Cultural Appropriation in My Painting

I painted this during the Summer of 2010 because I wanted to nail the strokes of a skull. I wanted to also nail it because of the trend it has--sugar skulls were getting some hype in fashion/trends and I thought it was cool if I had a portrait.

 Fast forward: this year has been a very long year for me. I have been doing lot of unpacking with culturally sensitivity/conscious issues. This year I have finally identified myself as Deaf Woman of Color, and I have developed new perspective from a group of strong activists. Those activists has taught me a lot, I was able to recognize and understand my light-skinned privileges I hold. I have made some hurtful mistakes in the past. In the last three months, I've been learning more and more about community accountability. The more I learned, the more I loathe the idea that the painting is still hanging in my room in California. It represents cultural appropriation. What is cultural appropriation?

"Cultural appropriation is the adoption
or theft of icons, rituals, aesthetic standards,
and behavior from one culture or subculture
by another. It generally is applied when the
subject culture is a minority culture or somehow
subordinate in social, political, economic,
or military status to the appropriating
culture. "is “appropriation” often occurs
without any real understanding of why the
original culture took part in these activities
or the meanings behind these activities, often
converting culturally significant artifacts,
practices, and beliefs into “meaningless”
pop-culture or giving them a significance
that is completely different/less nuanced
than they would originally have had."

(This was written in the spring of 2011 in occupied coast Salish territory, 

Olympia, Washington.)

I thought the sugar skull was a cool symbol: "pop culture"
I had no understanding toward the meaning of symbol: "often occurs without any real understanding of why the original culture took part in these activities.."

I looked at the sugar skull as a different/less nuanced than they would originally have had. I stole the icon of dia de los muertos.  

Talking about cultural appropriation, I have seen a lot of examples in blogs. I often find myself so disappointed when I see a blog I would want to sponsor but the blogger decorated her layout with a dreamcatcher or wears clothes that appropriate others culture (ie: Native American accents in fashion) I have spoke with some blogger on posts where I recognized cultural appropriation: wearing Saris and often the blogger become defensive. It is NOT about you, it is about appropriating others culture- do not take it personally.

Why are we stealing other culture's customs and turn them in something trendy available for everyone to wear? I cringe when  I walk past Targets' selection of purses, boots, and shirts that has Native American accents.

And it has become evident that I cannot stand my own painting. When I get home, I'll be sure to destroy it. I also want to apologize for this action, for offending those affiliated with the tradition of dia de los muertos.