Cultural appropriation confusion continues after yoga class controversy
Is yoga an exercise in cultural insensitivity? Yoga classes at one Canadian University were cancelled because of concerns that they were appropriating Indian culture. It's harder than ever to tell where to draw the line these days, and to know just how much to stretch, to avoid cultural offence.
It may have seemed exotic a couple of decades ago, but the Indian practice of Yoga has gone mainstream throughout North America.
But can you imagine what it might be like if the great Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi were to wander into your local yoga class!!
Part of what makes this video funny is the underlying discomfort in society today about the idea of cultural appropriation. And it's a hot topic right now.
You may have heard the story about yoga classes at the University of Ottawa that were cancelled because of cultural sensitivity concerns. It's made headlines right around the world.
I wouldn't say that I'm mad. I would say that I'm very happy that I've been given the opportunity, the honour, to highlight this issue that clearly goes beyond one case of one cancelled class, if it's been able to garner so much international both attention and support.- Jen Scharf, yoga instructor who went public with story
Then, on Wednesday, a new story emerged about a British fashion company showing clothes on the runway that copied traditional Inuit designs... including one from a shaman's parka.
Yesterday, we heard from Salome Awa, who discovered that a European fashion label copied the design of a sacred caribou skin parka worn by her shaman ancestor. Now, a Canadian retailer has pulled the same sweater from their stores.Those two stories may be the latest high profile issues of cultural appropriation in the news, but it's a topic that's everywhere right now, and one that leaves people with legitimate questions about what is, and isn't, appropriate -- and where to draw the line.
We convened a panel to share their thoughts.
- Cathy Young is a contributing editor for Reason, and a columnist for Newsday and RealClearPolitics.com. She was in Middletown, New Jersey.
- Nikita Redkar is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas but today she was in Panama City, Florida.
- Jesse Wente is the Director of Film Programs at TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto.
This segment was produced by The Current's Ines Colabrese, Sujata Berry and Shannon Higgins.