Disney Pulls Costume - "Cultural Misappropriation"

[Impireacht]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/movies/news/di ... smsnnews11


In recent news, Disney has pulled a children's costume from the upcoming film "Moana" over complaints of "cultural misappropriation".

In my opinion, it's ridiculous that child cannot even wear a costume depicting someone of another ethnicity, lest someone find it mildly offensive. If they had made the costume white, there would have been cries of racism. If they didn't make movies about other cultures, they'd be racist. What is Disney supposed to do?


Anyways, what does NSG think? Was Disney right in pulling the costume? Were the ones making the complainants justified? Does cultural misappropriation even exist?

[Eol Sha]

I think pulling the costume is a little silly. At the same time, though, I can get why some people might be upset. Especially given how Pacific Islanders have had foreigners run roughshod over them for centuries now. US nuclear testing being one example and the lack of action on global climate change being the epitome of the lack of shits most governments give about a population of millions of people.

Not to mention that I'm assuming that the tattoos and markings have important, often religious, meanings. Meanings that are totally lost in consumer culture.

[Bogdanov Vishniac]

In recent news, Disney has pulled a children's costume from the upcoming film "Moana" over complaints of "cultural misappropriation".

And the whole 'it's kinda blackface-esque' thing. Don't forget that in your urge to get your anti-PC point scoring.

In my opinion, it's ridiculous that child cannot even wear a costume depicting someone of another ethnicity, lest someone find it mildly offensive. If they had made the costume white, there would have been cries of racism.

Yeah. If they had made a costume of a Polynesian character look white, that probably would have been a bit racist.

If they didn't make movies about other cultures, they'd be racist. What is Disney supposed to do?

...Not make a costume where pretending to be another ethnicity is a necessary part of wearing it?

[MERIZoC]

Whoever decided the costume was a good idea was an idiot.


Well, far as I hear, whoever decided to depict Maui that way was an idiot.

[The Great Devourer of All]

As Eol Sha said, I can see why Pacific Islanders have had it with taking bullshit from other nations. Disney pulling the costume is a matter that I'm pretty neutral on, though.

Edit: I hadn't realized that the costume involved actually changing the wearer's skin tone to be more like that of the character. Yeah, that's a bit too close to blackface for my liking.

[The first Galactic Republic]

I think pulling the costume is a little silly. At the same time, though, I can get why some people might be upset. Especially given how Pacific Islanders have had foreigners run roughshod over them for centuries now. US nuclear testing being one example and the lack of action on global climate change being the epitome of the lack of shits most governments give about a population of millions of people.

Not to mention that I'm assuming that the tattoos and markings have important, often religious, meanings. Meanings that are totally lost in consumer culture.

I get the idea you're trying to say here, but when you make comparisons to nuclear testing and climate change a Disney costume seems pretty irrelevant and you unintentionally make these people seem petty.

I also agree with OP's point. Is Disney supposed to just never make movies about ethnic minorities? I don't want the same western European fantasy over and over. I'd like to see influence from other cultures.

[Austria and Bavaria]

I can kind of understand, I get pretty pissed off when I see the ridiculously over-sexualized cartoony Dirndls people sell as "German" costumes in the US.

At the same time, the whole "cultural appropriation" thing is really starting to go too far. It's odd that we are simultaneously told how wonderful diversity is, and then told that we can't touch other people's cultures.

[Eol Sha]

I think pulling the costume is a little silly. At the same time, though, I can get why some people might be upset. Especially given how Pacific Islanders have had foreigners run roughshod over them for centuries now. US nuclear testing being one example and the lack of action on global climate change being the epitome of the lack of shits most governments give about a population of millions of people.

Not to mention that I'm assuming that the tattoos and markings have important, often religious, meanings. Meanings that are totally lost in consumer culture.

I get the idea you're trying to say here, but when you make comparisons to nuclear testing and climate change a Disney costume seems pretty irrelevant and you unintentionally make these people seem petty.

I also agree with OP's point. Is Disney supposed to just never make movies about ethnic minorities? I don't want the same western European fantasy over and over. I'd like to see influence from other cultures.

I don't think anyone is saying that. Personally, like most Disney movies, I'm gonna go see Moana. Looks interesting. The issue at hand is the costume.

[Herskerstad]

Silly Disney, do they not know that only western culture is universal?

[Tananat]

I get the idea you're trying to say here, but when you make comparisons to nuclear testing and climate change a Disney costume seems pretty irrelevant and you unintentionally make these people seem petty.

I also agree with OP's point. Is Disney supposed to just never make movies about ethnic minorities? I don't want the same western European fantasy over and over. I'd like to see influence from other cultures.

I don't think anyone is saying that. Personally, like most Disney movies, I'm gonna go see Moana. Looks interesting. The issue at hand is the costume.

It also taps into a big issues a lot of Pacific Islanders have about the movie, that Disney aren't taking it any more seriously than as something they can make money off of, which when it's such a big part of their culture, isn't a good thing.

[The first Galactic Republic]

I get the idea you're trying to say here, but when you make comparisons to nuclear testing and climate change a Disney costume seems pretty irrelevant and you unintentionally make these people seem petty.

I also agree with OP's point. Is Disney supposed to just never make movies about ethnic minorities? I don't want the same western European fantasy over and over. I'd like to see influence from other cultures.

I don't think anyone is saying that. Personally, like most Disney movies, I'm gonna go see Moana. Looks interesting. The issue at hand is the costume.

So the character is fine, but a costume based on them is not? That still seems oddly petty. Maybe the costume could be changed a bit?

I'm not a fan of this level of executive meddling. Having the character be unavailable for costumes is reminding me of how bad comic movies can be. This character can't get action figures because we didn't copyright the superhero name, or this character can't do this in a movie because people will confuse them with a rival company's superhero. Not the same reasons for the controversies no but my point is that executive meddling in products is just a headache.

[The first Galactic Republic]

I don't think anyone is saying that. Personally, like most Disney movies, I'm gonna go see Moana. Looks interesting. The issue at hand is the costume.

It also taps into a big issues a lot of Pacific Islanders have about the movie, that Disney aren't taking it any more seriously than as something they can make money off of, which when it's such a big part of their culture, isn't a good thing.

Maybe. I'd prefer to wait and see how good it is? Some animated movies have been celebrated for how they treat a foreign culture.

[The Liberated Territories]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

[Gauthier]

Silly Disney, do they not know that only western culture is universal?

I had no idea people dressing in western costumes used white face!

[The first Galactic Republic]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

That depends if it is a correct Viking helmet.

[Gauthier]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

Only if you put on pale makeup and fake beard.

[Eol Sha]

I don't think anyone is saying that. Personally, like most Disney movies, I'm gonna go see Moana. Looks interesting. The issue at hand is the costume.

It also taps into a big issues a lot of Pacific Islanders have about the movie, that Disney aren't taking it any more seriously than as something they can make money off of, which when it's such a big part of their culture, isn't a good thing.

I can understand the frustration. No one's given two shits about them up until when Disney decided to make a film.

On the bright side, Princess and the Frog was fantastic.

[Purpelia]

It also taps into a big issues a lot of Pacific Islanders have about the movie, that Disney aren't taking it any more seriously than as something they can make money off of, which when it's such a big part of their culture, isn't a good thing.

And how is that any reason to be upset? After all its how everyone treats every culture.

[Crockerland]

Did they even think about the pillaging of the continent of Hawaii?

[The Great Devourer of All]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

Unless you also live in an isolated community on the edge of the known world, name your most prized weapon, write sagas rivaling those of Homer, send expeditions into Canada, Russia, and the Middle East, and grant women unprecedented levels of freedom for your time, you are culturally misappropriating Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.

[The Holy Therns]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

Swede here. Go ahead, just ditch the horns.

That said, I totally get the blackface comparison with this and if they think it's inappropriate, I'd respect that.

[Risottia]

...Not make a costume where pretending to be another ethnicity is a necessary part of wearing it?

Next time a Disney character wears a tie, expect Croatians to be pissed and whine about Disney making costumes where non-Croatians pretend to be Croatians by the mere act of wearing a tie.

[Austria and Bavaria]

Welcome to corporate America, where ethnic values are treated like crap. It is not racist in anyway, because it's a universal problem. It's just that you only get outcry when it's a non-white group. As I mentioned above, businesses have turned this into this. They also seem to think Irish dress like this and that Scots look like this.

It's disgusting, it's insensitive, and it truly should stop. But it should apply to all Ethnic groups, not just a select few.

[Tananat]

It also taps into a big issues a lot of Pacific Islanders have about the movie, that Disney aren't taking it any more seriously than as something they can make money off of, which when it's such a big part of their culture, isn't a good thing.

And how is that any reason to be upset? After all its how everyone treats every culture.

I disagree with the assertion that its how everyone treats every culture, but its reason to be upset because their culture and heritage is important to them, and misrepresenting that, especially for monetary gain, is definitely something they would want to prevent.

[Austria and Bavaria]

Question, if I wear a viking helmet, am I culturally misappropriating Sweden?

Unless you also live in an isolated community on the edge of the known world, name your most prized weapon, write sagas rivaling those of Homer, send expeditions into Canada, Russia, and the Middle East, and grant women unprecedented levels of freedom for your time, you are culturally misappropriating Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia.

Where can I sign up?