Not that kind of druid.
October 16, 2018 9:16 PM   Subscribe

Iron Druid universe druid costume - OK or not?

So I'm thinking about going as a Druid from the Iron Druid universe for Halloween (it would be a straightforward costume that would be work compatible). Not THE Iron Druid but just a Druid from that universe. However I'm not sure if this would be insensitive in a "I'm not a costume" sense. Any opinions one way or the other?
posted by Mitheral to Human Relations (7 answers total)
 
Insensitive to whom? You're depicting a person from a fictional group, right? As long as that part is clear, I don't see what could be problematic here. Cultural appropriation is about real people and their cultures.
This seems very obvious, so I may be missing something here...
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:14 AM on October 17, 2018 [2 favorites]


Atticus happens to be Irish, but is also 2000+ years old and a magic user... I'm assuming you are not going to make any tasteless Irish stereotype jokes so yeah, should be just fine.
posted by Jacen at 3:21 AM on October 17, 2018


You should be fine - I live in a town where actual practicing witches sell stereotypical witch hats to tourists. Though the Iron Druid setting is rooted in actual history/lore, the end result is a fictional creation and it's okay to revel in that.

I try to be super aware when it comes to appropriation when it comes to my artwork. I'm of Western European descent, so I limit my historical magpie eyes to that - no Eastern mysticism, African vodun, and so on. Heck, I even back off when it comes to Norse imagery due to the Nazis who have appropriated that imagery. When I can, I try to make my own sigils/symbols that are inspired by historical sources, but that isn't always possible (when people want a Baphomet, they want a Baphomet ala Levi, not "Generic Mx. Goat Person").
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:37 AM on October 17, 2018 [1 favorite]


Response by poster: Too-Ticky: "Insensitive to whom? "

I guess I was worried about people who identify as druids.
posted by Mitheral at 6:08 AM on October 17, 2018


Based on the cover art, it looks like you're dressing up as a dude with celtic ink, uncombed hair and a soulpatch, and a plain grey T-shirt. I see that look anywhere young people gather. I don't foresee anyone blowing up at that.
posted by BigLankyBastard at 7:05 AM on October 17, 2018


Googled for some pictures and it looks like this costume would basically be jeans and a ripped t-shirt with some fake tattoos? I think the biggest risk around how your costume would be perceived is that it wouldn't look like a costume and would just look like you wore a ripped t-shirt to work. If you are supposed to be wearing a costume that day it's going to look like you didn't bother, but if you don't mind that, and wearing such things to work is normally fine, I guess it's ok.

There's a lot of different sorts of modern druids out there, and of course any group of people has a range of views, but I think it's pretty unlikely any of them will feel you've appropriated their ceremonial dress with your grey t-shirt. While some people might wear a grey t-shirt and jeans to a ceremony it's hardly out of the ordinary to see people wearing it day to day.
posted by yohko at 6:50 PM on October 18, 2018


>I'm assuming you are not going to make any tasteless Irish stereotype jokes

...THAT I WOULD TAKE DEEP OFFENSE TO...
.... if I wasn't drunk right now...
... and fighting with my brother, the priest...
....and my other brother, the cop.
....over that big pot of potatoes.
posted by KazamaSmokers at 4:02 AM on October 21, 2018


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