[Jewelry making - Article 00570] - Re: [Orchid] Jewelry and "Cultural Property"

[Stephen Walker]

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>     I guess it differs per individual. How they stand in "stealing
>     culture that you are not part of". 

    I must admit I was a little annoyed a few years back when Celtic
    designs suddenly became popular with stoners, who did not seem at
    all worried that what they were doing with it and saying about it
    had very little to do with any kind of an authentic heritage. The
    idea that the world's spirituality is an all-you-can-eat buffet,
    where you can take a sample of this or that, may be interesting and
    fun, but the natives are not always going to be flattered by the
    attention. 

>     I'm a singer of Irish ballads. I sing (and play) in an Irish
>     session in a pub. I'm not Irish In fact I've never even been there. 

    Usually musicians are more impressed by your talent than your
    resume. I know an excellent bagpipe teacher who was encouraged and
    taught by several of the top piobroch masters of the 20th century
    because they thought his natural gifts were worth the investment.
    The fact that he is Italian-American was never much of a factor. But
    now and then you get people who treat these ethnic art forms as
    something nationalist and want to check your DNA and your political
    affiliation before they let you sit at the table. 

    It is largely a matter of how you handle it. If you make things that
    take from other cultures, you might do just fine with it -or- you
    might come off as a dabbeler and a wannabe. Who can tell why some
    people can move between cultures and always be welcome guests? And
    others make fools of themselves doing what appears to be the same
    thing. I think it is a style and instinct aspect of some people's
    personalities that gives them a sort of invisible passport. 

Good luck.
Stephen Walker
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