Expression through Symbolism

[Semantics]

I'm sure that anyone here would research kanji and any form of symbolism taken from other cultures before using them, but not everyone does. When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure it's used in a respectful and appropriate manner.

I've seen some very offensive and ignorant kanji symbols tattooed on Westerners. A friend of mine, who is Chinese and also an anthropology professor, sometimes has her students visit local tattoo parlors and take cell phone pictures of the hanzi and kanji symbols displayed in their idea books. I can't remember the exact percentage of them that were wrong but I think it was like 40%. Those aren't great odds when it comes to getting something permanent put on your body.

There's a funny blog called Hanzi Smatter that is dedicated to the misuse of Chinese and Japanese characters, mostly portrayed in tattoos.

It's a busy site, but someone was nice enough to pick out some real gems:
That Tattoo Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Means

A good NYT article on this issue:

Cool Tat, Too Bad It's Gibberish

What an great thread. I'm always interested in anything to do with how people express themselves. I have a patch on my messenger bag that depicts the Hegelian Dialectic's Thesis/ Antithesis/ Synthesis. From far away it looks like a cross made out of two arrows, and I've had people approach me and want to discuss religion because of it. Symbols can be tricky.

[Boots13]

Can appropriation go either way? I believe it can …. It may be an honor or it can endanger a marginalized group…and yes, the responsibility lies in who is appropriating and in the context of the representation.

Appropriation has occurred throughout history but if a dominant culture is appropriating it then has the potential to become an unequal relationship and at that point smacks of “assimilation or annhilation” .

I’d like to explore your statement
" When we even consider taking something from another culture we have a responsibility to make sure its used in a respectful and appropriate manner”
But what is the baseline for respectful and appropriate? And where do we draw the line ? Art? Literature? Tattoos? Politics? Ritualistic application?

As a personal illustration, I have a Native American styled tattoo, but I am not Native. I am respectful representing this as a cognitive symbol of my external reality/history. Its an abstract symbol with First Nations tones. Have I committed an infraction by doing this?

I appreciate, greatly , your response and I would love to hear other opinions on this. I don’t know what respectful or responsible looks like (unless of course it is an overt act of violence or hatred) when an individual is appropriating a symbol for use as expression, identification or to parlay a fluid concept.

I do agree symbols can be tricky within the context of perception. Thank you, Semantics, for your post !

[Ginger]

I keep returning to this thread but I come up with nothing, when I try to let whatever is my symbol rise to the surface of my consciousness.

I identify more with color, I think. I've always had colors that felt like they were "mine." Maybe I'll start there.

[jac]

Nice topic....

I have used symbolism throughout in order to express the person that I am. The Pisces sign both the fish and the other little sign that kind of looks like an H. I find great connection with... mostly because it's my sign and it represents me well. I want a tattoo with two mermaids that have their tails twisted together. Eventually I will get this.... So, here lately, mermaids are playing a role in a symbolic meaning for me.

More often though I tend to use totems. My longest lasting of them and the one that represents me the most is the turtle. More importantly the sea turtle is the one I find myslef more attracted to. The sea turtle tends to dive deep as an escape to find solace. I tend to need my quiet alone space every now and then in order to regroup. As well, I move slow and steady and I am always home wherever I go. I rescently learned through feng shui studies that the turtle is placed to the backside of a room, property, etc, because it is the protector of the space. The shell representing as such. That I found interesting because I have always been considered a protector. So again, turtle is it.

The Pisces fish, the mermaids, and the turtle are mine for now... all water related... Hmmmmm..............

[Sweet Bliss]

Living in the Southwest for decades made me very aware of using the symbols of cultures I was surrounded by, Native American tribes, Mexican and Spanish.

When asked why I don't make pots that look more Native, I have always replied, 'It's not my culture." Meaning I'm not going to exploit the ignorance of tourists or others and claim to be Native, and therefore 'my pots' are authentic. Although my great grandmother was Native, I still am not sure what tribe or other affiliations she may have had. So NO, I do not consider myself Native. Using Native signs and symbols for personal gain is a major no-no in my world. Using their pottery making techniques is different to me. It's a technique that many cultures have used over many thousands of years. However, I don't make Native pots for sale. I have made them yes, under the direction of my Native teacher. I gave them away as gifts.

As for Spanish influences, I have a huge family still living in Spain. Until recently when my father explained that we are actually French Basque, I believed otherwise.

My thoughts are that we pull images, colors, feelings from a vast collective unconcious. For some it appears to be from our similiar cultures, and others from cultures we believe we have no affiliation, but a deep regard or pull.

I think it matters not where we find these images, symbols, but our intent when using them. Respect is the key word here for me personally.

[Cid]

I guess if I were to choose a symbol, it's the peace sign. I have a necklace that a very good friend of mine gave me that's a peace sign and a few bracelets in the peace sign as well. It symbolizes my need/desire for peace within my heart and my mind.
And the fact that I'm a product of the '60's, it reminds me of my younger days. That's why I chose it for my avatar.

[Boots13]

Originally Posted by IslandScout

I identify more with color, I think. I've always had colors that felt like they were "mine." Maybe I'll start there.

When I think of Black as symbol, I think mourning. If I gave Pink a cause or complexity of thought I default to Breast Cancer Awareness and then Cancer in general. Green represents, for me, peace and calm and can illicit a response of being in the forest...I think I get it ! I love the association of color to symbolism.
It didnt occur to me when I started the thread that Color can also convey a thought or message !

Originally Posted by jac

..I have used symbolism throughout in order to express the person that I am. ..
More often though I tend to use totems. My longest lasting of them and the one that represents me the most is the turtle.

The Pisces fish, the mermaids, and the turtle are mine for now... all water related.

Its fascinating to read how we associate or connect to the world at large through a series of feelings or ideas that manifest into Turtle, Octopus, Mermaids, Colors ! And I wonder, do our totems guide us? Or do they make their way, trailing us as we move forward in the world ?

Originally Posted by Sweet Bliss

Using their pottery making techniques is different to me. It's a technique that many cultures have used over many thousands of years. However, I don't make Native pots for sale. I have made them yes, under the direction of my Native teacher. I gave them away as gifts.
...
I think it matters not where we find these images, symbols, but our intent when using them. Respect is the key word here for me personally.

How wonderful that you know the tradition of a culture regarding the making of traditional pots. Though you dont claim the culture could you be considered a guide or teacher of the technique? I think its important to know what it is we claim or borrow from cultures that are not our own. But it also seems imperative that we dont let the earmarks of a culture fade or die. It seems a difficult task to maintain the integrity of a culture that you dont claim by knowing and demonstrating ancient techniques, and still honoring that culture without diluting its traditions by continuiing to stand outside it, by not claiming it. I'm glad you posted
Sweet Bliss. Thankyou.

Originally Posted by Cid

I guess if I were to choose a symbol, it's the peace sign. I have a necklace that a very good friend of mine gave me that's a peace sign and a few bracelets in the peace sign as well. It symbolizes my need/desire for peace within my heart and my mind.
And the fact that I'm a product of the '60's, it reminds me of my younger days. That's why I chose it for my avatar.

I love the peace sign. Its universal. Its portable. It packs a whollop when used in the midst of conflict and it reminds me of daisy's ! LOL, thanks Cid !