The racist panties blog post

If anyone is interested in using this piece for the exam, I found a couple of websites that have some additional info:

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/americas/united-states/111019/urban-outfitters-panties-hipster-navajo-native-american

http://theweek.com/article/index/220370/racist-navajo-attire-and-7-other-urban-outfitters-controversies

Good Luck on the exam!

A website for the Indian Arts and Craft Act of 1990

www.doi.gov/iacb/act.html

Urban Outfitters isn't suggesting they have hired aboriginals to fashion their clothing line. I think that the very obvious unauthentic appearance of their product line speaks to that effect.

If I were to make thongs with the names of various countries or states on them, or various religions even, have I implied that they were in fact made by individuals from these countries, states, or religious backgrounds? Am I not entitled to express my own artistic creativity with the use of the cultural influences around me, as long as I am not fabricating information about its creation? Does it mean that I am implying those people from those countries, states, or religions are sluts? Does wearing a thong even make a person a slut?

mrthurs98623 wrote:

If I were to make thongs with the names of various countries or states on them, or various religions even, have I implied that they were in fact made by individuals from these countries, states, or religious backgrounds? Am I not entitled to express my own artistic creativity with the use of the cultural influences around me, as long as I am not fabricating information about its creation? Does it mean that I am implying those people from those countries, states, or religions are sluts? Does wearing a thong even make a person a slut?

Truish - if we were talking about art - but this is commerce and there is a little bit of legislation that pertains to this type of cultural borrowing:

Quote :

The company’s actions violate the Federal Indian Arts and Crafts act of 1990 and the Federal Trade Commission Act. According to the Department of the Interior:

“The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States. It is illegal to offer or display for sale, or sell any art or craft product in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States. If a business violates the Act, it can face civil penalties or can be prosecuted and fined up to $1,000,000”.

Quote :

in a manner that falsely suggests it is Indian produced, an Indian product, or the product of a particular Indian or Indian Tribe or Indian arts and crafts organization, resident within the United States.

They have not falsely suggested anything about the creation of their products.