GIFT # 10 - Cancel culture, creative license, cultural appropriation...

I don't have anything wise to offer today. I'm just recording that at this time in 2021, I am still pondering the following topics and wondering why I don't even want to share my opinions on them:

1. What does "cancel culture" mean?

2. What are the boundaries to creativity and creative license?

3. If a White author is fascinated by Chinese culture and writes intriguing fictional books that include characters and plots leaning heavily on all things Chinese, is that cultural appropriation? If a Black author is fascinated by Chinese culture and writes intriguing fictional books that include characters and plots leaning heavily on all things Chinese, is that cultural appropriation? What if we switch out the word "Chinese" for "Indigenous"? What if the books make a tonne of money?

4. If a person made grave errors in speech and deed early in their life and had regrets later in life, acknowledging and writing about their awakening to their errors, do we still judge the person's life and works based on the early "sins"? Is there no place for redemption? Why bother changing then?

5. There is a lot of talk on "unlearning" these days. Somehow, currently, it is often followed closely by contempt. Is there space for anything else apart from contempt for what we have to unlearn or who we are un-learning from?

Just thinking ... still uncertain to voice these out loud because while I am trying to make sense of things, it is likely my on-going quest will trigger trauma in others. I'm seeing it in teacher forums where a question for clarification can disintegrate into all-out name-calling. The irony. You speak up because you want to know. But you can't say it out loud because your ignorance triggers pain. You sit in silence, with your own thoughts, without the benefit of meaningful dialogue to avoid everyone quickly slapping labels on everyone else. Amongst teachers! Adults. Are we doomed?

Photo by Evan Dennis on Unsplash