One of the biggest misunderstandings of Sashiko in English is that they believe there is “the Sashiko” with all of the answers within. It’s not their fault. Unfortunately, it is how Sashiko was introduced in English to make profit. It is much easier to market “it” with the absolute answers. The truth is: there is no such a thing as “The (ultimate) Sashiko”. Each Sashiko is a part of the “Whole” Sashiko. The Sashiko we share is the same. Have you ever wondered why there are so many different photos in one word Sashiko? This is the reason.
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Here is an analogy of how scary it is to filter the (foreign) culture.
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There are so many kinds of pizza in this world. New York Style, Chicago Deep Dish, Hawaian … masterpiece pizza from restaurants, delivery from Pizza chains, frozen pizza… and homemade one. No one should/can define “The Pizza” from the category above. You can find your own ultimate pizza with your preference, but you won’t define it as the only pizza (since you know everyone has different taste).
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Cultural Appropriation becomes an issue because the whole picture of pizza is not introduced, yet they pick one pizza as the “only pizza” for their convenience(ignorance). There is nothing wrong with frozen pizza… however, wouldn’t it be sad if someone outside of your culture decides the frozen pizza is “The (only) Pizza” in your culture, and teaches others based on this sad ignorance? You gotta say that there are more varieties of pizza, and if you have a favorite master chef of pizza, you want to protect them, don’t you?
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Even more… when one decided to not to use cheese and tomato sauce on the dough, it is just bread. There is nothing wrong with bread, but what’s the point of calling it “pizza” then? Are you aware of what kind of pizza(Sashiko) you are eating(stitching)? Your choice contributes to the future of pizza (Sashiko & anything for that matter).
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今日の英語は刺し子とピザのたとえ話。日本語でもたとえ話を書いたので、是非 @sashiko_dad にて一読頂けると嬉しいです！
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2021-03-01 09:41:07
When I read your posts, I often think of Jazz music. Jazz music came out of my culture, although it is practiced now all around the world. Many of the non-Black artists clearly understand the music and produce outstanding tracks. However, there’s a certain element to having grown up with all of the other sounds of Black life in America, an element that connects all of us, even the non-musicians, to the music. Other people may *play* jazz, but only our people can *live* jazz.
That analogy really makes the point. Thank you. I so appreciate this ongoing discussion.
I don’t know. In a very real sense, the Margherita pizza is ”the pizza”. It does not mean you can’t make variations and additions to it, but it still is the prototypical pizza.
In other words, there are other pizzas too, but as I understand it, the Margherita is still ”the pizza”. As always, I may be mistaken.
I am really appreciating the narrative you offer, the time is truly now to speak up concerning cultural appropriations . Thank you
This is a great analogy!
You write about your truth so well❤️🙌
I like your explanation a lot. The parallel to the concept of pizza is well drawn. I hope everyone understand now. Thank you for your work here!
Love your work on denim :BLUE
I very much appreciate your words on this (Sashiko) matter. As it was introduced to me it was paired specifically with mending – IIRC – but reinforcement was left out of the picture. The manner by which it is done (specific, traditional?) tools and how things are stitched (e.g. threads not crossing, leaving some slack, stitching in a certain order) was communicated
thank you for that easy understandable ‘picture’ with pizza! I love to read your posts but because English isn’t my native language and I can’t speak/read/understand Japanese at all sometimes it’s difficult for meto be sure I understood ‘the core’ of what you was saying. but that pizza comparison I totally get, I think (hope…) thank you for all your work you do in educating us about sashiko!
When you buy your frozen pizza at the shops does your mind ever travel back to Naples to the original pizza ? That is what we have to ask ourselves when people start packaging culture and selling it at Kmart
Stunning and so tactile. 💙
Спасибо❤️