Please translate before she gets tattoed...

[Itgetsthehoseagain]

Posting on AIBU because I know the traffic is good and I'm not sure where else to post
DD's intentions are to get the attached characters tattooed. I don't have a problem at all with the tattoo - she just wants to be absolutely sure that her choice isn't going to cause problems.
We have no idea what the characters mean, but we do know that they are from the Gorillaz (band) "Dare" artwork. I think that they might be Japanese, but they are horizontal rather than vertical so I'm wondering if it's the artist's interpretation of Japanese characters. I can't find much online at all.
Could anybody translate, please? in advance for thanks!

• Kanaloa

@ProfessorSillyStuff

I think it’s one of those things where if it has to be explained to you you’ll never really get it. Presumably you haven’t experienced someone using your culture as a novelty without showing it any level of respect or consideration.*

Rubbish. It can be explained, as most things can.

I had to explain it to my mixed race kids recently, as they asked why people are offended when white people have braids. They don’t find it offensive, but I explained why some people do.

Don’t you think British cultures are used as novelty in tv/film comedies, gift shops and tourist experiences?

I've name-changed (I'm the OP) but came back to see what was going on. So much bile! It's frightening to think that these judgements could swirl, latently, around my young DD in the real world. She is a gentle, quiet girl without a malicious bone in her body and the world is a better place for her presence in it, but she has morphed into some sort of racist, privileged brat thanks to some of these posts. For those who empathise with her, and those who have helped her with securing her confidence that the band's artwork says what she suspected it does, thank you. Your kindness is so appreciated. Here are some things:
She did know about how the line "It's dare" was an organic development from Shaun Ryder's "It's there". She likes this quirk and it is not a problem for her. She has a story about a David Bowie line that she wants me to share with you here, but the story is too long. Suffice to say that she knows how "there" became "dare".
She is not impulsive. She is being cautious. I'm not sure how anyone could not see this caution being exhibited through the existence of this thread!
@tanterose Your posts have been great - thank you. She has watched the film.
@querty789 I'm afraid she doesn't understand why it's "extremely dodgy and kinda racist to take another language and culture and use bits of it without understanding it". She knows that language is organic and borrows all the time from an initial standpoint of not having understood. Part of her A level course taught her that the English language today wouldn't be as beautiful or useful as it is without having borrowed extensively from other languages. Her viewpoint that language is a beautiful, ever-changing landscape through which humans can communicate trumps her concerns about being seen as racist. People will have to tolerate her viewpoint here, or tell her to jog on.
She did not at ALL appreciate how careful the artist would have to be to ensure that the design did the characters justice - thank you to all the posters who raised this. She is going to save for a trip to an artist who speaks the language and knows what needs to be done.
@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie Thank you for defending her against the more bizarre bilious reactions.
@NeonDreams "It's the lack of cultural respect that gets me. A tattoo is for life, not a fad. She sounds far too immature and impulsive to have one. She will regret it." She likes the band's artwork, which is this design. Her viewpoint is that she has no disrespectful intentions and that her circles will have to understand this or forever deride her - she can't control their assumptions or reactions. And she might regret it. Life's that sort of journey.
She appreciates that she does not understand what it is like to be a POC and to see elements of that culture being absorbed by others. In terms of cultural appropriation, the jump from cultural elements being celebrated to being exploited lies with the intention (she believes) - and her intentions are happy, positive and celebratory, and not at all exploitative. She is now prepared for people to feel differently, though.
Thank you to everyone who has read and absorbed my original post and has helped

OP
Brave of you to come back!
All the best

the jump from cultural elements being celebrated to being exploited lies with the intention (she believes) - and her intentions are happy, positive and celebratory, and not at all exploitative.

Exactly!

It cannot be that being inspired by or using things from other cultures is always ‘offensive.’ Intention and the way it is done matter enormously.

We can’t bring up our children in a multicultural society to celebrate other cultures and then say they can’t have a tattoo in another language, wear some clothing or a hairstyle from another culture - it’s just absurd and counterproductive is actually creating a tolerant, diverse, accepting society.

Well said OP. Great post.

Looks like she has an insect bite in the crease of her elbow.

I see. So your daughter says it’s fine, therefore it’s fine. No matter how it comes across to others. It’s my opinion that intention doesn’t make the effect. Glad your daughter is happy though, hopefully she will get a tattoo she can live with.

Although I do agree the way that it is done is what matters in a multicultural society. So if someone wants to take Japanese lessons as they are interested in the language/culture then that’s fantastic. Getting characters I don’t understand tattooed after they’ve been used by a British band isn’t how I would go about ‘appreciating’ the wonderful and varied Japanese culture.

I think we need to consider that our children will have very different perspectives on what is appropriation and what is just appreciation.

I also think that just because some people find something offensive doesn’t mean it’s wrong or immoral, or universally offensive. Some things really are up for debate and discussion, and I think the concept of cultural appropriation is one of them.

@Kanaloa

Although I do agree the way that it is done is what matters in a multicultural society. So if someone wants to take Japanese lessons as they are interested in the language/culture then that’s fantastic. Getting characters I don’t understand tattooed after they’ve been used by a British band isn’t how I would go about ‘appreciating’ the wonderful and varied Japanese culture.

I have this hanging in my bathroom - is this cultural appropriation? I don't understand Japanese art. I just liked it.

Don’t you think British cultures are used as novelty in tv/film comedies, gift shops and tourist experiences?

Not really, no, and it's not the same thing anyway.

@me109f

How ridiculous to have script tattooed in an unknown script. Even if you knew the language it is pretentious and you will be forever trying to explain what it means to all and sundry. Personally I dislike tattoos, and if you have them at all they should be small, discretely located, and attractive. A butterfly or rose on an ankle or buttock, or your blood group under your left armpit. I watch Naked Attraction and I am just stunned with the appalling and tasteless tattoos that appear on that show. They are usually a feature of idiots, sexually alternative people and show-offs. Finally, they are a real problem at interview if you want respectable employment.

Well, I have a couple of visible tattoos and am very respectably employed and pretty well paid too. Apologies for not living up to your vile prejudice.

Lovely to see you back OP.

Your daughter sounds great. I really hope that she gets and loves her tattoo.

A painting of a Japanese landscape is not the same issue. It would be comparable if you had a literary quote you loved in Japanese characters you can’t read. If you need to twist and turn and ‘but, but what if, what if’ then it’s pretty clear you don’t have an idea of why this isn’t a good tattoo to get.

@Kanaloa

Although I do agree the way that it is done is what matters in a multicultural society. So if someone wants to take Japanese lessons as they are interested in the language/culture then that’s fantastic. Getting characters I don’t understand tattooed after they’ve been used by a British band isn’t how I would go about ‘appreciating’ the wonderful and varied Japanese culture.

Now she dies know what it means, is it okay?

*does!

Getting a kanji tattoo that you have researched to make sure is correct, and has a personal meaning to you, is not cultural appropriation. It is no different from getting 'amour' tattooed on you, or a significant date in Roman numerals.

The real racism is in thinking that the Chinese writing system is somehow capable of being diminished by a teenager getting a band tattoo.

@Qwerty789

*Don’t you think British cultures are used as novelty in tv/film comedies, gift shops and tourist experiences?

Not really, no, and it's not the same thing anyway*

Please explain why it’s not the same.

The real racism is in thinking that the Chinese writing system is somehow capable of being diminished by a teenager getting a band tattoo.

That’s a really interesting perspective.

Please explain why it’s not the same

Do I actually have to explain to you why it's not the same?
Ok, in a nutshell its akin to shouting White Lives Matter at an anti-racism event.

The real racism is in thinking that the Chinese writing system is somehow capable of being diminished by a teenager getting a band tattoo.

This really is a galaxy brain take on it.

Please explain why it’s not the same.

Borrowing, enjoying, appreciating, or learning about something from another culture isn’t automatically a problem, at all.

Cultural appropriation is a problem that occurs when a dominant culture appropriates something from a minoritised culture, usually (although not always) for profit, without respect and understanding for the minoritised culture and without appreciation for the cultural significance of what’s been appropriated.

The real racism is in thinking that the Chinese writing system is somehow capable of being diminished by a teenager getting a band tattoo.

It’s Japanese.

If you actually knew anything about kanji, you would understand why I said Chinese. This isn't a hiragana tattoo.

Cultural appropriation is a problem that occurs when a dominant culture appropriates something from a minoritised culture, usually (although not always) for profit, without respect and understanding for the minoritised culture and without appreciation for the cultural significance of what’s been appropriated.*

How is Japanese culture a minoritised culture? How do we dominate it? I don’t believe we do.

@Qwerty789

Ok, in a nutshell its akin to shouting White Lives Matter at an anti-racism event.

No, it’s really not.
British culture isn’t just white culture. We don’t have an empire anymore. We aren’t above/more privileged than Japan in any way.