29 Oct
2014
29 Oct
'14
2:39 p.m.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Lesley Bell <zvezdalune(a)gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2014 at 2:38 PM
Subject: Re: [sudo-discuss] Dia de los Muertos fundraiser: is happening?
To: Vicky Knox <vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com>
You're right Vicky. The flyer has been changed--it is, after all, better
to make death obsolete than the remembrance of it, although some people
believe that technological resurrection may be possible someday.
Also, no one brought it up, but I realized it could be possible that the
very Halloween-ish nature of the event could be somewhat offensive. People
who are perceived to be using technology in way that transgresses the
traditionally accepted human form are very much discriminated against, e.g.
Steve Mann's attack in France. I've been called a "cyborg freak," and
"autistic" for my wearable tech experimentation. I hoped to address this
perceived uncanniness of these technologies through the playful "cyborg
zombie" invitation, but I understand that that could be very offensive to
some people questioning their primate-body-identities who have been
harassed or attacked because of other people's fear.
This has been an interesting discussion. I appreciate all of your feedback
very much.
Here's the new flyer. Peace everyone!
On Tue, Oct 28, 2014 at 2:53 PM, Vicky Knox <vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com> wrote:
Hey Lesley, I want to clarify that my intention
wasn't to put you down,
but rather to suggest an alternative.
I also wanted to say that I grew up somewhere where the holiday was more
something that everyone celebrated, so I can maybe empathize with how you
may feel coming here to the Bay where there is more tension around the
holiday.
2014-10-28 13:04 GMT-07:00 Max B <maxb.personal(a)gmail.com>om>:
+1 thanks Vicky!
--
Lesley Bell
432-266-0397
zvezdalune(a)gmail.com
<http://lesleybell.com>
--
Lesley Bell
432-266-0397
zvezdalune(a)gmail.com
<http://lesleybell.com>
On October 28, 2014 12:25:51 PM PDT, Vicky Knox <vknoxsironi(a)gmail.com>
wrote:
> Hi Lesley,
>
> I would strongly suggest a language change to the flyer.
>
> The flyer currently asks: "What would Nov. 1 look like if Dia de los
> Muertos was obsolete?" For me, Día de los Muertos is a day to immortalize
> my loved ones who have passed away. Given this sentiment, the idea of it
> becoming "obsolete" doesn't make sense to me. Also, I'm certain you
don't
> mean it this way, but I feel like it even borders on judgmental, like it
> brushes off that sentiment and the immortality of the event itself. I would
> suggest language that asks how Día de los Muertos might be reimagined in a
> futurist framework. Does that make sense?
>
> Thank you,
> Vicky
>
> ------------------------------
>
> sudo-discuss mailing list
> sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org
> https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss
>
>
29 Oct
29 Oct
4:33 p.m.
New subject: Fwd: Dia de los Muertos fundraiser: is happening?
This is one of the problems with white or non-latino/hispanic culture
people interpreting Dia de los Muertos. It has nothing to do with death.
DDLM is a celebration of those who passed, and it is considered a time when
the veil between the land of the dead and the land of life has thinned to
the point that all of the deceased are able to return to the land of the
living and visit with their loved ones who are still alive. So I am not
sure what your "death is obsolete" catchphrase means or what "What would
Nov.
1 look like if Dia de los Muertos was obsolete?" means in relation to the
holiday unless by which you mean that because of the spirit of DDLM, death
is obsolete because we all still get to visit with the dead every year.
DDLM has nothing to do with the remembrance of death, it actually has very
little to do with death at all, it is pretty much solely about the dead,
remembering them, and visiting with them during the time that the two
worlds are close together.
This also has to do with why I have a problem with people not of the
culture interpreting the event. People on this thread claim to have built
ofrendas, and studied mexican and latin american culture, yet this
incredibly simple understanding of this event, which is even understood by
small mexican and latino children, appears to escape them. Studying the
culture, does not make you of the culture. Joining in a celebration with
the culture, does not make you of the culture. White people do not and
should not get to dictate how other cultures are portrayed, or what the
intentions or spirits of those cultures are, whether in general or specific
to celebrations. DDLM in the Bay Area is already fraught with tensions
regarding cultural appropriation (which anyone who has been to the SF
Mission Celebration of DDLM and heard the speeches beforehand knows),
adding to this by an insistence that white people get to dictate and run
celebrations of this holiday only adds to that cultural appropriation. I
deeply understand those who want the whole world to be one culture, but
until all cultures are on even parity with no oppression, any taking of
minority cultures by dominant cultures is just another form of oppression.
It is for mexican, latino, and/or hispanic people to choose whether or not
to share their culture, not for white people or other dominant majorities
to decide for them.
Sorry I haven't been able to write this sooner, I have been incredibly busy
with the Marigold Project getting ready for this year. BTW there is an
excellent opportunity for those who would like to participate and also help
local cultures celebrate, for people to show up in the Mission at Garfield
Park on the morning of Nov 3 to help dismantle ofrendas and clean garbage
from the parade.
-Hep
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HEPIC PHOTOGRAPHY
415 867 9472 || http://hepic.net
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Lesley Bell