Rolling our eyes towards god: an intervention arising from mormon missionary YouTube activity and the cultural (mis)appropriation of haka

This Kaupapa Māori Research writing inquiry explores the (mis)appropriation of haka and the social media video-sharing platform YouTube in that (mis)appropriation. The article examines the specific case of a group of Latter-day Saint missionaries in Wangarratta, Australia, who wrote and performed an...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Simon, Hemopereki (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: 2023
In: Culture and religion
Year: 2023, Volume: 23, Issue: 1, Pages: 46-80
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Australia / Mormon Church / Mission (international law / Haka / YouTube / Cultural appropriation / White supremacy / Maori / Collective memory / History 2006-2023
IxTheo Classification:AD Sociology of religion; religious policy
AG Religious life; material religion
BT Religions of Oceania
CC Christianity and Non-Christian religion; Inter-religious relations
CD Christianity and Culture
CH Christianity and Society
KBS Australia; Oceania
KDH Christian sects
RJ Mission; missiology
TK Recent history
ZG Media studies; Digital media; Communication studies
Further subjects:B cultural memory
B missionary culture
B Youtube
B Mormonism
B cultural (mis)appropriation
B Haka
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary:This Kaupapa Māori Research writing inquiry explores the (mis)appropriation of haka and the social media video-sharing platform YouTube in that (mis)appropriation. The article examines the specific case of a group of Latter-day Saint missionaries in Wangarratta, Australia, who wrote and performed an English-language haka that the author finds violent and offensive. The article outlines Aileen Moreton-Robertson’s White Possessive doctrine in relation to the Church and white patriarchal salvation. Haka’s cultural background and appropriation are explained. Theoretical explanations of collective and cultural memory and YouTube as a social media platform and cultural archive follow. The author highlights YouTube grey literature sources on haka cultural (mis)appropriation. The 2006 case study “missionary haka” video is critiqued and analysed. Case study issues are discussed. The Church’s history of racial discrimination and violence and its religious aetiology of skin colour make this video ”misappropriated,” according to research. This performance uses haka to promote white and religious supremacy and the idea that you must be white and/or religious to be fully human. This message helps the LDS Church mission of possessing Indigenous souls and remaining the “true religion”.
ISSN:1475-5629
Contains:Enthalten in: Culture and religion
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/14755610.2023.2289560