The question of native American authenticity and the concept of cultural appropriation in children's literature

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Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi, Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, Amerikan Kültürü ve Edebiyatı, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2022

Tezin Dili: İngilizce

Öğrenci: MERİÇ ÇALIŞKAN

Danışman: Esra Çöker

Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu

Özet:

Children’s literature is significant because it enhances the development of critical thinking skills that provide the foundation of learning. Since it is the first form of literature that individuals encounter, it has an important role in shaping ideas and giving meaning to the world around them. That is why children’s literature is not devoid of ideology. Especially through multicultural literature, mainstream culture’s ideologies are imposed rather than the culture that is represented. Native American literature is no exception. Cultural appropriation, stereotypes, biases exist in multicultural children’s literature that portrays Native American culture. Thus, the books which are created are “fakelore” rather than folklore, as introduced by Dorson. In this study, the Native American authenticity, cultural appropriation, imposition of American values, and fakelore are analyzed. Three books; Star Boy by Paul Goble, How the Seasons Came by Joanna Troughton, The Boy Who Lived with the Seals by Rafe Martin, which are written by especially the authors outside of Native American culture, are examined in terms of authenticity. As a result, it could be clearly seen that themes, characters, and many details of the stories have been changed in order to create more appealing and appropriate books for the popular culture and the EuropeanAmerican audience. Frequently, these modified children’s literature stories are introduced as genuine Native American literature. And this situation inevitably leads to misunderstanding and misrepresenting that culture.