Themed Parties Pt2
In the year 2012, after hosting an offensive Native-themed party on September, Paul Frank Industries apologized and later collaborated with four Native American artists from different tribes and regions across the country to design a collection of clothing and accessories. (Walker, 2014) Paul Frank also took down thousands of photos taken during the event from their Facebook page (Keene, 2012).
Several design flaws that I've noticed were the use of the dreamcatcher that is a symbol of unity among the various Indigenous Nations, and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures in the poster to depict 'Native American-ness'. Upon further inspection, the font for the word 'dream' looks like tipi/teepee. Furthermore, the monkey that is the mascot for Paul Frank is seen wearing warpaint and also a feathered war bonnet which is traditionally worn by male leaders who have earned a place and great respect in their tribes. To be seen worn by a monkey just seems so wrong and offensive.
Here are some of the photos from the party and was allegedly deleted but are still floating around on the internet.
So after apologizing on Facebook and Twitter, the president of Paul Frank, Ellie Dekel reached out and tried to set up a call with the writers at Native Appropriations. Here is what Adriene, one of the people that Ellie reached out to said about the call.
Some of the steps that Elie has taken action were:
There were other interesting points that Adriene has also pointed out here. She mentioned something about the term Genesis Amnesia coined by Pierre Bourdieu which means the forgetting of the conditions of and the reasons for the origin or a cultural practice. (Ogilvie, 2004) All in all, in my opinion, it is not entirely wrong to hold certain themed parties. As long as you acknowledge the culture that will be used as a theme and appreciates it instead of using it to poke fun at it. Consideration has to be taken very seriously as well, ask people from the respective cultures for their opinions and perhaps permission.
References
Ebrahimji, A. (2013). Out of controversy comes Paul Frank-Native designer collaboration - CNN.com. [online] CNN. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/26/living/paul-frank-native-designers/index.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Dreamcatcher. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Tipi. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipi [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). War bonnet. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_bonnet [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Facebook.com. (2012). Paul Frank. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/PaulFrank/posts/10151215603902457 [Accessed 1 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). Paul Frank Powwow Party Update: Am I dreaming?. [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/09/paul-frank-powwow-party-update-am-i-dreaming.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). The Paul Frank x Native Designers Collaboration is Here!. [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2013/06/the-paul-frank-x-native-designers-collaboration-is-here.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). Paul Frank offends every Native person on the planet with Fashion Night Out "Dream Catchin’ Pow wow". [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/09/paul-frank-offends-every-native-person-on-the-planet-with-fashion-night-out-dream-catchin-pow-wow.html [Accessed 2 Jul. 2017].
Ogilvie, R. (2004). Voluntarism, community life, and the American ethic. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, p.159.
Walker, T. (2014). 4 Ways To Honor Native Americans Without Appropriating Our Culture - Everyday Feminism. [online] Everyday Feminism. Available at: http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/08/honor-native-americans-without-appropriating/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2017].
The poster design for the Native American themed party. (Keene, 2012)
Several design flaws that I've noticed were the use of the dreamcatcher that is a symbol of unity among the various Indigenous Nations, and a general symbol of identification with Native American or First Nations cultures in the poster to depict 'Native American-ness'. Upon further inspection, the font for the word 'dream' looks like tipi/teepee. Furthermore, the monkey that is the mascot for Paul Frank is seen wearing warpaint and also a feathered war bonnet which is traditionally worn by male leaders who have earned a place and great respect in their tribes. To be seen worn by a monkey just seems so wrong and offensive.
Here are some of the photos from the party and was allegedly deleted but are still floating around on the internet.
Guests posing in the photo booth in the event. (Keene, 2012)
"props" that were available for the photo booth. (Keene, 2012)
The drinks that are available are called “Rain Dance Refresher,” “Dream Catcher,” and “Neon Teepee.” (Keene, 2012)
So after apologizing on Facebook and Twitter, the president of Paul Frank, Ellie Dekel reached out and tried to set up a call with the writers at Native Appropriations. Here is what Adriene, one of the people that Ellie reached out to said about the call.
"The phone call went so much better than I could have even imagined. Elie was gracious, sincere, and kind from the beginning, and truly apologetic. He took full responsibility for the event and said he wanted to make sure that this was something that never happened again, and wanted to learn more so he could educate his staff and colleagues. We talked about the history of representations of Native people in the US, and I even got into the issues of power and privilege at play–and the whole time, he actually listened, and understood. Such a refreshing experience." (Keene, 2012)
Some of the steps that Elie has taken action were:
- Removed all of the Native inspired designs from their digital/online imprint
- The company works off a “Style Guide” that includes all of the digital art for the company, and then separate manufacturing companies license those images and turn them into products. Elie and his staff have gone through the style guide, even into the archives, and removed all of the Native imagery, meaning no future products will be produced with these images.
- They have sent (or it will be sent today) a letter to all of their manufacturers and partners saying none of this artwork is authorized for use and it has been removed from their business
- Paul Frank Industries would like to collaborate with a Native artist to make designs, where the proceeds would be donated to a Native cause.
There were other interesting points that Adriene has also pointed out here. She mentioned something about the term Genesis Amnesia coined by Pierre Bourdieu which means the forgetting of the conditions of and the reasons for the origin or a cultural practice. (Ogilvie, 2004) All in all, in my opinion, it is not entirely wrong to hold certain themed parties. As long as you acknowledge the culture that will be used as a theme and appreciates it instead of using it to poke fun at it. Consideration has to be taken very seriously as well, ask people from the respective cultures for their opinions and perhaps permission.
References
Ebrahimji, A. (2013). Out of controversy comes Paul Frank-Native designer collaboration - CNN.com. [online] CNN. Available at: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/06/26/living/paul-frank-native-designers/index.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Dreamcatcher. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamcatcher [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). Tipi. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tipi [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
En.wikipedia.org. (n.d.). War bonnet. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_bonnet [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Facebook.com. (2012). Paul Frank. [online] Available at: https://www.facebook.com/PaulFrank/posts/10151215603902457 [Accessed 1 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). Paul Frank Powwow Party Update: Am I dreaming?. [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/09/paul-frank-powwow-party-update-am-i-dreaming.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). The Paul Frank x Native Designers Collaboration is Here!. [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2013/06/the-paul-frank-x-native-designers-collaboration-is-here.html [Accessed 4 Jul. 2017].
Keene, A. (2012). Paul Frank offends every Native person on the planet with Fashion Night Out "Dream Catchin’ Pow wow". [online] Native Appropriations. Available at: http://nativeappropriations.com/2012/09/paul-frank-offends-every-native-person-on-the-planet-with-fashion-night-out-dream-catchin-pow-wow.html [Accessed 2 Jul. 2017].
Ogilvie, R. (2004). Voluntarism, community life, and the American ethic. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, p.159.
Walker, T. (2014). 4 Ways To Honor Native Americans Without Appropriating Our Culture - Everyday Feminism. [online] Everyday Feminism. Available at: http://everydayfeminism.com/2014/08/honor-native-americans-without-appropriating/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2017].
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