#multiculturism

Religiously - Jews who are observant are FORBIDDEN from following any foreign customs or celebrate any foreign holidays. It is not just insensitive to wish them a Merry Christmas, it’s disrespectful to their faith. Even Jews who aren’t observant may want to observe this prohibition as a sign of respect for their Jewish legacy.

Culturally - Along with its pagan roots, Christmas as it’s celebrated today is a part of Christian culture. It is inappropriate (and flies in the face of multi-cultural tolerance) to expect non-Christians to participate in or celebrate a culture that is not their own, as if it were a universal one, while also ignoring the fact that Jews have their own culture to celebrate. It would be weird if Hindus went around, expecting Christians to celebrate Diwali because Hindus do, and for them to take offense if they were politely reminded that Christians celebrate Christmas, not Diwali. The best metaphor I can think of is a man who goes around wishing people a happy birthday, but on his birthday, not theirs. It implies the only bday out there is his, and that if they don’t celebrate his, then they don’t get to celebrate a bday at all. And then sometimes getting angry if they correct him, insisting that they have to accept his bday wishes, because he had good intentions, he just wanted everyone to be full of joy as people should be on a bday. I hope it’s clear why even when the intentions might be good, this kind of behavior is completely insensitive to the other party.

Historically - Sadly, the history of Jews is full of persecution at the hands of other, stronger majority groups. This isn’t limited to Christians, but it does include the way in many places in Europe, Jews were often attacked on Christmas. To quote the beginning of this article: “For centuries, Christmas, along with Easter, was a time of terror and danger for many European Jews. Christians would sometimes turn on the Jews in their midst, blaming them for supposedly killing Jesus, and often attacking and even killing Jews with impunity. Throughout Jewish history, December 25 has seen some low points in Jewish life.” In order to minimize attacks on them, many Jewish communities shut down on Christmas, so while everyone else was rejoicing around the town, Jews were locked up in their houses. Please understand, December 24 and 25 are two of the worst days on the Gregorian calendar in terms of what was done to the Jews repeatedly.

Asgard was a multicultural world.

Its native inhabitants were the Æsir, but Asgard had many immigrant residents too.

Odin, Thor, Þrúðr, Móði, Magni, and Baldr were mixed-race (Æsir-Jötunn).

The gods Njörd, Freyja, and Freyr were Vanir from Vanaheim.

Skaði (Njörd’s wife), Járnsaxa (Magni’s mother), and Loki were Jötnar from Jotunheim. 

Dark Elves were super good friends with the Æsir and made and cared for their weapons, so it’s not unreasonable to assume some might have settled in Asgard.

The philosophy of other refers to the study of how we relate to other individuals and groups within society, and how we understand and define concepts such as identity, difference, and otherness. It involves examining questions such as: What is the relationship between self and other? How do we define and construct the boundaries between self and other? How do we understand and respond to difference and diversity? What ethical and political implications arise from our relationships with others? The philosophy of other draws on a range of philosophical traditions, including ethics, social and political philosophy, phenomenology, and existentialism.

The philosophy of the "other" is a broad and complex field that can cover many areas, including ethics, political philosophy, and social philosophy. Some theories in the philosophy of the "other" include:

Recognition theory: This theory focuses on the idea that human beings are social creatures who require recognition and respect from others to maintain a sense of self. This theory is often associated with the work of philosopher Axel Honneth.

Postcolonial theory: This theory examines the ways in which colonialism and imperialism have shaped our understanding of the "other." Postcolonial theorists often explore the ways in which dominant cultures have imposed their values, beliefs, and practices on colonized peoples.

Critical race theory: Critical race theory examines the ways in which race and racism impact our social and political systems. It aims to challenge and dismantle systemic racism and discrimination. This theory is often associated with the work of scholars such as Kimberlé Crenshaw and Richard Delgado.

Phenomenology: Phenomenology is a philosophical approach that focuses on subjective experiences of the world. This approach has been used to explore questions about the nature of selfhood and the ways in which we perceive and understand the "other."

Existentialism: Existentialism is a philosophical approach that emphasizes individual freedom and choice. This approach has been used to explore questions about the nature of the self and our relationships with others.

Psychoanalytic theory: Psychoanalytic theory examines the unconscious mind and the ways in which our unconscious desires and impulses impact our relationships with others. This theory is often associated with the work of Sigmund Freud and Jacques Lacan.

Critical theory: Critical theory is a broad field that examines the ways in which power and domination operate in society. Critical theorists often explore the ways in which dominant groups oppress marginalized groups and the ways in which social change can be achieved.

Social Contract Theory: This theory focuses on the idea that people give up some of their individual rights in order to live together in a society governed by certain rules and laws.

Cultural Relativism: This theory suggests that different cultures have their own unique values and ways of looking at the world, and that there is no universal standard for what is right or wrong.

Feminist Theory: This theory focuses on the ways in which gender affects social relations and power dynamics, and aims to challenge and change patriarchal norms and structures.

Queer Theory: This theory explores the ways in which sexual orientation and gender identity intersect with power dynamics and social norms, and aims to challenge and subvert heteronormative and cisnormative structures.

Disability Studies: This theory examines the ways in which disability intersects with social and political power dynamics, and aims to challenge and change ableist norms and structures.

Environmental Philosophy: This theory explores the ethical and political implications of our relationship with the natural world, and aims to challenge and change anthropocentric and exploitative attitudes towards the environment.

The philosophy of self is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of the self or the individual. It concerns questions about the nature of personal identity, the mind-body problem, consciousness, and the self's relationship to society and the world. Some of the central issues in the philosophy of self include: What is the self? What makes us the same person over time? How do we know that we have a self? Is the self a real entity or just an illusion? What is the relationship between the self and consciousness? How does the self relate to the world and others around us? These questions have been approached by various philosophical traditions, including phenomenology, existentialism, analytic philosophy, and Eastern philosophy.

The philosophy of self, or selfhood, is a complex and multifaceted field that has been explored by many philosophers throughout history. Some of the main theories and approaches within this field include:

Cartesian dualism: This theory, named after philosopher René Descartes, posits that the self or soul is separate from the body and that the two interact through the pineal gland in the brain.

Bundle theory: This theory, developed by philosopher David Hume, suggests that the self is simply a bundle or collection of experiences, sensations, and perceptions.

Narrative theory: This theory, championed by philosopher Paul Ricoeur, proposes that the self is constructed through the stories we tell ourselves and others about our lives.

Self-organizational theory: This theory, put forward by philosopher Francisco Varela, suggests that the self is a complex system that emerges from the interactions between the brain, body, and environment.

Phenomenological theory: This theory, developed by philosopher Edmund Husserl, emphasizes the first-person experience of the self and suggests that the self is constituted by conscious experience.

Social constructivism: This theory, which has been developed by a number of philosophers including Judith Butler and Michel Foucault, proposes that the self is a socially constructed identity that is shaped by cultural norms and discourses.

Buddhist philosophy: Within Buddhist philosophy, there are a number of different theories about the self, including the idea that the self is an illusion and that it does not exist independently of other phenomena.

Existentialism: This philosophical movement, which includes thinkers such as Jean-Paul Sartre and Martin Heidegger, emphasizes the importance of individual choice and freedom in the formation of the self.

Minimalism: This theory holds that there is no self at all, and that the idea of a unified, enduring self is an illusion.

Multiculturalism: the view that cultures, races, and ethnicities, particularly those of minority groups, deserve special acknowledgment of their differences within a dominant political culture.

Application of multiculturalism in archaeology will change based on wherever you are in the world, but a common element is understanding that archaeology has a colonial framework that needs to be reconsidered, especially when interacting with Indigenous and minority groups.

My work is based in the United States, so that's where I'll use as my example. The US occupies the land of many different Indigenous nations that were here well before European colonizers. In the process of colonization, white settlers committed a genocide against these Indigenous people.

If, for example, we are excavating a site with Indigenous significance/activity, it is important to consider that while we as archaeologists might have the inclination to dig everything up and take it back to the lab, those desires may not align with the beliefs and needs of Indigenous descendants. For more on this, check out the book Skull Wars.

This type of consideration should also be given to other minority groups, such as African Americans, immigrants, lgbtq+ people, Jewish and Muslim people, etc.

At the end of the day, the core of multiculturalism is understanding that your own cultural background and the dominant cultural paradigms of a society are not the only ones in play.

Network(s): SyFy, Amazon

Creators: James S.A. Corey

BIPOC

Summary: 200+ years in the future, humanity has ventured into the far reaches of the solar system, colonizing the Milky Way and spreading the political turmoil of Earth among the generations to come. A fragile peace exists among the three factions that arise, a peace that cannot last when something greater emerges that threatens them all, changing the course of humanity for all time to come. 

Full review: For every generation, there is a defining sci-fi television show that captivates audiences, tapping into visions of the near future while simultaneously managing to address modern sociopolitical themes and changing mores. 

Can The Expanse be ranked as one of those shows, among the likes of Star Trek, Firefly, and Battlestar Galactica? Undoubtedly, it’s a question deserving of consideration and debate.

In a time before streaming, the impact would be more obvious thanks to ever-present television ratings data, fights over family television screens, and demands for network advertising time. But when a show exists solely within the realm of the digital sphere, on a streaming service like Amazon Prime, there’s a bit more nuance to consider when judging its success and audience impact. 

Conceived by authors Ty Franck and Daniel Abraham under the pen name James S.A. Corey, The Expanse originally aired on the SyFy network in 2015, a high-budgeted adaptation of their book series that was well-received by critics and audiences alike until its early demise (due to said budget) at the end of its second season. With a bit of luck, the show was picked up by Amazon Prime studios, given the Jeff Bezos Budget, the TV-MA stamp of adultification freedom, and was renewed, allowing it to take off for the remaining four seasons which concluded in 2022. 

The series retains the core features beloved by sci-fi fans, the formula complicit in defining those generational sci-fi hits: space exploration, the imaginativeness of the near future, the role of politics, and perhaps a central and often missed detail – its diversity and multiculturalism. 

There is a sharp division between the science fiction and fantasy crowds when it comes to multicultural representation. Often, the two genres are clumped together, their metadata schema combined as one – sci-fi/fantasy. Yet within these two genres, the approach to racial and cultural diversity could not be more different. 

This reaction has never been more pronounced than in the past year, during the airing of Prime’s Rings of Power and HBO’s House of the Dragon. Both shows cast actors of color into roles wherein the networks, as well as actors themselves, received criticisms, not for their performances, but simply for the color of their skin.

Commenting upon reactions to Stephen Toussaint, who portrays Corlys Velaryon in House of the Dragon the LA Times reported

“Toussaint is just the latest actor of color to address the racism he faced just for being cast in a major property. Others include Moses Ingram of Disney+ series “Obi-Wan,” and Kelly Marie Tran and John Boyega who dealt with similar online abuse over their roles in the newer “Star Wars” films.”

The vitriol has extended beyond just message board gripes, with actors and fans of color alike receiving flooded inbox messages and even in-person harassment over their simple existence in various fandoms as people of color. 

There is something of an irony here. For fantasy, which is rooted mostly in imagination (with some inspiration from real-life events) seemingly has set up a world where all manner of monsters, magic, and scenarios can be envisioned: and yet a black elf, a brown knight, or an Asian queen magician cannot. Whereas sci-fi, often depicted within the confines of near-future scenarios, has historically been more flexible, even to the point of breaking immense taboos like The Kiss Seen Around the World on Star Trek, only a year after interracial marriage became legal in the United States. 

This emphasis on multiculturalism, combined with the glory of high-stakes drama, the exploration of the final frontier, and the imaginings of what technology still can be creates a formula that appeals across multiple generations still today, a tapestry of impossibility, variability, and sensibility. 

Over the course of six seasons, what begins as a hard-boiled detective seeking to return a trillionaire’s daughter who has joined up with a group of anarchists in the far-flung reaches of the solar system unfolds into a whirlwind of high-stakes political machinations, doomsday scenarios, and interpersonal drama. 

Keeping in touch with an examination of what upward trends of the future tell us, the lives of those depicted onscreen are flush with different types of diversity. Multiracialism is prominent in certain parts of the solar system, Creole dialects are a natural development. Polyamory, new ways of eating, body types,  and religious ideologies emerge. Unlike other media which often falls out of date quickly when looking at the way trends have aligned with the passage of time, The Expanse follows what thus-far seems to be a natural trajectory of what our path looks like (assuming we are still alive by then). Its actors range from Caucasian-American to Iranian, Samoan, Ojibwe, Cambodian, Black, multiracial, Jamaican, and ethnicities far and wide. 

The show is heavily rooted (and its source material, by extension) in the very definition of what multiculturalism is and can be, and a prime example of a thoughtful and true representation of all television sci-fi has given us and shows us is possible: a world in living color in which reality is possible, and no one can tell us otherwise. 

You can find hard copies of seasons 1-4 of The Expanse at major retailers, your local library,  some copies of seasons 5 and 6 via online sellers like eBay and stream it on its home, Amazon Prime here.

Citations:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirk_and_Uhura%27s_kiss

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2022-08-22/dragons-being-more-plausible-than-a-rich-black-guy-irks-house-of-the-dragon-star

I love how much Nier Automata gets recognized for it’s storytelling on philosophy, but it’s a shame that that overshadows how much of Multicultural Theory is coursing through this game. From discrimination and racism to culture development and the creation of cultural worldviews.

There’s just so much happening in here that relates directly to things taught in a high level Multicultural college course that Taro had to have known what he was doing. There’s a lot of focus on cultural diversity and in some racial aspects (related to models of androids not skin race), the twins are discriminated against solely for being a certain model of android. 

Even mentions of disparities within the health system appear as Yorha androids don’t have to worry about their bodies since they can just get new ones. Yet every other android must worry about taking care of their single body unit and some even have to fix themselves or just accept that a piece of themselves is busted despite it being repairable. 

Taro even goes as deep as Gadamer’s Conversation Theory as you can actively see from each protagonist's viewpoint and HUD how much they seek to try to understand the Machines. 2B just doesn’t care so badly she doesn’t even understand the names of her enemies, while 9S playthrough gives all sorts of backstory to the Machines.