Misplaced Pages

Maplewashing: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 22:13, 22 October 2020 editTelsho (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,833 edits Reverted to revision 984422660 by Telsho (talk): Restore last stable version due to premature blanking - see talk pageTags: Twinkle Undo Reverted← Previous edit Revision as of 22:17, 22 October 2020 edit undoHorse Eye's Back (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users52,273 edits Undid revision 984922920 by Telsho (talk) Thats going back *way* further than the edit summary saidTag: UndoNext edit →
Line 2: Line 2:
{{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} {{use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{use Canadian English|date=October 2020}} {{use Canadian English|date=October 2020}}
], which features a stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the centre]]'''Maplewashing''' or '''maple washing''' (a ] modelled on "]" and a ] for ] + wash) is a term that refers to a perceived tendency by the media to perpetuate an image that ] has a "superior" grasp in dealing with social issues as compared to other countries. The term implies a sanitization and concealment of the undesirable qualities of the country and its history.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.opencanada.org/features/accounting-histories-150-years-canadian-maple-washing/|title=Accounting for Histories: 150 Years of Canadian Maple Washing|website=opencanada.org|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202192410/https://www.opencanada.org/features/accounting-histories-150-years-canadian-maple-washing/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|title=Maple washing: don't be smug about Canada during the U.S election|website=cbc.ca|access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202192030/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=World |first1=The |title=Maplewashing |url=https://www.pri.org/file/2019-09-19/maplewashing |website=www.pri.org |publisher=Public Radio International |accessdate=9 October 2020}}</ref> ], which features a stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the centre]]'''Maplewashing''' or '''maple washing''' (a ] modelled on "]" and a ] for ] + wash) is a term coined by journalist Toronto-based writer and producer Luke Savage, in his audio essay aired on the September 7, 2016 ''CBC Radio'' s ''The 180''.<ref name="CBC_Savage_audioessay_20160907">{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|people=Luke Savage|title=Maple washing: don't be smug about Canada during the U.S election |date=September 7, 2016|work=The 180 |access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202192030/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|url-status=live|archive-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> The term implies a sanitization and concealment of the undesirable qualities of the country and its history.<ref name="CBC_Savage_audioessay_20160907"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Luke |title=Accounting for Histories: 150 Years of Canadian Maple Washing |url=https://opencanada.org/accounting-histories-150-years-canadian-maple-washing/ |website=opencanada.org |publisher=Open Canada |accessdate=22 October 2020}}</ref> Savage said that there was a "growing smugness in Canadians" —he believed it was time to end the "practice of maple-washing once and for all."<ref name="CBC_Savage_audioessay_20160907"/>


A September 19, 2019 ]'s (PRI) ''The World'' broadcast, entitled "Maplewashing", discussed how publication of early 1990s photos of Prime Minister ] showing him wearing ], challenged the Canada's self-perception, just before the ].<ref name="PRI_TheWorld_20190919">{{cite web |series=The World |title=Maplewashing |url=https://www.pri.org/file/2019-09-19/maplewashing |website=www.pri.org |publisher=Public Radio International |access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>
⚫ In 2019, the English and Art departments at ] collaborated to put on an exhibition called ''Maple-Washing: A Disruption'' which featured various works examining Canadian history from diverse perspectives. Historical topics and events covered in the exhibition included ], the ], the ] during World War Two, and the ], frequently "maple-washed" incidents.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaur |first1=Dilpreet |title=English and Ceramics Students at KPU Collaborate to Create Maple-Washing: A Disruption |url=https://runnermag.ca/2020/02/english-and-ceramics-students-at-kpu-collaborate-to-create-maple-washing-a-disruption/ |website=runnermag.ca |publisher=Runner Magazine |accessdate=9 October 2020}}</ref>


⚫ In 2019, the English and Art departments at ] (KPU) collaborated to put on an exhibition called ''Maple-Washing: A Disruption'' which featured various works examining Canadian history from diverse perspectives. Historical topics and events covered in the exhibition included ], the ], the ] during World War Two, and the ], frequently "maple-washed" incidents.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kaur |first1=Dilpreet |title=English and Ceramics Students at KPU Collaborate to Create Maple-Washing: A Disruption |url=https://runnermag.ca/2020/02/english-and-ceramics-students-at-kpu-collaborate-to-create-maple-washing-a-disruption/ |website=runnermag.ca |publisher=Runner Magazine |access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref>
==Examples==
In 2016, Toronto-based writer and producer, Luke Savage, mentioned the term in his audio essay aired on ]'s ''The 180''.<ref name="CBC_Savage_audioessay_20160907">{{Cite AV media|url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|people=Luke Savage|title=Maple washing: don't be smug about Canada during the U.S election |date=September 7, 2016|work=The 180 |access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202192030/https://www.cbc.ca/radio/the180/porn-is-for-all-of-us-the-tricky-relationship-between-trees-and-crime-and-maple-washing-has-to-end-1.3750507/maple-washing-don-t-be-smug-about-canada-during-the-u-s-election-1.3750514|url-status=live|archive-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref> In his June 2017 webpage post, "Accounting for Histories: 150 Years of Canadian Maple Washing", Savage used the term to confront the "narrative of Canadian exceptionalism", referring to a perceived tendency by the media to perpetuate an image that ] has a "superior" grasp in dealing with social issues as compared to other countries, most notably the ]. The term implies a sanitization and concealment of the undesirable qualities of the country and its history.<ref name="Savage_20170601">{{Cite web|url=https://www.opencanada.org/features/accounting-histories-150-years-canadian-maple-washing/ |first=Luke |last=Savage |title=Accounting for Histories: 150 Years of Canadian Maple Washing |website=Open Canada |quote=OpenCanada is Luke Savage's digital publication and newsletter discussing "public policy, scholarship, activism, and journalism" Savage is a staff writer for the ] |date=June 1, 2017 |access-date=October 7, 2020|archive-date=December 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202192410/https://www.opencanada.org/features/accounting-histories-150-years-canadian-maple-washing/|url-status=live}}</ref> Savage said that there was a "growing smugness in Canadians" —he believed it was time to end the "practice of maple-washing once and for all."<ref name="CBC_Savage_audioessay_20160907"/> As a student, Savage was editor-in-chief of ''The Varsity''. He has written over 160 articles for the '']'' magazine,<ref name="Jacobin_Savage">{{Cite web| title = Luke Savage articles |work=The Jacobin| access-date = October 18, 2020| url = https://jacobinmag.com/author/luke-savage}}</ref> and has had his work published in ''Maisonneuve'', ''The Tyee'', and ''NOW''.<ref name="broadbentinstitute_savage">{{Cite web| title = Ed Broadbent: A social democratic life| work = Broadbent Institute| access-date = October 18, 2020 |date=| url = https://www.broadbentinstitute.ca/eds_80th_inspiriation}}</ref> Savage is a producer and staff writer for ''PressProgress'', <ref name="canadaland_Savage_20171217">{{Cite AV media | title = Meet The New Partisan Press |people= ], Luke LeBrun, Luke Savage |date=December 17, 2017| access-date = October 18, 2020| url = https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/meet-new-partisan-press/ |work=Canadaland}}</ref> which was launched by the Ottawa-based ] in 2013.<ref name="canadaland_Savage_20171217"/> He says that "Canadians have a small country syndrome."<ref name="CN_20180509"/>

In a May 9, 2018 interview on ''Citations Needed'', Savage said that Canada tends to put on a veneer by putting up a "national mythology"—built around progressive multiculturalism", which is inherently false.<ref name="CN_20180509">{{cite AV media |people=Nima Shirazi, Adam Johnson, Luke Savage |number=36 |title=Maplewashing: Looking Behind Canada’s Progressive Veneer |series=Citations Needed | date=May 9, 2018 | access-date=October 18, 2020 |url=https://medium.com/@CitationsPodcst/episode-36-maplewashing-whats-behind-canada-s-progressive-veneer-717d85a1f5ee}}</ref>

A September 19, 2019 ]'s (PRI) ''The World'' broadcast, entitled "Maplewashing", discussed how publication of early 1990s photos of Prime Minister ] showing him wearing ], challenged the self-perception of Canada, just before the ].<ref name="PRI_TheWorld_20190919">{{cite web |series=The World |title=Maplewashing |url=https://www.pri.org/file/2019-09-19/maplewashing |website=www.pri.org |publisher=Public Radio International |access-date=October 9, 2020}}</ref> Trudeau also admitted to wearing blackface makeup in high school while singing "]" at a talent show that was subsequently published by ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5922861/justin-trudeau-brownface-video/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup|website=]|language=en|accessdate=September 19, 2019}}</ref> A third instance, a video, of Trudeau in racist dress was also published.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5922861/justin-trudeau-brownface-video/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup|website=Global News}}</ref> After this video was published, Trudeau admitted he could not remember how often he had worn blackface makeup, suggesting the normalization of blackface in parts of Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/19/justin-trudeau-wearing-blackface-details-emerge-third-incident|title=Trudeau says he can't recall how many times he wore blackface makeup|first=Leyland|last=Cecco|date=September 20, 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

===Cansplaining===
A similar term, "Cansplaining," (derived from ]) has been used by columnist J.J. McCullough to refer to when an article, column, or report in a media publication (either domestic or international) offers a definitive explanation about Canada. According to McCullough, such pieces are often written by Canadians, and promote a grand unified theory of Canada developed by the author. Instances of Cansplaining represent a desire to control the country’s reputation in order to convince readers about politics and public policy, using Canada as a metaphor, case study and controlled experiment.<ref name=JJMc>{{Cite news|last=J.J|first=McCullough|date=13 July 2018|title=Cansplaining 101: How to write about Canada|work=]|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/07/13/cansplaining-101-how-to-write-about-canada/|url-status=live|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Cansplaining pieces are usually exaggerated or flattering, and present Canada as a country that has solved big challenges commonly faced in the world (such as ] and ]). At the same time, topics such as the ] or trends in employment, infrastructure, or housing are rarely discussed or mentioned. Recently, this has taken the form of praising Canada’s apparent immunity to movements such as the rise of ] seen in other ], particularly the United States during the ].<ref name=JJMc></ref>


==See also== ==See also==
{{Portal|Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Canada|Politics|Society}}
{{col div|colwidth=30em}} {{col div|colwidth=30em}}
*] *]
Line 26: Line 15:
*] *]
*] *]
*]
*] ("Starlight tours")
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
*]
{{colend}} {{colend}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Canada-stub}} {{Canada-stub}}
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}

Revision as of 22:17, 22 October 2020

To sanitize and hide undesirable qualities about Canada

Flag of Canada, which features a stylized, red, 11-pointed maple leaf charged in the centre

Maplewashing or maple washing (a compound word modelled on "whitewash" and a portmanteau for maple + wash) is a term coined by journalist Toronto-based writer and producer Luke Savage, in his audio essay aired on the September 7, 2016 CBC Radio s The 180. The term implies a sanitization and concealment of the undesirable qualities of the country and its history. Savage said that there was a "growing smugness in Canadians" —he believed it was time to end the "practice of maple-washing once and for all."

A September 19, 2019 Public Radio International's (PRI) The World broadcast, entitled "Maplewashing", discussed how publication of early 1990s photos of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau showing him wearing blackface, challenged the Canada's self-perception, just before the 2019 Canadian federal election.

In 2019, the English and Art departments at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) collaborated to put on an exhibition called Maple-Washing: A Disruption which featured various works examining Canadian history from diverse perspectives. Historical topics and events covered in the exhibition included Canadian participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, the Komagata Maru incident, the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War Two, and the Chinese head tax, frequently "maple-washed" incidents.

See also

References

  1. ^ Luke Savage (September 7, 2016). Maple washing: don't be smug about Canada during the U.S election. The 180. Archived from the original on December 2, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  2. Savage, Luke. "Accounting for Histories: 150 Years of Canadian Maple Washing". opencanada.org. Open Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  3. "Maplewashing". www.pri.org. The World. Public Radio International. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
  4. Kaur, Dilpreet. "English and Ceramics Students at KPU Collaborate to Create Maple-Washing: A Disruption". runnermag.ca. Runner Magazine. Retrieved October 9, 2020.
Stub icon

This Canada-related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Canada
History
Year list
(timeline)
Topics
Provinces
and territories
Provinces
Territories
Geography
Regions
(west to east)
Topics
Government
Politics
Economy
Demographics
Topics
Lists
Society
Culture
Symbols
Contents
Research
Canadian identity
National identities in Canada
Symbols
Culture
Landmarks, parks and nature
War and peacekeeping
Crown corporations
Relations between English
and French Canada
Language politics
Federal–Provincial–
Territorial relations
Aboriginal politics
International relationships
Current challenges
Canadian Aboriginal and Indigenous law
Note: "Aboriginal law" refers to Canadian law dealing with Indigenous peoples; "Indigenous law" refers to the customary law of individual Indigenous groups.
Sources of law
Treaties and
governmental relations
Pre-Confederation
(pre-1867)
Upper Canada
treaties
Post-Confederation
(post-1867)
Case law
Indigenous customary law
International Indigenous and minority rights
Rights
Non-governmental and
political organizations
Issues
Legal representation
Governmental
bodies
Intergovernmental
bodies
Indigenous-led
international
bodies
Treaties and
Declarations of Rights
Historical cases
Far-right extremism in Canada
General concepts
Organizations and movements
Hate crimes
Laws combatting hateful rhetoric
Opposition
Categories:
Maplewashing: Difference between revisions Add topic