Cultural appropriation in knife making

You can Not change or control how people think of you....

You can only change and control how You see yourself.


(If You are content, and can sleep at night..... That's All that matters!)
 
My "Big in Japan" logo, which was a big hit at Blade Texas last month


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Wow there are some tediously white takes here

IMO, you need to have some idea of the role the blade played in the culture. A Japanese kitchen knife is a kitchen knife, a high end katana is a bit different (e.g. making a stainless katana?), ulus are probably a bit different again. It helps that blades tend to be tools, so it's less of a problem compared to things like Maori tattoos or Aboriginal Australian art.
 
eric brinkerhoff eric brinkerhoff - just asking the question means you're trying to be respectful, and that's the key, in my thinking.
No matter what you do, you're probably going to offend someone - there will be people who just don't accept someone outside their culture making artifacts inspired by their culture. And, as you can see right in this thread, there are people who are so sensitive and fearful that they mistake empathy for weakness, and will insult anyone who cares about people different from themselves. Don't let either of those groups decide for you.
Being respectful doesn't mean not making something, and doesn't mean not caring about others' concerns. Make something beautiful, and acknowledge both what it is and what it isn't.
 
When Japanese youths slick back their hair and don jeans and leather jackets like Marlon Brando in "The Wild One" , I wonder if they ask if it's cultural appropriation and insensitive? (asking for a friend)
 
i think about this a lot too, what it came down to for me is the dictionary definition. "when members of a majority group adopt cultural elements of a minority group in an exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical way."

Sure its a fine line , not everyone is gonna agree, the point is to be aware and be willing to have a dialogue about it. Kudos for doing just that.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I think a hawk named "Scalper" is a bad use of cultural appropriation and in bad taste. I don't see a problem with putting you makers mark in Japanese on a Japanese style blade. That is not appropriating anything, it is using something.
My chefs' blades and Japanese blades are marked (Bladesmith)
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If I recall, the first character is rikki, meaning power or strength. I don't remember the second one. My Japanese is barely existent nowadays.
 
GAGL said:
It's only cultural appropriation if one specific group of people does it...any other group and it's called diversity
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GAGL GAGL

The avoidance of cultural appropriation accusations begins and ends with respect. For people, their culture, their arts and crafts.

(I've had this conversation at length in writing and on the phone with syndicated journalist Leonard Pitts, Jr. and he actually ended up apologizing and agreeing with my criticism of one of his columns that was particularly venomous imho.)

That said, this is not the place to make the sorts of assertions made in your post, veiled or not. Everyone doesn't need to be thrown under the bus for the actions of the loudest or most visible.

Let's please move on from this so we don't have to close an otherwise reasonable discussion.
 
possibly a good example of this is calling a cai dao a "Chinese cleaver". they have a completely separate history to European cooking knives and cleavers, and are used quite differently to European cleavers. so it seems best to use the actual name rather than try to force them into a European typology.
 
At the risk of getting some people's backs up, here are a few observations. While at one point America was referred to as a "melting pot" we are not the only one. Many countries are melting pots and have been for some time. Within spheres of coexistence or trade it is common for the various cultures to borrow and incorporate elements of other cultures with which they have contact. That is why elements of language, art, technology, fighting styles, etc. are shared between the Japanese and Chinese for instance. This is due in part to respect and admiration but also for advantage. The Japanese didn't start wearing Western style suits and ties after WWll out of respect and admiration but for advantage. They didn't wonder if it would offend anyone. They did it partly because it was cheaper and easier to wear but also because it allowed them to deal with the west more easily. They don't worry about marking products they produce with American sounding names. They do whatever helps their products sell. It isn't disrespect, it is business. Marking your product with Japanese Kanji isn't cultural appropriation or disrespectful, it's business. As has been stated previously, it comes down to intent. If it is done in a mocking or degrading way it is wrong. If it is done out of admiration, appreciation, respect or even business advantage it is fair game.

I think this obsession with "cultural appropriation" in America is mostly virtue signaling and feeding the victim culture. Yes, it is good to be sensitive to other cultures and people. But doing so in a public way is just advertising what a good guy you are. Just make your respect for others part of your internal character and integrity and act accordingly. You don't need to wear it on your sleeve.

None of this is aimed at Eric. I have no doubt his post has the best intentions. These are just my general thoughts.
 
I've found that being politically correct is often the same thing as being correct. No one cares about my political opinions, nor do I care about theirs. It's good to keep these things to one's self, imo.

As with most things, I think that concerns regarding 'what people think' are often overblown, and I credit the news media in general with success in achieving a divisive climate which perpetuates the consumption of said media. Some outlets are far more successful than others at sewing this division, in particular any media which makes such a big deal out of cultural issues.

I live in an area where the indigenous inhabitants, (their history going back thousands of years) actually receive some measure of respect by those of us who've settled within their traditional territory.

Now, I could go and make a knife, or any other item, which appropriates the art and craft of these peoples- and would expect to receive some criticism regarding the appropriation. However, in my experience here, it's more likely than not that I'd receive this criticism from those not associated in any way with that culture- as 'proof' of their respect for said culture. Likely from those whose homes were built without permission upon the ancestral territory of these people. Should I care what those people think? My answer is no. What they are doing could be called being politically correct, but I would call it hypocrisy.

If I received criticism from those whose culture I've appropriated, I'd ask questions and find out how to do what I want to do without stepping on toes. That would be politically correct, or in other words, respectful.

Personally, I think it's best to try and avoid hypocrisy, or at the very least to cop to it. Honesty is the best policy, and knowing that and acting like we are not always right is pretty honest.
 
I see a lot of Native American designs and always wonder if it has any authenticity at all. Its just “Southwest”

The turquoise and silver thing has been done by so many for so long it has lost any significance at all. But sometimes it has a real native look, and seems to go too far.
 
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