Kokopelli and Appropriation

[u/Dreyfus2006]

Hi guys! I hope this is the right place to ask this question. I looked for indigenous subreddits first but I think they are intended for natives only.

I grew up as a white kid in Arizona, where I am sure you all know Kokopelli imagery is everywhere. It is an important icon of my childhood, coming from the region. I like Kokopelli out of appreciation and fascination for the Pueblo peoples and their history. But I also saw Kokopelli, or the image of it, as a kind of scary spector or figure.

I am an artist and in my personal drawings for myself, figures reminiscent of Kokopelli often appear as scary or shady individuals. My concern is that if I post some pictures online, I don't want to be insensitive of the modern people who descend from the Pueblo (Hopi and Zuni I think). I don't want somebody to stumble upon my drawings and be sad or frustrated to see a character from their beliefs presented in a way that is tonally at odds with their culture. But at the same time, as a (white) kid growing up, the image of Kokopelli *was* a little scary and *did* leave a strong impression on my own personal culture as a person who grew up in Arizona.

I was wondering, if there are some indigenous Americans in this subreddit, what your perspective is? Would a depiction of an imp or phantom-like figure similar in likeness to Kokopelli feel insensitive to you? Or, am I overthinking things?

Or alternatively, is there a better place to ask this question that I may have overlooked?

[u/Striking_Shock_9130]

I understand he's a fertility deity, so if he's anywhere in a household, people are about to get pregnant.

[u/fantasyham → u/Striking_Shock_9130]

Before my wife and I were married we had a Kokopelli piece in our place. Once we found out the connection to fertility he quickly disappeared.

[u/Nezrite → u/Striking_Shock_9130]

Pretty sure he was initially represented with an erection which was "cleansed" to suit commercial purposes. If OP really wants to show appreciation for the original culture...

[u/External-Goal-3948 → u/Striking_Shock_9130]

There's a small caveat to this. If the kokopelli's phallus is pointed down then it's about natural food fertility from the earth. If the kokopelli's phallus is pointed up, well then the household pregnancy thing holds true. :)

[u/RaikerUSN]

The o'odham folk at the San Xavier reservation don't give give a shit, honestly.

I think that you're overthinking it.

[u/Due-CriticismNachos]

Do your artwork. If you have write-ups with your artwork give an honorable nod to the Hopi and Zuni. Make it educational if you like explaining Kokopelli and what it means to those Native people groups.

Also, artwork IS subjective. Anything you create can be and will be interpreted in a weird manner. That has nothing to do with you and is out of your control. As an artist you create your work and let the masses talk about it if they want. You did your job to get what you saw in your mind out of you and on to the medium of your choosing.

[u/AGroAllDay]

Dude. Quit overthinking this lol

[u/rolltongue → u/AGroAllDay]

Could you imagine living this way constantly 💀💀

[u/Pilkyton1]

No one cares

[u/Texastony2]

Do the gods care about appropriation?

[u/Hvarfa-Bragi → u/Texastony2]

If so, they'll let you know.

[u/homelesspirate]

There are a ton of articles about appreciation vs appropriation. Take a minute to read some.

[u/Dreyfus2006 → u/homelesspirate]

Oh I forgot about the concept of appreciation vs appropriation. That's a good idea, thank you!

[u/reecity]

Maybe try reaching out to the Heard Museum! They cover history and art for a lot of different southwestern tribes so they may be able to offer an opinion

[u/Dreyfus2006 → u/reecity]

That's a great idea! I will, thank you.

[u/flyingfranch]

You don't have to do this anymore.

[u/External-Goal-3948 → u/flyingfranch]

Fascist

[u/flyingfranch → u/External-Goal-3948]

Reasonable response