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Sociological theory of cultural appropriation
Three examples of cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation pros and cons
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Whilst the effects of cultural appropriation raises concerns for discrimination and loss of identity within a culture, it can also result in tension between dominant and nondominant cultural groups. Dominant cultural groups such as Western culture are deemed leaders in fashion, multinational brands and music/film industries, influencing minority groups including Native Americans, African Americans and Japanese culture. In a rapidly evolving society, globalisation ascends towards a more interconnected world through advancements in technology. The process of globalisation have exposed individuals to a broader number of people from different ethnicities and interaction has thus heightened across the world; subsequently, words, phrases and trends …show more content…
Cultural appropriation is problematic as minority groups are overshadowed by ‘superior’ cultural groups. Nonetheless, it cannot simply be argued that all examples of cultural appropriation are offensive. Rather, its effects can be context dependent and highly subjective to an individual. Ultimately, this essay seeks to explore the pitfalls, shortcomings and problems of cultural appropriation. This concept of cultural appropriation can be divided into four sections: cultural exchange, cultural dominance, cultural domination and transculturalisation.
Cultural exchange is the foundation of cultural appropriation. Cultural exchange entails ‘the swapping of language, ideas, customs and social behavior’ between two cultures. As McLuhan correctly predicts, the world has become more globally connected, making the process of cultural exchange - through the advancements of technology - to be extremely prevalent in today’s society. ‘Cultural appropriation is inescapable, but that is not to say all acts of appropriation are equal.’ (Richard A. Rogers, 2006). As noted by Rogers, not all acts of appropriation are equal, some acts are offensive and others have no
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Culture is central to an individual’s identity, thus the borrowing of another cultures identity can be seen as disrespectful and offensive if the significance behind it is unknown to the individual expressing it or if the individual fails to acknowledge the culture. Though society takes offense to certain cultural appropriation, certain acts of cultural appropriation are being used out of context. Whilst ‘globalisation could lead to the homogenisation’(O’Shaughnessy and Stadler, 458) there’s concern for the westernization of the world, consequently, it is important that we respect the meaning behind other cultures and are careful not overshadow the minority groups. ‘Faced with that inevitability, let us not lose sight of the ideal of a better kind of globalisation, an exchange among equals in which cultures borrow from each other judiciously and selectively, and where what crosses borders most easily are not brand names, but good ideas.’ (A.
Cultural appropriation, as described in Sabeen Sandhu’s article “Instant Karma: The Commercialization of Asian Indian Culture,” is not new. Rather, it is the latest iteration in a long history of Western imperialism and exploitation of other cultures and societies. Using a primarily a symbolic interactionist lens, in her article Sandhu highlights two fundamental aspects of appropriation that differentiate the phenomenon from appreciation: the focus solely on one facet of a symbol and commercialization.
UK, The Week. “Cultural Appropriation: What Is It and Why Is It Wrong?” The Week UK,
For example, Rock’n’roll stems from the miscegenation of rhythm’n’blues and hillbilly music, which all are black music genres. However, Rock’n’Roll is known as a “white” music genre because it was appropriated and repackaged to suit white artist as the American industry refused to associate with black artists. In addition, Elvis is credited as the “King of Rock and Roll” in today’s music industry. I would also be sure to cite and provide examples (real incidents or hypothetical situations) of cultural borrowing in different contexts. After all of those segments, I plan to examine how culturally appropriative Halloween costumes contribute to racism and the exotification of Indigenous people. I will also make sure to address and acknowledge some counterarguments, particularly the counterargument regarding freedom of
In the article “What is Cultural Appropriation and Why is it Wrong? By Nadra Kareem Nittle and article “The Difference between Cultural Exchange and Cultural Appropriation” by Jarune Uwujaren. It talks about how cultural appropriation and about people wearing and using other cultural things such as the style of the clothes. It is usually known as borrowing but now it is not just borrowing since people who wear things/ objects with meaning and significance from other cultures do not even know the meaning. However, in cultural exchange it is much different when someone uses or does something that other cultures do for example, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the U.S, but it is the Latinos that live in the U.S who are celebrating and they are proud
In this paper I’m going to show how African Americans have used hip hop and black hair are two ways in which African Americans embrace their culture and fight oppression. However, as we have reviewed in many classes, oppression is not easily escaped. So in this paper, I’m going to show how cultural appropriation is used as a way of oppressing black culture. So this paper is an expansion of what we have learned in the class.
The purpose of this study is determine why and how African American music that’s is so deeply rooted into the community is being culturally appropriated. This is a topic that has been the on the foreground of race for years. Activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene, DeRay McKesson, Azealia Banks, and Jesse Williams helped bring the issue into the national attention. Most of the world or better yet the appropriators have very little knowledge of what the word actually means. In order to understand the problem we must first understand the word Culture and Appropriation. Culture being defined as the beliefs, ideas, traditions, speech, and material objects associated with a particular group of people. Appropriation the action of taking something
Have you ever taken offense when you saw someone dressed in traditional garments from your culture? In America, this happens quite often. Some people may not recognize it and some refuse to acknowledge that it even exists. Cultural appropriation is a situation in which a dominant culture steals aspects of a minority culture’s, such as hair, clothing styles, and music.
Culture Appropriation is the idea of taking one’s culture and adjusting it to another culture, and has brought about many debates for years. One specific ongoing debate is if writers have the right to write about other cultures without being classified as culturally appropriating their culture. Five articles have argued their standpoint and what they believe is the correct way to interpret culture appropriation: “Who Gets to Write What” by Kaitlyn Greenidge, “Dangerous Ideas” by Kenzie Allen, “Commentary: Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible” by K. Tempest Bradford, “In Defense of Cultural Appropriation” by Kenan Malik, and “You can’t steal a culture: In defense of Culture Appropriation” by John McWhorter. While all the participants
Cultural Appropriation and Its Effects On Other Cultures This past Halloween I dressed up as a China Doll; in my black traditional Asian dress, white painted face, rosy pink cheeks, black eyeliner, and my hair held up in a bun with chopsticks. I originally thought that this costume would be rather attractive and fun. However, I began to question myself after a young lady approached me and asked, "Are you suppose to be an Asian person? " I immediately replied, "No, I am a beautiful China Doll".
Festival and creative outfit styles have long decorated the pages of magazines, and more recently social media, and will continue to do so in the near future. And thus so will the styles that have been appropriated featured in these images. Cultural appropriation is a widespread issue affecting the numerous members of numerous cultures and religions. One definition of cultural appropriation is where cultural outsiders use or borrow artistic styles that are not original to them (Matthes). Though often times the “borrowing” that the members of a different culture does is, in fact, more closely related to stealing and often times the culture stolen from is not given credit when it is needed. Majority of the time the cultural appropriation is done by a large, dominant culture to a smaller, marginalized culture or group that is not well represented or has faced prejudice in the past. Cultural appropriation is a major issue in American fashion and beauty trends
Cultural Appropriation is when one’s culture takes another’s principles of their culture as their own (Welsh 2002: 21). There have been many disputes, whether if this is ethical or not. Cultural appropriation is something that is not recognized in everyday situations (Osteroff 2017). Certain trends nowadays from different cultures are shared with other cultures (Bolam 2017). It is as if it is a norm; especially in western culture, where people live in a multi-cultural society without noticing it. The effects of oppression and social structures is what forms cultural appropriation in society.
Globalization is becoming one of the most controversial topics in today’s world. We see people arguing over the loss of a nation’s cultural identity, the terror of westernization, and the reign of cultural imperialism. Through topics such as these we explore the possibilities or the existence of hybridization of cultures and values, and what some feel is the exploitation of their heritage. One important aspect that is not explored is that such influences can also be more than just a burden and an overstepping of bounds. These factors can create an educational environment as well as a reaffirmation of one’s own culture.
In todays society there are many different cultures that individuals identify with. Culture is very important to many people and is something that helps define who we are. When different cultures are respected and appreciated it is a beautiful thing, it can bring individuals in society closer to one another. Ideally this understanding of one another’s cultures can lead to multiculturalism. If the appreciation for different cultures is not done correctly it can seem to be cultural appropriation. Any piece of a culture can be stolen, mocked, and disrespected, from music, clothing, food, etc. As a society with such a vast amount of cultures it is important to know the difference between multiculturalism
Popular culture is the new name for “low culture” which is referred to cultural products that have mass standardized production such as television, music and magazines which is shared and known by most people. (Nakayama, 2013). The power of popular culture is enormous as it serves the purpose of social functions such as establishing social norms, identities and gives meaning through shared ritual. Therefore stereotyping a particular race changes the prospective of common people when they interact. As popular culture helps creating social norms, identities, etc. people get used to what they say and produce for consumption and unknowingly get used to those information and acknowledge and even participate in racial activities.
“Today the charge of cultural appropriation has become the means to police people's taste,choice of clothe, the food they eat and even the way they dance and sing.” This quote the author examines says that people are not allowed to wear what you want to, sing what you want to, eat what you want to. For example you want to try a foreign dish but you are accused of cultural appropriation even though all you wanted was food. This example is important because if you weren't allowed to try new things then you might be more welcoming to people from other