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

[Diznygrl]

I think it looks cool! Probably one of the better kids Disney character Halloween costumes I've seen in a while, actually. I agree that the point of it is more to showcase the tattoos, but since there has to be a background "skin" color for it, then why not accurately represent the character it is meant to portray? I can almost guarantee that if they made it a different color, or even attempted to make it more "sheer", people would cry foul over that too. "Oh how horrible that is, Disney is denying the true heritage and culture of Maui by deliberately excluding his skin color. #HalloweenSoWhite". Seriously, they can't win on this and I think the whole thing is ridiculous. Halloween is all about having fun pretending to be someone you're not. Lighten up.

What's weirder to me is that they even have costumes for Moana right now in the first place. Halloween will be well over before anyone even sees this movie.

 

[3Gsandme]

What if you ARE a brown person already? What if your natural skin tone is darker yet?

My understanding of cultural appropriation is that it becomes far more aggregious when elements of a monitory culture (in this case, south Pacificans/Polynesians) are used by a majority culture. So, by my own own logic, I don't think I would be okay with a black person painting his or her face to depict a Polynesian or Asian person. However, it gets sketchy for me and I admit I struggle with the idea of cultural appropriation.

The thing that bothers me about this costume is people from other cultures/races/ethnicities essentially putting on the brown skin of a Polynesian/South Pacific person. I think that's probably less glaring if you're not clearly white and would draw less attention but I'm still not sure it's the right thing to do.

Admittedly, I don't know how else Disney could have handled this. On one hand, I want them to release merchandise/films featuring minority's characters. On the other hand, I don't want them releasing a costume in brown skin.

 

[bcla]

My understanding of cultural appropriation is that it becomes far more aggregious when elements of a monitory culture (in this case, south Pacificans/Polynesians) are used by a majority culture. So, by my own own logic, I don't think I would be okay with a black person painting his or her face to depict a Polynesian or Asian person. However, it gets sketchy for me and I admit I struggle with the idea of cultural appropriation.

The thing that bothers me about this costume is people from other cultures/races/ethnicities essentially putting on the brown skin of a Polynesian/South Pacific person. I think that's probably less glaring if you're not clearly white and would draw less attention but I'm still not sure it's the right thing to do.

Admittedly, I don't know how else Disney could have handled this. On one hand, I want them to release merchandise/films featuring minority's characters. On the other hand, I don't want them releasing a costume in brown skin.

MIKe Tyson got a Maori inspired facial tattoo. Heck - ever see a non-Asian with Chinese character tattoos? That's definitely cultural appropriation, but I don't see why it's that's big an issue.

 

[MrsDuck]

No issue in my book.

 

[3Gsandme]

MIKe Tyson got a Maori inspired facial tattoo. Heck - ever see a non-Asian with Chinese character tattoos? That's definitely cultural appropriation, but I don't see why it's that's big an issue.

Again, I'm sketchy on some of this and I'm not speaking as any kind of an expert here.

There's two separate issues at play in your post. 1) Can a minority appropriate the culture of another minority 2)is any use of any other culture considered appropriation. To the first question, I honestly don't know. What I've read on it is mostly about MAJORITY cultures appropriating MINORITY cultures. I really can't say if Mike Tyson has appropriated anything at all. I don't know if the tattoo itself is considered sacred by the Maori. I don't know that Mike Tyson isn't Maori. I don't know that the tattoo itself is offensive or disrespectful to the Maori people.

To the second point, in my opinion (and, again, no expert here), using random characters from other languages probably ISN'T cultural appropriation unless they're taking something sacred and using as a tramp stamp.

Lastly, for me there is a difference between cultural appropriation and painting your face/body or wearing a body suit to change the color of your skin to play a character. They're not the same thing, IMO.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

OK, I'd just like to throw this thought into the mix:

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

― Oscar Wilde

So, dressing to mimic anyone or anything means that someone admires that person/thing, right?

Not that someone is trying to "appropriate" anything. Just that they'd like to "be" them.

Of course, then we're left with the idea that the person doing the mimicry is "mediocre" and a lesser person.

 

[Veronique]

People who want to learn about cultural appropriation can start here: http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/cultural-appropriation-wrong/

There is plenty of ressources on that website if you want to learn more.

When people say others are "outrage!!!11", they disqualify the message without responding to it.

The act of wearing a costume base on a character is fine, of course. But try to see the big picture. There is the brown face problematic, but also from what I understand, the tattoo have meanings. Just like an amerindian headdress.

No laws prevents it, but if you are mindful of white privilege and of historical systemic discrimination, you will not wear a culture as a costume. You don't have too, just like you don't have to be nice, but if you think you are a "nice" person, you should listen when people tell you it's offensive. We don't get to decide what is offensive to someone. We can disagree.

I'm sorry I don't have time to explain more

Edited just to add: like with the sociological definition of racism, you need a power imbalance. It's not just about prejudice+race. It's prejudice+race+power.

 

[3Gsandme]

OK, I'd just like to throw this thought into the mix:

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

― Oscar Wilde

So, dressing to mimic anyone or anything means that someone admires that person/thing, right?

Not that someone is trying to "appropriate" anything. Just that they'd like to "be" them.

Of course, then we're left with the idea that the person doing the mimicry is "mediocre" and a lesser person.

I think that's an oversimplification that doesn't really work in this scenario.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I think that's an oversimplification that doesn't really work in this scenario.

Well, I think a halloween costume is just a halloween costume. Not a statement.

 

[JoeA]

My understanding of cultural appropriation is that it becomes far more aggregious when elements of a monitory culture (in this case, south Pacificans/Polynesians) are used by a majority culture. So, by my own own logic, I don't think I would be okay with a black person painting his or her face to depict a Polynesian or Asian person. However, it gets sketchy for me and I admit I struggle with the idea of cultural appropriation.

The thing that bothers me about this costume is people from other cultures/races/ethnicities essentially putting on the brown skin of a Polynesian/South Pacific person. I think that's probably less glaring if you're not clearly white and would draw less attention but I'm still not sure it's the right thing to do.

Admittedly, I don't know how else Disney could have handled this. On one hand, I want them to release merchandise/films featuring minority's characters. On the other hand, I don't want them releasing a costume in brown skin.

Oh come on. Putting on a "brown skin"? That shows me, if anything, the kids are "color blind" and simply think it's a cool character.

I put this in a "simply can't win" category.

 

[3Gsandme]

Oh come on. Putting on a "brown skin"? That shows me, if anything, the kids are "color blind" and simply think it's a cool character.

I put this in a "simply can't win" category.

It's literally a brown skin costume. I don't know how anyone can argue with that. Thats what it is.

 

[3Gsandme]

Well, I think a halloween costume is just a halloween costume. Not a statement.

Which is your right. Of course. Just like it's mine to think this wasn't a great move on Disney's part. We don't have to agree.

 

[jormom1030]

To lighten the mood a little-here is my Chinese sweetie rocking her Merida costume last Halloween.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

It's literally a brown skin costume. I don't know how anyone can argue with that. Thats what it is.

It's a tattoo costume (as previously mentioned). The "skin" was integral to displaying the tattoos. What color should it be?

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I think the kid should have to man up and get the real tattoos if they want to dress as Maui. Where's the commitment??

 

[bcla]

To lighten the mood a little-here is my Chinese sweetie rocking her Merida costume last Halloween.

I know someone born in China with natural reddish brown hair. He's full Han Chinese, but carries an uncommon recessive trait. Not quite that red though, and I'm not even sure that shade of red can possibly be natural.

Yeah, it's a costume. I also know this is t exactly the right clip.

You Want To Be An Elephant When You Grow Up? You Be An Elephant.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/94ab6f87-4b3e-4f3d-8235-385145ec98b6

 

[JoeA]

It's literally a brown skin costume. I don't know how anyone can argue with that. Thats what it is.

If you want to be a character that has brown skin don't you need a "brown skin" costume if you don't have brown skin? Or maybe a brown skin/tattoo costume so you can more closely resemble the character?

Look, this isn't like kids putting on black face and/or being mean or snarky. They want to be this character. No more. No less.

Disney isn't trying to be offensive. They just want to sell/license their crap and this expands market and fills a demand.

Or should white kids stick to being Woody from Toy Story since its offensive to wear "skin"?

Just. Can't. Win. Too many people just find too many reasons to be offended.

 

[robinb]

To lighten the mood a little-here is my Chinese sweetie rocking her Merida costume last Halloween.

She is SO FREAKING cute!

 

[3Gsandme]

If you want to be a character that has brown skin don't you need a "brown skin" costume if you don't have brown skin? Or maybe a brown skin/tattoo costume so you can more closely resemble the character?

Look, this isn't like kids putting on black face and/or being mean or snarky. They want to be this character. No more. No less.

Disney isn't trying to be offensive. They just want to sell/license their crap and this expands market and fills a demand.

Or should white kids stick to being Woody from Toy Story since its offensive to wear "skin"?

Just. Can't. Win. Too many people just find too many reasons to be offended.

Have you read the thread? All of these points have already been addressed here. No, white kids shouldn't only have to be Woody. But they shouldn't paint themselves black or brown either. Additionally, I said that I don't think anyone should be painting their faces (or wearing flesh colored body suits) of any other race. It's not okay. You don't have to agree and, yes, I know that I feel this way makes me a cry baby liberal, but the question was posed and I've answered it and defended my position which I'm not even sure you've bothered to read.

 

[kidshop]

It's a tattoo costume (as previously mentioned). The "skin" was integral to displaying the tattoos. What color should it be?

The white people have to wear a light colored costume with tattoos or not be Maui at all I guess.