Recently on a complete whim I created this poll.
[link]It brought up completely unexpected issues that fascinate me! I'd like this journal to encourage debate, discussion, and most of all I would like it to teach me more about humanity. (If you're curious, the most accurate answer on that entire poll I believe is "a gamma cross", as it addresses only the form, not the function.)
The issue at stake is of certain cultures' ownership over symbols and to a lesser extent, the effect of time on symbols. Also the restriction of using symbols as a statement or a language that not all will immediately understand. Yay or nay?
I'm pretty sure this is a modern world concern, Europeans living at the time of the silk road had no qualms about seeing Chinese art and experimenting with copying its style. But now in the age of the internet in which we are aware of every other culture also on the internet ... the world has shrank. The world exists in boundaries. Everything is identified. Once identified, we can establish certain parts as being ours or not ours.
For the sake of argument, I would like to put out that the swastika, for instance, is a human symbol, and all humans have a right to it along with ALL of its meanings across cultures, lands, and times. Even humans who have seemingly no blood relation to any culture touched by any incarnation of the swastika. It is a SYMBOL. It's point is to make a statement. It is a word and a picture and a history wrapped into a few scant lines. If for instance an Inuit (the only group of people I can currently think of who don't have their own cultural meaning for the swastika unless you count that they're distantly related to asia by benefit of the once was land bridge) created a work which included a swastika, I would find it valid. I could interpret the work with every meaning I know the symbol to have and try to find meaning the work.
A comment that prompted me to write this journal brought up the example of "nigga/nigger" to illustrate how the word is owned by a certain race, and its theirs to redefine however they like.
If a symbol is a sort of word, then a word can be a symbol.
So if I'm right, "nigga/nigger" should be accessible to all humans.
Yet, I am a white American. As soon as I say that word, I have a label as a racist and white supremest.
Is this right?
So back to the swastika.
In the western world, is it strictly the right of Jews to redefine this symbol?
Or for that matter, what if a German wanted to redefine it? What if they wanted to depict it as the Buddhist version of "live long and prosper"? This is a spur of the moment essay, I haven't researched where the Nazi party originally took the symbol from, but I'm imagining it may not have been taken from local mythology. The point being I'm not sure the Nazi party was related in blood or culture to the symbol before they adopted it. EDIT: the symbol definitely has northern European roots, but did those roots take seed from human contact with asia? That still doesn't define to whom it belongs ... the point being it belongs to everyone. (woooo this journal and the poll are at 60+ comments. haha, do you know how many places people have suggested the symbol originated?)
Many people in the poll stated that culture defines symbols. Yes this is true, except that art transcends culture, it speaks to us broadly as humans.
A symbol is a word of power, sometimes with varying definitions. "Hello" is the same word no matter what original culture or language or blood the speaker might have.
As for the effect of time on symbols, that point is made relatively simple by now. The word "cool" once strictly meant "cold", but now it also means "awesome to the point of possibly being badass" ... but that doesn't make its previous definitions obsolete, obviously. So in my opinion all definitions of a symbol are valid.
Thank you as well for all the cautions of using dangerous symbols in my work in the comments on that poll, but where on earth is the fun in art if the underlieing concept isn't riling? There were British cartoonists on Nazi hit lists during the war - that's the power of art and story. (I haven't yet decided to actually use this symbol yet, though.)
So in conclusion, I think this argument applies to all symbols, not just the swastika or nigger.
I hope you enjoyed this wall of text. I'm interested in hearing any and all opinions on it. I never post things like this ... usually because I edit myself by saying "Well, I haven't researched or cited" and so I don't want to write anything intelligent. I'm legitimately interested in being made to appear wrong or stupid in this case though. Have at it! I just want to investigate the issue further.
Interestingly, I'm somewhat certain my viewpoint is very "American". I don't say that proudly or dejectedly - just factually. I have come to life in a culture that swallows all things. It isn't MY history, it is HUMAN history. But is that because I have only 300 years of history to look back on and so I wish to assimilate all things as mine? That might obviously investigate further topics beyond the scope of this journal. I WOULD like to hypothesize though that as humans we are evolving to have a global identity rather than hundreds of more self centered nationalities and patriotisms. In order to overcome our current problems, this global identity will have to overpower our selfish nationalities and so we reach the ultimate human paradox.
Like HELL are we ever all going to get along with each other.
`anmari has been spreading her infectious positivity throughout our community for over 6 years. Throughout this time Ana has been at the core of all things devious, passionately developing an eclectic gallery, helping organise devmeets, participating in chat events and also recently completed dedicating her time as a Community Volunteer. We are absolutely delighted to bestow the Deviousness Award for May 2013 to `anmari, congratulations! Read More
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That said, I love ownership. But 'ownership' over a symbol is all in perspective. Being Jewish, I know that most of the Jewish people I know want absolutely nothing to do with a swastika. And a majority of them also don't know that a swastika backwards is, in fact, a buddhist symbol.
As for the 'n' word, I would like to point out that in it's overuse over the years, it's lost it's power. Straight out of slavery for black people it was a big no-no and black people will still beat you up if you say it, but it's no longer something people avoid using in common conversation. Black people have internalized their oppression by adopting the term as a term of endearment for their friends. I think that this shows an immense amount of pride and defiance. Adopting a derogatory word and turning it into a compliment takes alot of willpower. But it has simultaneously taken out all power and meaning the word ever had.
Not like, say, the word 'kike' for jewish people. It's even hard to type, so much as say in conversation, for me and my friends. Most people don't even know that the word 'kike' is the 'n-word' for Jewish people, or that it was created by the Nazis during the late 1930s. That word is a true symbol- a symbol not only of the holocaust, but also of the lasting effects true oppression can have on a society. Nobody knows the word because it was buried in the dirt along with the remains of Hitlers' reign.
Tl;dr.
I hope more people continue contributing to this topic.
Like you said, a symbol is like a word. But words by their very nature have meanings behind them, and as time moves on the meanings of words and symbols change. A hundred years ago if you said something was "cool" or "neat" both words wouldn't hold the same meaning as they do now. A hundred years from now there will be new meanings for words we use now. It's the same with symbols I suppose, or even logos. Maybe two hundred years from now Disney will have inslaved the world and that cute mouse that right now is a symbol of "the happiest place on earth" will be the mascot of tyranny and dispair.
Things change, that is the way of our world. But I do also agree that some words like what you had mentioned above, hold a double standard. If a word is really offensive, then it shouldn't matter who uses it. It should be offensive no matter what. But to try and guilt others for what "my granddaddy did to your granddaddy" (which in my personal case isn't true, my family is hispanic, we were slaves too, and plenty of times that isn't true in thier case either) isn't right.
I dunno,.... words are loaded and we should be careful what we say anyway, and symbols are connected to the minds of their culture wether it's something that used to be good (like a swastika) but is now bad, or something new entirely (like logos)
As artist we should be aware of all the meanings a symbol holds if we use it, and what purpose we use it. Depending on your intent duel meanings can be used for striking food for thought and intreging juxipotion.
Do I think it's fair that certain words or symbols now hold negative meanings? No, but perhaps some meanings will change again in the future, or maybe enough people, or a single piece of art will change a meaning for the better.
I have certainly offended my share of people with my art, and by all means if that is the desired impact, then throw caution and PC to the winds. But I don't advocate using an offensive word or symbol and then telling people they are misinterpreting it. As artists, it is our job to know the baggage, history, and prior use of the "language" we speak in, and to account for it.
I guess it's key for me to admit I have a special invested interest in both "swastika" and "nigger". They're part of my racial history. I've witnessed relatives and friends offer nasty conforming opinions without using specific words or symbols.
Children cannot escape the sins of their fathers.
I cannot escape the racism and vengeance I sometimes feel subjected to based on crimes committed by my ancestors. (Those years I spent in the south had an extreme impact.)
The single thing I feel I can do is approach the symbols of these pasts and make a very obvious statement that I feel differently than my fathers did.
It isn't in me to wait for a Jew or an African American to forgive my entire race. I speak NOW, for myself, in the language that will turn the most heads. I don't expect forgiveness or to never be biased against ever again. My only goal is to speak.
However, i'm bugged on the issue of Racism and the use of "Nigger". I myself am not racist, and believe all racists should be shot for their close minded beliefs, but not fataly...just in the arm or leg or something...anyway, because of this, it bugs me when i hear that word, especially out of the mouths of the African American populace. It seems self degrading, yet they use it freely amongst fellow friends. However, should a white person say it to a black friend, he gets threatened and looses cool points. I do not believe this is fair. Does anyone know of any other culture that greets each other in this manner? And should this even be considered fair?
When it comes to the use of the swastika in art classes or seminar papers in Germany, you have to cut away or distort a part of it. If you are seen drawing one at school you'll immediately get detention.
I think it's okay to frown uppon the use of this symbol (especially for the jews), but I don't think that it should be forbidden, because it has many more meanings than the one of being a Nazi symbol.