Poly Club @ Moreau Catholic High School

March 19th, 2009

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• MCHS

[rinaweinahhh]

@Mikamonsterxxx I understand, but preserving a culture and celebrating a culture are two totally different things. These kids wanted to learn about different cultures and Polynesian dance, so why is that such a bad thing? I don't understand why you were (or are) frustrated with the video when it's a video of others learning about a different lifestyle. Just because they're dancing Tahitian doesn't mean they're claiming to be Tahitian.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

So @Gille87 Thank you for your input and insight on the matter. i respect you for standing for your beliefs on the issue and I hope you can better understand mine. Thank you and good day.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

Why can't you focus such passion into learning tinikling or Pandanggo sa Ilaw. I wouldn't go to an african dance festival to watch a bunch of norwegians doing an Adumu dance. I'm sorry if you took such offense to my comment that wasn't directed toward you and had no relevance to you, but this is the way i feel and at the time i felt it needed to be said.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

And "yes" the tahitian dancing community wouldnt be a big as it is today if it weren't for the vast amount of non-native dancers participating. However, it also wouldn't be here if it weren't for its traditional creators who regarded it as sacred and viewed it as a special art that only few were worthy of. I don't understand what is so hard about having a such fervor for your OWN culture.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

Moreover, to claim "Poly" is a lifestyle is ignorant in itself; because its a mockery of an ancient culture. What if a white man thought it was okay to associate himself as chinese or japanese because he knew kung fu or taekwondo? Or if a mexican thought it was ckool to put the filipino sun on his back with traditional filipino symbols and say he did it because he likes the "style".

[Mikamonsterxxx]

To say that "I know the meaning is a lie" because if you truly knew the meanings, you would know that they weren't meant for you. Samoans dont get Tongan tattoos, Tongans dont get Maori tattoos, Maoris dont get Hawaiian tattoos, and Hawaiians dont get Tahitian tattoos, because we know that those designs and that aesthetic was not meant for us to wear nor are we of that specific culture. Its not right nor respectful.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

This sacred practice of body modification is something that we take seriously and cherish and to see that people who aren't of our culture and take it and make a novelty of it, is upsetting in the least. Moreover, to call it "Tribal" is a slap in the face to the creators of tatau. These symbols aren't some design in a book, they have strong meanings that provide insight into who the wearer is, they have tell the story of a persons past or map the stars, and signify social class.

[Mikamonsterxxx]

of their birthplace or association with dance, it gives them credence to parade around claiming that their hawaiian or polynesian or that they live that "poly" lifestyle etc. Further, its frustrating to see people who know that they are not Samoan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Tongan, Fijian etc put traditional polynesian tattoos on their body..

[Mikamonsterxxx]

@Gille87

Here's the deal. The comment I wrote last year was not the best way to go about expressing my frustration with what was occurring in the video. Let me break it down so you understand where I am coming from. So, when I see people taking something that is sacred to me and my people and make it "mainstream" its frustrating. Furthermore, it's even more frustrating when people who aren't polynesian, but were born in Hawaii or do hula or tahitian dance, feel that because...

[Gille87]

and btw I enjoyed this performance, much better like a lot of ''pollyclub'' performances I've seen...well put together, both choreo and costumes!

Mauruuru roa for sharing:D