Week 7: Introduction to Assignment 2
It is explained in the introduction in the second part of the course that we need to build an understanding of cultural knowledge system by how to use information and method appropriately, what are the responsibilities and how to bring out our creativity into a complex cultural environment. By being provided with resources of reflection within the complex cultural context of Aotearoa about the knowledge systems such as te tiriti (the treaty of Waitangi), tikanga, gender and sexuality, Mana Wahine, Takatāpui, the pacific, and asian experiences in Aotearoa.
ZOOM SESSION
What time and when: 2:45pm - 5pm on the 12th of September 2022
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We started off by introducing ourselves and talked about what we all had submitted for the first assignment. When we then had to read 3 news stories, the first thing I noticed was 'That's a mockery' from Growing anger over use of moko, mataora in image filters: ‘That's a mockery’ — Radio NZ, 5 September 2022 There is mention of 'cultural rip-offs', 'abuse', and 'intergenerational trauma' as some of the responses to the 'Maori tattoos' filter on snapchat. It was not because Māori are insecure that a tauiwi (foreigner) created these filters, the reasons for such comments were already explained.
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"Tā moko (Māori tattoo) and tatau are unique expressions of whakapapa and identity"
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There is always a reason why the tā moko are designed the way they do, it is not just about spiraling designs anywhere on the face or body, it's the stories that are told in those lines. The lines either speaks of our whakapapa, atua, iwi and our being. If you know the symbolism of the lines and their placement, you will already know what their story and their whakapapa is at the very moment you look at how the tā moko was designed.
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INDEPENDENT STUDY
"...tikanga Māori deals not so much with rules and regulations but with values which are subject to various cultural tests of appropriateness, correctness and adequacy." - Moko Mead, 27
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VALUE
The values Hirini is referring to is one of the aspects of tikanga Māori which are the Māori customary practices, behaviors or manners, to behave in a way that it is culturally proper or appropriate to create an awareness to avoid uncomfortable situations. Which is actually in relation to tapu and noa of a person and objects and giving respect. Such as touching someone's head, sitting on pillows and tables, wearing hats while at the dining table, putting bags on table and passing food over someone's head is tapu. And to give someone respect is by not talking over anyone, not to turning your back to someone while they are talking or not to step over someone while they are laying down. From a Māori perspective, you could say this is our way of being disciplined, by having respect, by having manaakitanga, even during tribal wars.
Reference: Tikanga tips, Victoria University of Wellington Te Herenga Waka (n.d.) Tikanga tips | Māori at the University | Victoria University of Wellington (wgtn.ac.nz) (accessed 12 September 2022)
-----------------------------------------REINTRODUCING MYSELF TO TE TIRITI
TIRITI WITH ENG TRANS.PDF (massey.ac.nz)
Reading the English and Māori version and reviewing the Hugh Kawharu's notes and reflect its significance.
From one of Kawharu's notes, I was focused on a verse on the 'Modern English translation of Māori version'...
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"...and also because there are many of subjects already living on this land and others yet to come. So the Queen desires to establish a government so that no evil will come to Māori and European living in a state of lawlessness." - Kawharu, 1
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I don't really have an indication for artists, but I have neutral perspective towards this verse. Giving me mix emotions as I read it for two reasons. First, it is about the European subjects. Around 1840, the number of European moving in Aotearoa grew since James Cook's second visit in 1772. They would've stayed in England, but they couldn't, they were running out of space as they grew in numbers. The whole purpose of the voyage is for them to look for a new land for their people can move there to have more space.
Second, it has to do with the Queen. She was only mentioned, she could've been too busy around that time period, so she wasn't really involved. Around the time the missionaries visited Aotearoa, she would have just had her coronation, wedding and pregnant with her first born, she was also only 18 or 19, so she didn't have that much authority at that age. Even after the missionary and the representative sending the document to her to sign. But it was a copy of the original document with less signature. (I won't guarantee that this is what really happened because I don't have a reference to support this)
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GROUP SESSION
Time and when: 11:30pm - 5pm, 14th of September 2022
For the first half of the group session, we focused on our mind map on Miro board. To decide what concept and what creative tool to use.
We thought it was going to be easy, but as we wrote our mind map, it seemed like we couldn't get a conclusion because of our ethnicity. I am Māori and New Zealander-European, Ferina is Samoan, Nesi is Tongan, and Micah is a new Zealander-European who is a drag. We narrowed our ideas down to Pacific History and Queer History, but we thought about the 1000-word essay. If we did Pacific History, Ferina, Nesi and I could finish it smoothly, but Micah wouldn't. If we did Queer History, Micah could finish it easily, but Nesi, Ferina and I wouldn't. So, I suggested 'Whakapapa' to be inclusive to bring in both pacific and queer history.
Genealogy; genealogical table; lineage; descent; history
We read about the property right and trademarks. I read pages regarding the copyright and trademarks, while the other read more about taonga works and intellectual property.
My Note (Page 36 - 39):
1.2.2 Other copyright - related rights
1) Performers Rights
- While with Copyright Acts provides independence rights, with copyright, it focuses more on public attraction as its main priority.
-The act for the independence for the performer is limited. There is less control over the public use with non-private purpose without the performer’s permission.
-In comparison the Copyright of the performer's rights, it is the public’s interest over the performer’s consent. Only recognized by the interest of an individual performer.
2) Registered design rights
-The intellectual property office protects these rights for final products to be qualified to be made or imported, for trade or business, to be sold, hired or offered.
1.2.3 Trademarks, geographic indications, and other protections
1) Trademark
-Trade Mark is registered by the Trademarks Act, the taonga that is an indefinitely registered trademark.
- Trade Mark Protection prevents people and businesses from freeloading, to also ensure the viewers what product is genuine, what is not and where it comes from. Such as making poor copies of Māori taonga made from China shipped to New Zealand. Despite it being their way of being recognized by Māori Artists, and to avoid using the real taonga and make it offensive towards the Māori.
2) Geographical indication
-Because it is a place that develops over time it is not really considered to be qualified for trademark protection.
“Geographical indicational systems register a geographical name for use in relation to a particular product” - 37