tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post4088809811589915151..comments2024-03-27T14:08:51.191-05:00Comments on American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): The word "costume" and American IndiansDebbie Reesehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14972409006633565859noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-31399506343575942042007-05-25T09:35:00.000-05:002007-05-25T09:35:00.000-05:00This issue of costume versus traditional dress has...This issue of costume versus traditional dress has bothered me for years. The Indian in my life is from India while I grew up near the Sioux and Crow reservations of the American West. (The negatives I learned in school regarding the Native peoples could fill this blog and many more.) When I wear a sari or other East Indian dress it is often referred to as a "costume" and the suggestion comes up for wearing it on Halloween. How can what I consider dress for attending a wedding or other party one day suddenly become a "costume". Costume, to me, often suggests a bit of ridicule and certainly relegates the clothing to something not worn in "real life". Traditional clothing either is or once was real life clothing and should be referred to and respected as thus. By calling the clothing that a group wear a costume, the dress and the people who wear it regularly are somehow put into the category of somehow being lesser.<BR/>OK, I will get off my soapbox. Thank you for being such a strong voice not just for Native Americans but for all peoples of the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27760240.post-84025290884030492322007-05-15T21:02:00.000-05:002007-05-15T21:02:00.000-05:00This would be a good lesson in how word meanings c...This would be a good lesson in how word meanings change through history. And the difference between denotation and connotation. And the number of denotations a word can have. And the colloquial meanings of words. And how connotations of words are what can offend. It would be a good dictionary exercise.<BR/><BR/>The only English-English dictionary that I have at hand (I'm in Japan) was published in 1974. In it, the first definition of the word "costume" is "the prevailing fashion in coiffure, jewelry, and apparel of a period, country, or class." No mention is made of dressing up to _mimic_ a period, country, or class. It would be interesting to compare this dictionary with a new one. The progression of thought and the progression of how we view the world is interesting.<BR/><BR/>I understand and respect your point and I am glad you have a platform and the will to speak about these things. Our worlds have been so separate in the past, but hopefully with time, effort, and exposure there will be more bridges. <BR/><BR/>I am interested in learning about efforts to nurture and promote Native American children's writers.<BR/>And am wondering if there is a list of books that would get the stamp of approval. The Japan Foundation has come up with guidelines for accuracy in portraying Japan. I understand that the native American community is vast, but are there or could there be guidelines for Native American communities for publishers to refer to? It would have to be general.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com