Teaching Appreciation
What is your cultural background?
I am ethnically Korean and I am married to a Chinese-Canadian. So we are Canadian, or Asian-Canadian.
How long has cultural appropriation been going on for?
I think cultural appropriation has been happening all throughout human history. I’m a historian and look at me, I am dressed [North American styled clothes] today. Of course, back 100 years ago when an Asian person dressed like this, Westerns thought it looked somewhat odd because [Asians] should be dressed in traditional Asian dress. Of course, we don’t hold those views anymore, because of globalization and increased cultural interactions. That’s my view of cultural appropriation; it becomes a part of you. Perhaps in the beginning, the culture that you are borrowing from might think that you’re misappropriating [their] culture, but as time goes on, it transforms your own culture and the way that people view you too. It’s an ongoing historical process.
One of the things we’ve been looking at is if white culture can be appropriated by other cultures. What is your opinion on that?
I think it happens both ways depending on where you stand and where you come from. Fashion to me, has a lot to do with fitting in. For instance, in early modern times, when Japan was modernizing very rapidly in order to fit into the international community, Japanese people adopted Western dress: Men were wearing suits and ties, ladies were wearing dresses. They also wore hats just like the British or the Americans would. Whether you like it or into, that actually made them more acceptable to the Western powers. That had a huge impact. The idea of fitting in and becoming a member of a community is a very important part of cultural appropriation.
So a few weeks backs taught a lecture dressed in cultural clothing. What was that piece called?
A hanbok.
Chatting with a history professor about cultural appropriation in the past and examples of cultural appropriation from her life.
Christina Han is an assistant professor of history at Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford, ON. In this Q and A, Han touches on the history of appropriation within fashion, teaching a lecture in a hanbok and why she think cultural appropriation and appreciation go hand in hand.
What is its relevance?
It was everyday clothing back in the day; in premodern times. On that day, we were celebrating the Lunar New Year here at Laurier Brantford. I decided to wear it, but I honestly kind of debated whether or not to wear it. ‘Should I change before I go to class? Or should I just wear it?’ and I decided why not just wear it and talk about WWI. Which I thought was an interesting experiment.
What feedback did you receive from students?
They thought it was pretty interesting that I did that. I think it worked out nicely.
How often do you wear it?
On special days like the Chinese New Year. We also have the Autumn Festival. I also wear it on New Year’s Day. Sometimes weddings, so special occasions.
When, if ever, have you felt that your culture was being appropriated by fashion?
Great question. A few years back, when Britney Spears was still very popular she came to Korea. Her Korean fans decided to give her this beautiful pink hanbok and she wore it and looked really beautiful. Of course argued about a Westerner wearing this beautiful Asian dress. What does that mean? I think it’s good to try out clothing from different cultures and to put yourself in their shoes. To me it is a two way communication. I thought it was great that Britney Spears wore a hanbok and all the other celebrities. Or just regular people as well.
How do you feel about non-Asian people people having Asian influenced tattoos?
Here in Brantford I think that tattoos are really popular. Sometimes they get the Chinese characters tattooed on their body and since I’m an Asianist, I see that and think, ‘Oh, that character is wrong! They should have asked somebody before they put it on their body, because it will be very difficult to get rid of,’. Tattoos, depending on the culture that you come from can have a very different meaning. For instance in Japan, the Yakuza, they do a full body tattoo. So in Japan, if you see a person with a full body tattoo, it is not very appropriate. Public bathes for instance, it says ‘Sorry but people with tattoos cannot come to the public bath,’. Of course, Yakuza members, they go to their own bath houses. I think generally speaking, tattoos are not a very big thing in East-Asia, at least. I’m referring to China, Korea and Japan. It’s almost like a sub-culture.
When you see a tattoo of a misprinted Chinese character, how does that make you feel?
I think it’s kind of funny. But of course there is nothing I can do to change that. I hope as the Western world becomes more familiar with Asian culture that more people learn Chinese, Japanese and Korean, that they will be able to check the meanings of the characters before [they] tattoo them onto [their] bodies.
Where do you draw the line between appreciation and appropriation within fashion?
I think people appropriate because often times they really appreciate the culture. For instance, there are lots of Western fans of Japanese popular culture; people dress like Japanese schoolgirls or the whole idea of cosplay also falls into that. Why do they do that? I think it’s because they feel connected to that culture. So to me, the act of appropriation goes hand in hand with appreciation. It’s really by individual case; why are you appropriating this culture? Is it because you are appreciating it or do you just want to make fun of it? That is an important question, but I think generally speaking, people appropriate because they appreciate.
Christina Han, a history professor at Wilfrid Laurier University in Brantford, feels that cultural appropriation and appreciation go hand in hand. Photo: Devon Momy-Gamache
Men and women dressed in hanboks in Seoul, South Korea.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
A man and woman dressed in hanboks in a traditional wedding celebration.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay