Take the Live strong bracelet.
It started as an idea to raise money for the Lance Armstrong Foundation and quickly became a badge for people who wanted to show their allegiance with the Live Strong philosophy of life. It became a cultural touchstone and was imitated by a variety of charities to promote their own causes.
In perhaps the most bizarre adaptation, it was appropriated in China into candy (confectionery) as a medium for delivering messages.
Now take the twisted ribbon.
It started out life being an emblem for Hope For The Cure in support of cancer. Now, the shape has become a loose canvas on which a whole variety of themes and beliefs are sketched.
Gotta love cultural appropriation, an endless shifting sand. There's hope in the tendency, and maybe a little opportunistic money to be made too.
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1 comment:
in my research i try to make sense of the distinction between adaptation and "lethal mutation." Lethal mutations have a way of killing off the original innovation because the mutations lack no originating theoretical principles-- the dna of the thing has become unrecognizable. there are lots of education reforms that fit this description. edible bracelets-- adaptation or lethal mutation? Arguably more eco-friendly!
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