Subject:
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Re: Update on Maori/Bionicle dispute
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.technic.bionicle
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Date:
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Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:30:31 GMT
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Viewed:
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873 times
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In lugnet.technic.bionicle, Matthew Gerber writes:
> If LEGO had simply called the heads of the Mata Nui villages "priests"
> instead of "turaga", would Catholics be up in arms? Of course not!
Point taken, but let's up the stakes for the sake of argument. If LEGO
had released a (substandard) action figure line, and one of the main
characters was named Jesus Christ, would Catholics have a problem? How
about if Jesus Christ had a pal and sidekick named Satan? I'm admittedly
just speculating, but if "turaga" carries a significant cultural connotation
for the Maori, why wouldn't LEGO respect that, since LEGO postures itself as
a manufacturer of toys with universal appeal?
> Just 'cause it ain't English, don't mean it's any less generic, does it? That
> seems like a loosing proposition to me...only English words are fair game for
> use? B.S.
Very true. Ask George Lucas how he came up with languages for some of his
aliens. Does Lucas have to pay royalties to Mozambique every time Nein Nunb
opens his mouth?
> "The LEGO Company were challenged earlier this year to withdraw their popular
> line of Bionicle products due to the wholesale lifting of the names and
> traditions of the Maori people in the line."
No doubt Hercules and Zena will have to compensate Greece.
> > And is there something wrong with Maori trying to protect and promote >their culture?
>
> At TLC's expense? You're damn right there is. (Or at anyone else's, for that
> matter...)
Why? If the Maori feel that the a children's toy truly is earning a
profit by trivializing their culture, I think they have a legitimate beef.
> 'If an agreement can be made and the stories and the names are used
> appropriately so you couldn't put the name tohunga [a spiritual advisor and
> healer] where it didn't belong, then there can be a whole generation of kids
> around the world that get to know and understand about things Maori.'"
>
> OH! But I thought the benevolent Maori were taking this on for the entire
> Pacific Island region!
Well, that's just ad hominem.
Dave!
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Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Update on Maori/Bionicle dispute
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| (...) but this line of reasoning lies on specific terms, not broad cultural terminology. the maori seem to have a problem with the use of maori terminology, albeit some of them with religious connotation. i mean "pohatu" means "stone"; given your (...) (23 years ago, 31-Oct-01, to lugnet.technic.bionicle)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Update on Maori/Bionicle dispute
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| (...) <snip> (...) Right, but doesn't that show that LEGO specifically weren't lifting Maori culture and words? It took forethought to decide to give Bionicle a Pacific Island flavor, yet not impeed on any one specific peoples culture or beliefs. By (...) (23 years ago, 27-Oct-01, to lugnet.technic.bionicle)
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