual associations, in which case it may be inappropriate commodification. If inappropriate, then perhaps it would be a form of misappropriation.
9. Traditional Foods
c) Other: In this assortment of four examples, the same argument as presented for #8 above applies: where it is the source community who is commodifying their own heritage, it is only misappropriation if the reapplication of the design or idea is internally considered inappropriate. Here, with the Soapberries and the Guayake Yerba Mate, I don't think that's the case. With the Ancient Grains and quinoa, the use of "ancient heritage" appears to be by outsiders and is a marketing ploy; those would count perhaps then as Cultural Borrowing.
10. Land Rover
a) Misappropriation: Land Rover is using the identity of a marginalized group in Africa to sell their products. It is exploitative and beyond appropriation.
Extra Credit - The Indian Store This is hilarious and I don't to ruin it with academic analysis. brilliant stuff, 1491.
Some clues (or perhaps not)
These are not answers — in fact, some of this additional information may actually make it more difficult to answer the questions.
1). Brian Jungen is of Dunne-za First Nation ancestry, and from the Fort St. John area of British Columbia, which is well away from the Northwest Coast. For an interesting interview, click here >
2) An Inuit colleague was dumbfounded when I showed him the replica googles.
3) The Egyptian Room at Harrods was built under the direction of Mohammed Al Fayed (born in Egypt) during the time that he owned the department store. In recent years the Egyptian government has been exploring ways to limit the unauthorized reproduction of antiquities. More info on this can be found on our blog here > .
4) According to my Danish colleagues, most everyone in the country is “mad about Tollund Man,” and his visage appears on many products, as well as featured in poetry, songs, literature, and comedy roles.
5) The gas station pictured is located on the Kamloops Indian Reserve.
6) Which of these buildings holds/held the Elgin/Parthenon Marbles? Which building will eventually house the marbles? (Hint).
7) Many First Nations and Native American individuals and dance groups regularly travel to Germany (and elsewhere) to participate in such events.
8) Nk’mp Cellars is “North America’s first Aboriginal owned and operated winery.”
9) Which of these products is produced and marketed by Indigenous groups? The financial proceeds of which of these products go to Indigenous individuals or communities?
10) The Masaai people of Kenya and Tanzania are seeking to curtail the widespread use of their “brand.” Read a BBC news story about this here >
quiz
1) c. I think using the shoes to make a statement in the artwork is ok.
2)c. I think using plastic is part of technological change.
3)a. it becomes sketchy for me when things are used for profit.
4)a. For me this is parallel to marketing native medicines.
5)c. On reserve using our own symbols is ok to me. I only just noticed them recently!
6)b. Used for educational purpose but are they the ones who should be educating?
7)a. They are essentially making goulash out of several native cultures and playing indian. Perpetuating the utopian myth.
8)a. Unless this is a band owned winery.
9)a. Did these culture groups endorse this? Corporations processing tradidtional food, do not agree with this.
10)c. i dont get this one.
11)Hilarious video, lets face it we (FN's) have all shopped at these places :-)
Sovereignty?