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In the last few months, many people have reached out to me about their game projects asking 'Is what we're doing cultural appropriation?'
This is great! It shows that they care, I don't mind answering, but for the help of everyone here I thought I'd sum it up in a small thread.
This is great! It shows that they care, I don't mind answering, but for the help of everyone here I thought I'd sum it up in a small thread.
There are four basic litmus tests for whether something is cultural appropriation rather than cultural exchange.
1) Imbalance of power between the cultures. There's a reason making poutine in America is not appropriating from Canadians while naming a sports team The Redskins is
1) Imbalance of power between the cultures. There's a reason making poutine in America is not appropriating from Canadians while naming a sports team The Redskins is
2) Is the power flowing solely to the dominant culture? E.g. An american opens a Vietnamese restaurant and doesn't hire any Vietnamese chefs, graphic designers, or architects in its construction.
3) Is the cultural element being divorced from its original context? Think again of white people wearing Native American headdresses or Indian bindis as fashion statements.
4) Would a person from the source culture be marginalized for participating in said culture? Cultures who eat from shared plates or eat sitting on the floor are considered weird and unhygienic - but in an upscale restaurant those are 'authetic' experiences.
FAQ:
'Does this mean you can't ever make games about cultures not your own?'
A: Make any game you want, just be prepared to help power flow back to the culture you're borrowing from. Hire a person from that culture to work on the game. Consult people from that culture on usage.
'Does this mean you can't ever make games about cultures not your own?'
A: Make any game you want, just be prepared to help power flow back to the culture you're borrowing from. Hire a person from that culture to work on the game. Consult people from that culture on usage.
'What makes a culture 'minority' vs 'dominant'?
Context - which is ever-shifting depending on where you are and who you're with - but in the board game world, the two major genres of game are called 'ameri' and 'euro.' Western cultures and people are heavily dominant.
Context - which is ever-shifting depending on where you are and who you're with - but in the board game world, the two major genres of game are called 'ameri' and 'euro.' Western cultures and people are heavily dominant.
'Are there any themes I should straight up avoid?'
Can't answer that as it is highly contextual to the cultures. Ask people from the source cultures and do your research.
Can't answer that as it is highly contextual to the cultures. Ask people from the source cultures and do your research.
'Why so much negative focus on our differences? Why can't we all just be one big melting pot?'
In a perfect world with no racism or xenophobia, where all are equal, cultural appropriation would not exist. Sadly we do not yet live in this world.
In a perfect world with no racism or xenophobia, where all are equal, cultural appropriation would not exist. Sadly we do not yet live in this world.
Thank you for reading. If you've found this helpful you can help me out very much by spreading the word, being mindful of your creative projects, or just straight up giving me money.
https://ko-fi.com/ithayla
Thx thx.
https://ko-fi.com/ithayla
Thx thx.
shout out to @hellenus for giving me like 95% of this info and for generally being a Good Person who is also Nice.
Addendum: I am in no way an expert on Everything Cultural Appropriation. I cannot possibly speak for all minority folks. Please consult people before Doing The Thing thx.
Addendum 2: If you liked what I had to say, here are a bunch of other people who I consider very articulate and intelligent and passionate about social issues. Listen to them talk about board games. https://www.insidevoicesnetwork.com/shows/
UPDATE: Since I posted this thread it has become quite popular and received many responses. I've since seen it necessary to update the FAQ with a few more questions.
Q: Shouldn't Culture, like Information, should be freely exchanged for the benefit of all?
Ideally, yes. But the key word is 'exchange'. That means both parties get a say - and sometimes what they say is 'no.'
Ideally, yes. But the key word is 'exchange'. That means both parties get a say - and sometimes what they say is 'no.'
Q: But what if Asian people ran an Italian restaurant, isn't that also cultural appropriation?
All appropriation is contextual, and based on transfer of power. Changing the circumstance changes the context.
All appropriation is contextual, and based on transfer of power. Changing the circumstance changes the context.
Q: How am I supposed to know the context of every possible situation that might involve appropriation? You're asking me to do the impossible.
I agree. That's why you should defer to the people whose culture is being referenced.
I agree. That's why you should defer to the people whose culture is being referenced.
Q: But my Chinese/Indian/Japanese/Samoan friend said it's okay for me to do X thing - so why is it a problem?
Some people also think bank robbery is an acceptable method of obtaining money. People are not a monolith.
Some people also think bank robbery is an acceptable method of obtaining money. People are not a monolith.
Q: If we take your definitions as true, doesn't this mean X thing I like is appropriative?
Yes. Sorry. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy, buy, or support the thing. All I'm asking is your awareness.
Yes. Sorry. That doesn't mean you can't enjoy, buy, or support the thing. All I'm asking is your awareness.
Q: Is cultural appropriation actually harmful? Surely spreading cultures is good.
Content by dominant cultures often crowds out content created by minorities. A publisher might reject a game with an Asian theme by an Asian designer because they've already published two this year
Content by dominant cultures often crowds out content created by minorities. A publisher might reject a game with an Asian theme by an Asian designer because they've already published two this year
And because the dominant culture is exactly that - dominant - they often have an advantage at many different levels that the minority culture might not have - connections, money, time.
Lack of care also creates games with themes that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about the minority culture - name one Asian themed game set in the present day.
Q: You're treating people with kid gloves - surely they're strong enough that something as small as chopstick font on a box is harmless.
An ant crawling on your arm is trivial and harmless, but enough of them doing it eventually becomes difficult to ignore. Better not to start.
An ant crawling on your arm is trivial and harmless, but enough of them doing it eventually becomes difficult to ignore. Better not to start.
Q: I still think this is all bullshit. It's just a game, it's not like it's killing people.
The swastika was a symbol stolen from its original context and now completely associated with its destructive meaning. The perception of a thing can be more powerful as the thing itself.
The swastika was a symbol stolen from its original context and now completely associated with its destructive meaning. The perception of a thing can be more powerful as the thing itself.
