Random Appropriation of the Day! (Totem Cups)

 (source)

I initially didn't have much to say about these "Totem Cups" by designer Rob Southcott--they're cups. That look like a totem pole. Oh, but they are made in the land of many great Native appropriations: China.

Southcott is a Toronto-based artist, and his pieces seem to incorporate a lot of the natural world with "functionality". Lots of driftwood looking things, kinda pretty.

But then I got to thinking. What irks me about this product is not only the "totem pole" as interpreted by a non-Native who has no knowledge of the sacredness or intentionality behind the designs of Northwest coast/Alaska totem poles, but also the fact that the revenue of this product, clearly based off Indigenous designs, goes to the non-Native artist. So he benefits, while the tribes that created and maintained this style of art do not. That doesn't seem fair, does it?

If I decided to market a product that was clearly a direct rip off of one of Southcott's other designs, I would have a lawsuit slapped on me before it even hit shelves. The slippery slope of intellectual property clearly falls on the side of those in power, doesn't it? 

Totem Cups: http://www.neatoshop.com/product/Totem-Cups

Rob Southcott: http://robsouthcott.com/

(Thanks Marj and arkityp!)

Appropriations at Disney World Part 3: Disney Wilderness Lodge

yeah, that's a Navajo rug coke machine. Welcome to Disney's Wilderness Lodge! The pictures that follow are all from the lobby of the hotel, which describes its decor as:

Taking inspiration from the early 1900s—a time when the spirit of the American pioneer soared—and cues from Native American cultures, the theme of being in harmony with nature winds through Disney's Wilderness Lodge—inside and out. Authentic decor and genuine artifacts pay homage to ancient Native American cultures and the pioneering spirit of early American explorers

note the use of the words "authentic" and "genuine". After the jump, a million pictures of "authenticity" at its best. I also recommend a look at their website here.

some gorgeous moccasins in a display case, but with no description or anything to note if they're Native made, or where or when they're from.

from farther away--Plains style, eastern woodlands style...all together.

The first of a couple "Native" headdresses, the description on it read "inspired by a 19th century crow headdress." More like inspired by an ostrich.

This gem sits behind the check-in desk. If you can't tell from the picture it's a "peace pipe" with mickey mouse ears.

a line of cradle boards behind the reception desk (again with no descriptions or anything)

I found this juxtaposition nice...the Indian landscape with lincoln logs for the kids to practice being "pioneers"

Lamp at the restaurant

another "inspired by" headdress, this one "19th century Sioux"

apologies for the dark picture, but this is the totem pole that runs from the floor to the ceiling in the lobby

rug on the wall in the gift shop

Buckskin "dress" in the gift shop (it's actually just one layer, made to look like a dress)

lighting in the gift shop

Tipi lighting in the lobby

drum lighting outside the bathrooms

Disney totem pole outside the gift shop

"inspired by a 19th century crow headdress" I believe the exact words out of my mouth were: "omygod it looks like an effing muppet"

back of the muppet headdress, sorry my camera is bad at low light photos

see? totally the same.
(gotta love the labyrinth)

northwest coast designs on the pool bar

random artifacts thrown in a display case. Monica pointed out that most people would assume the horse hair on the right was a scalp (it's not).

Wall decoration: "inspired by 19th century sioux winter count"

Fireplace screen...they're making smoke signals.

Finally, for comparison's sake, the display case next to the fireplace. Rocks, Natives--same thing, right?

Wilderness Lodge webpage: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/wilderness-lodge-resort/

Appropriations at Disney World Part 2: Epcot and Animal Kingdom

Most of my pictures from Epcot come from the "World Showcase" which could be a dissertation in itself--it was fascinating to see which aspects and icons from countries they chose to feature, which were omitted, and how little explanation was given with the structures and images.

The picture above (and most that follow) comes from the Canadian village, which was almost exclusively Native themed--while interestingly the American Village looked like a stereotypical new England town:
Anyway, after the jump, lots of photos of Canadian First Nations Appropriations, a few Mayan/Aztec appropriations, followed by some disturbing representations of Indigenous Africans at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

behind the totem pole you can see the rest of the Canadian Village--pretty nondescript

More Canadian Village

They had "traditional" masks to take pictures with outside the village


Behind the cash register inside the "trading post"

Trading Post

Souvenir coin machine inside trading post

Dream catchers for sale

Apparently the dream catchers are from a "100% Native Owned" company. hmm.

Now we go to Mexico!

Indigenous imagery on the front of the pyramid structure

Pyramid in the Mexican Village

Moving on to Animal Kingdom, which is partially set in a fictitious, purposely aged and run-down "African Outpost" called "Harambe" which (thanks google) means "coming together as one" in Swahili. Sorry for all those quotation marks. I only snapped a couple photos of things that just stopped me in my tracks:

Get your picture taken with a Real African! I was just struck how these men were put in the same role as Mickey or Donald Duck--characters on display.

Look kids, you can get your face painted like a tiger, or a butterfly, or...

an African Ceremony?!

Still to come, photos from the Disney Wilderness Lodge, a luxury resort that is completely Native themed. Think totem poles, winter counts, peace pipes, and lincoln logs all rolled into one decor.

It starts with a trip to Urban Outfitters

I was killing some time a few days ago and wandered into Urban Outfitters in Harvard Square. It's no secret that many hipsters have an obsession with all things Native (more on that in another post), but I was a little surprised at how many examples I found. The following were in the home decorations section.

This dream catcher (in such traditional neon colors!) retailed for $10, on the low end for Urban, and was made in India (ha).


These slippers/moccasins were in the same section, and came in brown and red as well. I saw them as a take on Alaska Native mukluks, though the use of geometric diamonds is a bit southwest/plains.


Finally, down in the bargain basement, I found this "totem pole jewelry stand." You can see they weren't huge sellers.

I got home and tried to look up these three on their website, to get product names, etc. and had no luck, but did manage to find a few other examples online:

The Booty Buddy Blanket The comments section refers to it as "the hipster snuggie."

Tribal V Neck

Leather Navaho cuff: there is a lot to say about this one, not least of which is the antiquated spelling of Navajo and the plains-style beading.

even more examples: Native Socks, Cement Chief Necklace (yes that is a tiny headdress), and Geo Beaded Cuff. There are more, if you go to their website and just search "Native" or "Tribal."