Thoughts about 'Maui' costume from Disney's Moana?

[robinb]

Sorry, kiddos. You're only allowed white skin colours in your costuming. Dark skin colours are shameful and must be avoided at all costs, not paraded around with pride.

That is the polar opposite of why people wanted to have the costume recalled.

 

[L&Lfan]

I don't like to speak for others, but I think magpie was being sarcastic.

 

[Veronique]

Cultural appropriation is was explained to me as when an oppressive race takes on aspects of a culture it oppresses or has oppressed without understanding the whole culture. Sort of cherry picking the good and fun parts without doing something about the oppression. When someone from an oppressed culture takes on aspects of their oppressors it's assimilation and a survival tool, that's why it's acceptable for an African American girl to be Elsa (Assimilation), but not a Caucasian girl to be Tiana (Appropriation). I personally distinguish the intent behind a costume. Tiana and Elsa are made up characters so I don't really find anything wrong with anyone of any race dressing as those characters. I think where a line is crossed is when you do face or body paint, but just wearing Tiana's dress is just wearing a green dress. I'd have a whole different feeling if a Caucasian person dressed as a slave from the antebellum south for Halloween whether they painted their face or not as that is someone from a race that oppressed another and is , in a sense , mocking a dark time in our history, and yet, if an African American wanted to play a Southern Belle from the Antebellum south it wouldn't bother me because I see it as assimilation to fit into an oppressive culture. Right or wrong these are my feelings I don't claim to always be logical and reserve the right to change them at any time.

Thank you for taking the time to explain. It's super hard since i'm not so fluent in English. From my understanding, I disagree about that part "that's why it's acceptable for an African American girl to be Elsa (Assimilation), but not a Caucasian girl to be Tiana (Appropriation)" as long as no blackface is involved. Blackface is a SPECIFIC problem, and I disagree with the previous poster who said whiteface was the equivalent. It can't because there is no history of discrimination or power imbalance.

To the poster who spoke about being colorblind, it's actually a good idea who can end up badly. People with the colorblind-at-all-cost mentality might deny actual racism happening today (which is actually a racist thing to do in itself) but also it leaves all the space to racists to spread their hate. I think we need to speak about race in a positive way has early as possible. My son is 6 years old and I spoke with him about race (in words he could understand) and how some (very terrible) person think the color of your skin is important, that it makes you better then other people or worse and that they were wrong, but since it still happen today it's very unfair to people who don't have white skin, etc. ... Just sowing little reflexion time here and there is a good idea I think...

 

[Magpie]

That is the polar opposite of why people wanted to have the costume recalled.

Thus the irony.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Doesn't matter. They would be saying it's inappropriate and offensive if Disney didn't release a Maui costume. There are some people that you just can't win with; you're going to find them complaining about everything and anything.

I don't know about that. It's not like you see costumes for the princes. I just looked through Disney Store's Halloween costumes...no Kristoff, no Beast, none of the Princes...it's not like it would be unusual for them to have a costume for a female character from a movie and not a male. I don't think there would have been much of a response at all if they'd just never released a Maui costume.

 

[mickman1962]

Is there nothing left in this world that doesn't offend someone?

 

[pat fan]

Is there nothing left in this world that doesn't offend someone?

Nope.

For the record, I think it's fine.

 

[Jafar30]

I think the costume is fine. Others don't and that's their right. It certainly isn't worth a battle fighting over

 

[hereyago]

Holy crap people need a life. Here ya go: you don't like something, don't buy it, walk away.

 

[pat fan]

Holy crap people need a life. Here ya go: you don't like something, don't buy it, walk away.

 

[bcla]

Thank you for taking the time to explain. It's super hard since i'm not so fluent in English. From my understanding, I disagree about that part "that's why it's acceptable for an African American girl to be Elsa (Assimilation), but not a Caucasian girl to be Tiana (Appropriation)" as long as no blackface is involved. Blackface is a SPECIFIC problem, and I disagree with the previous poster who said whiteface was the equivalent. It can't because there is no history of discrimination or power imbalance.

To the poster who spoke about being colorblind, it's actually a good idea who can end up badly. People with the colorblind-at-all-cost mentality might deny actual racism happening today (which is actually a racist thing to do in itself) but also it leaves all the space to racists to spread their hate. I think we need to speak about race in a positive way has early as possible. My son is 6 years old and I spoke with him about race (in words he could understand) and how some (very terrible) person think the color of your skin is important, that it makes you better then other people or worse and that they were wrong, but since it still happen today it's very unfair to people who don't have white skin, etc. ... Just sowing little reflexion time here and there is a good idea I think...

There was a time (before he became suspected of illegal things) where kids of all races would dress up in costume like Michael Jackson. Actually, you can still get that. The Jheri curl wig doesn't come with the costume though.

http://www.target.com/p/michael-jac...gclid=CIqclqrLpM8CFYdlfgodTVALWg&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[roseaster]

I don't understand the point of people insisting upon doing something just because they can. Again, if a large group of people are saying, "this is offensive and hurtful," then respect that. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.

If your kid comes home and says they want to be a Nazi for Halloween you don't say, "Oh it's just a costume, they like the boots, and they don't remember WWII" You explain to them why that isn't an appropriate costume.

 

[mickman1962]

Where is this shown that this is "a large group of people". The article, in true fashion states "many people" find it offensive. What is many people these days? Seems to me that it means more than one

 

[imbelle]

I dance with a hula group of about 50+ Polynesians. They are very sensitive about their culture and they are looking forward to seeing how Disney deals with it in "Moana". But I think they get the distinction here as some of them have already bought the Maui costume for their sons. Not speaking for all Polynesians, just relaying what I've seen and heard in my group.

 

[Dawnlight]

I think part of the problem is that we, as a society, view a few who might have an issue with this costume as representing ALL in that culture. No, just as there are some that are offended, there are others who are appreciative of their culture being represented in such a wide-spread way. Why do we always listen to and comply with those who complain the most and loudest? For every article that I've read of people shouting they're offended, in the same article were those of that culture stating that they were thrilled.

 

[Marchand63]

Holy crap people need a life. Here ya go: you don't like something, don't buy it, walk away.

Please just stop being sensible, really just cut it out!!!

I don't understand the point of people insisting upon doing something just because they can. Again, if a large group of people are saying, "this is offensive and hurtful," then respect that. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.

If your kid comes home and says they want to be a Nazi for Halloween you don't say, "Oh it's just a costume, they like the boots, and they don't remember WWII" You explain to them why that isn't an appropriate costume.

Yeah large groups are always right. Reference Nazi party -Germany in 1930 & 1940, awesome frame of reference.

 

[Magpie]

I don't understand the point of people insisting upon doing something just because they can. Again, if a large group of people are saying, "this is offensive and hurtful," then respect that. Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do it.

If your kid comes home and says they want to be a Nazi for Halloween you don't say, "Oh it's just a costume, they like the boots, and they don't remember WWII" You explain to them why that isn't an appropriate costume.

But what if you belong to that same group of people, would like to purchase the costume for your child and now can't, because a small, vocal minority of people (who in many cases may not even belong to YOUR group, but who've just taken up the cause in your name) have convinced Disney to yank it off the shelves?

Most of the anger I've read, with regards to this costume, has been coming from both black and white Americans. None of whom are themselves Polynesian, but all of whom are "woke" and dedicated to defending other "marginalized cultures" around the world. Regardless of whether those cultures have actually asked for this help, or not. In fact, most of the protest has nothing to do with Polynesia whatsoever, and more to do with "full body brownface" as one Black writer put it.

Edit: I should add, I've been looking for Polynesian perspectives on this. I found an academic who was concerned that the tattoos were inappropriate for a child to wear (because they include symbols that would only be worn by an adult). And a woman who counts Maui as a direct ancestor and is very concerned about his depiction in general. Both completely legit perspectives. Also, Fox News says "many Polynesians" are happy the costume was pulled, but doesn't actually interview or quote anyone, much less an actual Polynesian person.