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

[Adelle Dazeem]

My ancestral background is about as pasty white as can be yet my daughter studies hula, ori tahiti, and tahitian drumming. She's a redhead with freckles and so pale that she is almost translucent on stage. We are as far from Pacific Islander culture as we can get. Should she not be "allowed" to study these forms of dance because of cultural appropriation?

 

[kerry1379]

Ok, I am probably going to open up a whole can of worms here but I really don't understand. Why would wearing this costume with a different shade skin color than your own, or even coloring one's face to match be considered offensive? I absolutely understand if someone is trying to be insulting in some way. But I guess I don't understand why it is automatically considered inappropriate or offensive? I would think it could actually be a good thing if it encourages learning about different cultures/ethnicities. Am I missing something very obvious?

 

[3Gsandme]

I don't understand the idea that only people with the culture who originated an idea can use it. I believe there are some things, like religious symbols should not be used by others. But the idea that only those of a certain culture can embrace something is odd. So only those of us with Irish ancestors should drink on St Patrick's Day? How about food? Should we deem that cultural appropriation?

I don't know. lol It's why I said I struggle with it. I understand it and I don't. In the same moment.

 

[3Gsandme]

Ok, I am probably going to open up a whole can of worms here but I really don't understand. Why would wearing this costume with a different shade skin color than your own, or even coloring one's face to match be considered offensive? I absolutely understand if someone is trying to be insulting in some way. But I guess I don't understand why it is automatically considered inappropriate or offensive? I would think it could actually be a good thing if it encourages learning about different cultures/ethnicities. Am I missing something very obvious?

I can't believe we're having this talk in 2016

https://blog.dosomething.org/why-blackface-isn-t-ok-on-halloween-or-ever-c4641cdcb2ca#.7c5txwnzt

 

[kerry1379]

Ah-ok, I didn't need the derision but the answer was helpful-thank you. I didn't realize there was a history specifically linked to it. Thank you for the insight.

 

[3Gsandme]

I admit to being surprised when adults don't understand why/how black face is offense. Sorry. I'm a little over sensitive with all the "but this is post-racism America" crap I've had to read that last several years.

 

[3Gsandme]

So, to expand a little bit, I don't have a problem with little white girls dressing up like Mulan or Tiana or Pochahontas. That's okay with me so long as they don't paint their skin. Converesly, it's fine with me if little girls of color dress up like Anna or Elsa or sleeping beauty, but I would side eye them painting their faces white.

I'm not okay with people using the religious or spiritual symbols of other cultures for amusement and you need to let other people's sacred things be sacred. I debated about whether or not I thought a demigod was sacred and realized that Hercules is a demigod and I didn't get my panties twisted about that.

 

[JJZMgailey]

While I imagine most folks understand that 'black face' (or 'white face' for that matter) is not acceptable for a Halloween costume, this is only about the Maui Halloween costume which has nothing to do with black face or religious/spiritual symbols, IMO. Like, it doesn't even fall into the same category to me.

 

[wilkeliza]

I admit to being surprised when adults don't understand why/how black face is offense. Sorry. I'm a little over sensitive with all the "but this is post-racism America" crap I've had to read that last several years.

I don't think any of us are saying paint your white kid brown. It is just how else was Disney suppose to make the costume? Temporary tattoos that and adult would have to apply to a shirtless kid? Different shades of the costume for different skin colors? Or should white kids not be allowed to wear it.

I do think it is odd that Disney continues to do pre-movie toy marketing. No one has seen the movie so most kids won't choose the costume. Same thing happened with Rey last year. I expect to see more Rey's and Finns this year than last. Same thing happened with Wreck it Ralph. By the time the movie was out all the toys had already been shipped to the outlets. Kids didn't even have a chance to like Candy Rush before it was all scrapped.

 

[Minnesota!]

Anyone can be anyone, I don't care. It's about dressing up to be something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than you are in your day to day.

 

[AnnaFloridaLover]

So, to expand a little bit, I don't have a problem with little white girls dressing up like Mulan or Tiana or Pochahontas. That's okay with me so long as they don't paint their skin. Converesly, it's fine with me if little girls of color dress up like Anna or Elsa or sleeping beauty, but I would side eye them painting their faces white.

I'm not okay with people using the religious or spiritual symbols of other cultures for amusement and you need to let other people's sacred things be sacred. I debated about whether or not I thought a demigod was sacred and realized that Hercules is a demigod and I didn't get my panties twisted about that.

My daughter isn't white" skinned but my daughter has "painted" with makeup her medium dark face paler to dress in a Taylor Swift costume. I don't think it offended anyone. Certainly not me and I'm as pale skinned as you can get.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I wouldn't dress myself or my (purely theoretical) children in that costume, but I'm not sure how else it could have been made. Are there sheer materials that could show the tattoos against the wearer's actual skin tone? I have no idea.

 

[Magpie]

Ok, I am probably going to open up a whole can of worms here but I really don't understand. Why would wearing this costume with a different shade skin color than your own, or even coloring one's face to match be considered offensive? I absolutely understand if someone is trying to be insulting in some way. But I guess I don't understand why it is automatically considered inappropriate or offensive? I would think it could actually be a good thing if it encourages learning about different cultures/ethnicities. Am I missing something very obvious?

Because some racists back at the turn of the 20th century ruined it for everyone.

http://black-face.com/

 

[kamik86]

So, to expand a little bit, I don't have a problem with little white girls dressing up like Mulan or Tiana or Pochahontas. That's okay with me so long as they don't paint their skin. Converesly, it's fine with me if little girls of color dress up like Anna or Elsa or sleeping beauty, but I would side eye them painting their faces white.

I'm not okay with people using the religious or spiritual symbols of other cultures for amusement and you need to let other people's sacred things be sacred. I debated about whether or not I thought a demigod was sacred and realized that Hercules is a demigod and I didn't get my panties twisted about that.

See this quote here makes sense... you have a problem with anyone paiting their skin to look like a different ethnicity. Still don't really get it but at least your consistent.

It's the people that think that someone that is of color can paint themselves to look white and that is ok but people that are white can't paint themselves as any other ethnicity. I have a problem with people using a history of racism to justify racism against the majority just as much as I have a problem with anyone that is racist to a minority.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

There is a huge difference between blackface referencing back to the derision of a minstrel show and a child wearing a Halloween costume, whether they're wearing makeup with it or not. Drawing a correlation between the two is reaching for something to be offended about rather than just allowing the world to appreciate different cultures, even when they aren't their own.

 

[pryncess527]

I understand the concept of cultural appropriation, and can appreciate why many people would not want their significant cultural traditions reduced to a costume

But, I think a kids costume of a Disney character on Halloween doesn't really fall under that umbrella. It's a Disney character.

 

[3Gsandme]

While I imagine most folks understand that 'black face' (or 'white face' for that matter) is not acceptable for a Halloween costume, this is only about the Maui Halloween costume which has nothing to do with black face or religious/spiritual symbols, IMO. Like, it doesn't even fall into the same category to me.

Except the suit portrays the skin of a brown person which i don't think is appropriate to slap on a white kid.

 

[kamik86]

Because some racists back at the turn of the 20th century ruined it for everyone.

http://black-face.com/

See I have a problem with this in general. With the idea that because some people can't be responsible with X (weed, alcohol, makeup, a gun, etc) that no one else should be allowed to use them.

Just like alcohol shouldn't be banned just because some people will drive drunk and guns shouldn't be banned just because some people are going to commit illegal acts with them. I don't think it should be considered taboo to wear a type of makeup because some people won't use it responsibly.

 

[pryncess527]

There is a huge difference between blackface referencing back to the derision of a minstrel show and a child wearing a Halloween costume, whether they're wearing makeup with it or not. Drawing a correlation between the two is reaching for something to be offended about rather than just allowing the world to appreciate different cultures, even when they aren't their own.

Ditto. Minstrel shows were about way more than makeup.

 

[kamik86]

Except the suit portrays the skin of a brown person which i don't think is appropriate to slap on a white kid.

To me saying that only kids of a certain color should be allowed to wear a costume is much worse then painting skin to be another race. How would you react to someone saying that only white kids can have a costume because its not appropriate for others?