In this presentation, I'll examine four traditional art forms and compare them to modern-day objects that they inspired.

First, I will discuss two art forms from Polynesia.

The first art form that I'll examine is Moko.

Moko is a name for Maori tattoo art and the culture surrounding it. The Maori people are natives of New Zealand.

Moko saw a decline in the 20th century, but has been revived in recent years as an important art form that's worn as an expression of cultural pride and integrity.

When you search for traditional moko online, much of what you find are facial moko. Getting a moko on your face was (and still is) seen as the ultimate statement of one’s identity as a Maori. Also, the Maori believe that the head is the most sacred part of the body.

In the past, those who went without moko were seen as lower-ranking in social status. Moko also made people more attractive to the opposite sex.

Both men and women wear moko on the face, but...

a woman’s moko is typically worn on the chin and sometimes on the forehead, upper lip, nostrils and throat.

Next we'll look at the modern object that's inspired by traditional moko.

This is a Hello Kitty figure with Maori-inspired tattoo designs.

Does this object express the same intent as the original? No. The Maori people take their moko seriously. They're seen as a rite of passage and constitute an important milestone between being a child and an adult.

The Hello Kitty figure is a novelty and I don't think that it's serving as a way to pay tribute to the Maori culture.

The second example that I'll examine is Polynesian tiki.

Tiki are figures in human form that represent ancestors. Traditionally they were often used to mark the boundaries of sacred or significant sites. They were carved in stone, wood and sometimes human bone.

This is an 8-inch tall decorative resin figure that you can purchase online (http://www.wayfair.com/Design-Toscano-Goddess-of-the-Polynesian-Party-Danci...).
The figure does the hula and her head and shoulders move. She's wearing a sparkly grass skirt.

This item is obviously not being marketed as an homage to the original. Here's how the site suggests you use the item:

As an office desk icon or weekend mascot, this Toscano-exclusive celebratory sister is ready to move with the island beat!

So, no, it does not express the same intent as the original tikis.

Now we'll move on to the Americas.

The first traditional object from the Americas that I'll examine is the tipi.

The tipi is a form of portable architecture created by the native americans of the Great Plains. They were nomadic and so it was important that their dwellings be easily disassembled and reassembled when necessary.

A typical family tipi has a conical shape. The structure is made from large poles and traditional tipis were covered in buffalo skins.

This is the cat tipi. The purpose of the cat tipi is to provide a cozy place for cats to rest. Despite the obvious fact that it's inspired by a native american piece of functional architecture, the website makes no mention whatsoever of the original.

It seems clear that this does not express the same intent as the original. Again, this is a novelty.

The final example is the native american warbonnet.

We studied feather headdresses in the americas in unit 2, but we did not specifically discuss native american warbonnets.

Warbonnets were actually only worn by a dozen or so groups in the Great Plains. This important ceremonial regalia was only worn by men who were chiefs and warriors. Each feather in a war bonnet had to be earned and told a story of bravery and honor.

For the Plains people, warbonnets were a sacred display of a man’s honor and courage.

This is a hipster headdress, sold by H&M in Canada until they were slammed with complaints about their cultural insensitivity. H&M pulled this item from their shelves.

Why is this so bad? Well, it takes something of great significance, honor and dignity from another culture and trivializes it by making it a fashion accessory.