Cultural Appropriation

Definition
Culture, in a sociological sense, is quite broad, and refers to the practices, beliefs, ideas, values,
traditions, rituals, language, speech, modes of communication, material objects, and performances that
are central to the social life of any given group of people.

Appropriation is defined as the illegal, unfair, or unjust usage or taking of something that belongs to
someone else. So, when someone is accused of cultural appropriation, they are accused of taking or
using elements of a culture to which they do not belong.

Cultural appropriation draws on stereotypes about a culture, often one that includes members who
have faced oppression by the dominant culture, or the one exploiting elements of the minority culture.
For example, white Western cultures, who have a long history of oppressing black cultures, also have a
history of appropriating elements of black culture, such as wearing cornrows, using a “blaccent”—
imitating the dialect of African Americans, and adopting music genres such as jazz and swing, among
many other examples.

Essentially, cultural appropriation is the borrowing (stealing) of the intellectual property of an entire
culture and using it as one’s own without recognizing or understanding the history, meaning behind, or
correct usage of it.

History
As a term, cultural appropriation first appeared in the latter half of the twentieth century. It may have
first been used in academic writings concerning colonialism and Western expansionism as early as the
1960s. Kenneth Coutts-Smith discussed the concept without using the terminology in "Some General
Observations on the Problems of Cultural Colonialism.”

The act of cultural appropriation, however, has been around for centuries. Western cultures often
“discovered” elements of other cultures through colonialism and expansion, as well as trade and
mercantilism.

Cultural Looting
Cultural appropriation is related to cultural looting, the act of physically stealing cultural property from
people. For example, in 1897, the British invaded the Kingdom of Benin, now southern Nigeria, killing
many of its inhabitants and stealing artifacts including bronzes, ivory, and chests. These looted artifacts
have been sold and traded in European markets, despite their belonging to the Benin people. Today,
many people equate the “borrowing” of cultural elements with the physical looting of property—
especially since many cultural elements are discovered through such thievery.

17th–20th Centuries
In the 17th century, Western travelers adopted articles of clothing including the necktie and silk
waistcoats from Croatia and the Middle East. American cowboys began wearing hats modeled after
sombreros—cowboy hats—after exposure to the Mexican hat style during the Civil War. Elvis Presley is
often accused of being a cultural appropriator of black music. Did you know, for example, that “Hound
Dog” was a cover of Big Mama Thornton’s record? Likewise, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” was not originally
the Tokens’—it was recorded by Zulu musician Solomon Linda as “Mbube” in 1939, and he never
received royalties for the former.

21st Century
In the twenty-first century, particularly the 2010s, the term has spread and gained usage in mainstream
vernacular, with many people discussing the concept and recognizing that it is inappropriate. Still, some
argue that the sensitivity toward cultural appropriation can go too far. Oxford added the term to its
dictionary in 2017.

Types of Cultural Appropriation

1. Material appropriation
Material appropriation occurs when the possession of a tangible object (such as a sculpture) is
transferred from members of one culture to members of another culture. The removal of the
friezes from the Parthenon by Lord Elgin is often regarded as a case of material appropriation.
The transfer of a totem pole from the site of a Haida village to a museum is another case of
material appropriation.

2. Nun-muieriul appropriation
This form of appropriation involves the reproduction, by a member of one culture, of non-
tangible works of art (such as stories, musical compositions or dramatic works) produced by
some other culture. A musician who sings the songs of another culture has engaged in non-
material appropriation, as has the writer who retells stories produced by a culture other than his
own. Robert Bringhurst's versions of Haida myths may count as non-material appropriation. A
recording made by an ethnomusicologist could also be an instance of non-material
appropriation.

3. Stylistic appropriation
Sometimes artists do not reproduce works produced by another culLure, uul slill take something
from that culture. In such cases, artists produce works with stylistic elements in common with
the works of another culture. White musicians who compose jazz or blues music are often said
to have engaged in appropriation in this sense. Similarly, white Australians who paint in the style
of the aboriginal peoples would be engaged in stylistic appropriation.

4. Motif appropriation
This form is related to stylistic appropriation. Sometimes artists are influenced by the art of a
culture other than their own without creating works in the same style. Picasso, for example, was
influenced by African carving, but his works are not in an African style. Similarly, Ravel was
 influenced by the jazz of African-Americans, but his compositions are not in a jazz idiom. Rather
than appropriating an entire style, such attists have appropriated only basic ideas or motifs.

5. Subject appropriation
Subject appropriation occurs when someone from one culture represents members or aspects
of another culture. Many of Joseph Conrad's novels involve subject appropriation, since Conrad
frequently wrote about cultures other than his own. W. P. Kinsella's stories about the Hobbema
Indian reserve are often cited as examples of objectionable subject appropriation.

Examples of Cultural Appropriation

The world is rife with examples of cultural appropriation—in business, the media, pop culture, everyday
life. Many people engage in cultural appropriation without even realizing that they are doing so. Here
are just a few examples:

In Business and the Workplace

• Sweat-lodge retreats
Self-help guru James Arthur Ray practiced incorrect procedures for ceremonies adopted from
Native American rituals in Sedona, Arizona, including covering the lodge with plastic tarps. Three
people died in one of his ceremonies in 2009s, and he served 20 months in prison.

• Aboriginal art in Austalia

Many non-Aboriginal artists copied and sold pieces of Aboriginal artwork, claiming the copies
were authentic.

• Tortilla recipes from Mexico

Kali Wilgus and Liz "LC" Connelly studied and “borrowed” the recipes of women in Puerto
Nuevo, Mexico to create and sell handmade tortillas out of their Kooks Burritos food truck.
There is some debate as to whether their actions actually qualify as cultural appropriation; some
say learning food-making techniques from other cultures is not the same as stealing that
cultures ideas to use as one’s own, while others believe the originators deserve credit and
compensation for their recipes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvdpTa9BiLo

In the media and pop culture

• New York Fashion Week 2017
Predominantly white models displayed Marc Jacobs’ line while sporting hand-dyed wool
dreadlocks. Jacobs later apologized for the “lack of sensitivity” in his initial response to the
controversy, an Instagram comment in which he stated, “I respect and am inspired by people
and how they look. I don’t see color or race—I see people.”
 • American Music Awards 2013
Katy Perry put on a “geisha-inspired” performance wearing an altered kimono and white
powder on her face.

• Burning Man and Coachella

Attendees of these festivals are notorious for wearing culturally-appropriated items such as
headdresses, war paint, bonnets, bindis, and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6dAB1QxxpY

• Video Music Awards 2013

Miley Cyrus was criticized for twerking, imitating a dance style that has African-American roots,
in her VMA performance.

In everyday life
• Halloween
Wearing headdresses, blackface, kimonos, and other clothing, symbols, and facets of other
cultures as costumes is a form of cultural appropriation since these styles often have
significance in other cultures and are worn for specific occasions (or, in the case of blackface, are
just plain wrong).

• Hairstyles
Trends like cornrows and wearing chopsticks as hair accessories “borrow” from black and Asian
cultures, the latter being inappropriate and inaccurate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1Rd3phEkos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tobsce7bC8k

• “Spirit animal”
Many people will refer to an animal, thing, or even another person as their “spirit animal.” Spirit
animals are actually meaningful ideas with roots in Native American cultures.

• Borrowed accents
Some people take on the speech patterns and dialects of other cultures, such as black culture.

Criticism
Many of the foods we eat, clothing we wear, habits we have adopted, and behaviors we model do have
origins in other cultures. This is the basis of much of the backlash against the concept and critique of
cultural appropriation; some people wonder where we are supposed to draw the line. After all, eating a
plate of spaghetti and wearing a silk dress are not forms of cultural appropriation.

The distinction comes when rather than celebrating, acknowledging, and upholding diversity and other
cultures, people are actually mocking, disparaging, ignoring the history and meaning behind, or misusing
the intellectual property of another culture. When you eat Chinese food, whether or not it is the most
authentic recipe, you recognize and embrace that it has Chinese roots. When you wear a religious
symbol whose meaning you do not know or believe, that is cultural appropriation.

The following behaviors are always cultural appropriation, and you should avoid them:
• Using sacred symbols for non-spiritual reasons: the Native American headdress, for example, is
reserved for respected elders in the community and a spiritual symbol.
• Borrowing ideas without paying proper homage or respect to their originators: if you don’t know the
history of something and where it first originated, do your research before using it. And give credit
where credit is due.
• Perpetuating stereotypes or being patently offensive: for example, it is never, ever okay to wear
blackface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZ6vwa3SyoU (starting 0:20)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VALPdsr9Si4

7 Myths about Cultural Appropriation DEBUNKED!

1. Don’t you have something better to worry about?
The main problem of cultural appreciation comes from dominant groups borrowing from
marginalized groups who have had pressure or have been stigmatized for their cultural practices
throughout history. Example: wearing cornrows

2. I’m just showing appreciation for the culture.

To show your appreciation to a culture you need to show respect and understanding of its
significance. Example: tribal tattoos

3. I don’t find this offensive. I asked someone from that culture, and they said it was ok.
It is not your cultural that is being disrespected. One person from a culture does not speak for
everyone in the community.

4. Fashion, art, film music always borrows from other sources. It doesn’t hurt anybody.
Cultural exchange has been going on since the beginning of time. Exchange is mutual and has to
be done respectfully. Example: Katie Perry’s act.

5. You’re just trying to tell everyone what to think.

Marginalized can’t prevent you from using any cultural traditions, but this can’t hurt people
from a certain culture.

6. So because I’m white, I am automatically racist.

Anyone can appropriate elements from marginalized cultures. Example: Pharrell Williams using
a native American headdress.
7. If Chinese people wear blue jeans, aren’t they APPROPRIATING my culture?
Assimilation is not the same as Appropriation. A lot of people adopt things about themselves to
be accepted by the majority culture. In some cases people are forced to adopt the culture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXejDhRGOuI&feature=youtu.be

Reading
How appropriate is cultural appropriation?
https://pelhamexaminer.com/15280/showcase/how-appropriate-is-cultural-appropriation/