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Do I believe that ALL white writers should be accused of cultural misappropriation, of course not. Do I believe that cultural misappropriation exists, yes. Extreme SJW's on the left might claim that almost anything could be prejudiced in some way against minorities. SJW's on the right might claim either racism doesn't exist against minorities, or that whites are being discriminated against in every context.
Could you give a definition and/or example of "cultural misappropriation"?
Wow, I had completely missed this new frontier in social justice. Apparently white authors may no longer create fictional characters that are non-white. And this is already a settled matter, to the point that people who disagree are in danger of losing their jobs.
How many great stories would never have been written if this rule was in force?
Racial and cultural divisions exist there, but the Canadians confront those divisions in different ways than Americans do.
But fiction is fiction. There's no way a fiction writer won't ever stop writing his characters as he pleases, even if he gets them completely divorced from reality.
That's what the author of the article was attempting to say. He failed to phrase it well, and that's the problem. The indigenous people in Canada see a lot of things differently than ours do here, and they have struggles with their government that ours don't have. Different countries, different problems.
A lot of American politicians have had the same exact problem lately in town hall meetings. And in the White House and Congress. As we all know, an ill-chosen word or phrase can bring a person to ruin.
Do you personally agree with the folks saying this though?
I realize you were not asking me, but I would like to address your question, anyway, if I may.
The truth is, I'm not sure. Sometimes?
Writing, creating a convincing character is hard. Taking on the identity of another race, gender, or culture is even harder. Some authors are able to do it well. Many are not, and fall into the use of easy stereotypes or stock characters.
I think to write a believable portrayal of someone from a different background requires great sensitivity, lots of listening, empathy, and enormous skill. Some people can do it. Lots can't.
Please keep in mind that this whole discussion is about protagonists, the main characters, the ones whose heads and world the author is attempting to illustrate in a far more intimate way than that of any secondary character. It is one thing to write about a character as an observer, and quite another to write as the one who is that character's voice.
FWIW, the comments comparing this question to writing about fictional creatures and animals is absurd. When you create a species in a book, it can be whatever you want it to be. Are some of you deliberately missing the point here, to make the whole discussion appear silly?
I realize you were not asking me, but I would like to address your question, anyway, if I may.
The truth is, I'm not sure. Sometimes?
Writing, creating a convincing character is hard. Taking on the identity of another race, gender, or culture is even harder. Some authors are able to do it well. Many are not, and fall into the use of easy stereotypes or stock characters.
I think to write a believable portrayal of someone from a different background requires great sensitivity, lots of listening, empathy, and enormous skill. Some people can do it. Lots can't.
Please keep in mind that this whole discussion is about protagonists, the main characters, the ones whose heads and world the author is attempting to illustrate in a far more intimate way than that of any secondary character. It is one thing to write about a character as an observer, and quite another to write as the one who is that character's voice.
FWIW, the comments comparing this question to writing about fictional creatures and animals is absurd. When you create a species in a book, it can be whatever you want it to be. Are some of you deliberately missing the point here, to make the whole discussion appear silly?
It's art. It's never "wrong".
Write whatever you want.
This was a group exercising their right to an opinion. That's fine and I understand it.
Doesn't mean others (including myself) won't mock them for being retarded.
Cultural appropriation assertions are divisive. Minorities who assert such nonsense are the biggest appropriators of cultural appropriation if they live in America, which was founded by white men and is still a majority of white men and women.
We don't have to go there. Why not share cultures and concentrate on the things we share in common and be happy for everyone's contributions to this country? Why make a fight about everything?
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