Reflection 2: Yours for the Taking—On Americans and Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the act of one culture "incorporating" aspects of another culture into its own. This differs from cultural exchanges in which American hip-hop and Bollywood-style dancing might incorporate each other's moves or Korean and Mexican cuisines sharing ingredients and techniques. In cultural appropriation, a dominant group assimilates aspects of a foreign culture without regard to their original use or intent. In other words, parts of one culture might be absorbed into another in insensitive, even offensive, ways, often for their perceived cool factor. Thus, we've seen white Millennials embrace Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, the popularization of sacred Maori symbols as tattoos, and the labeling of a clean, Asian-influenced interior design as "Zen-style." Additionally, Black Americans have endured the absorption of their culture (cornrows, slang, etc.) for consumption in mainstream white culture, while American Indians are still routinely exoticized. Cultural appropriators often claim they are simply showing an appreciation for those cultures—“I’m actually honoring that culture.” But what’s the line between appreciating a culture and disrespecting it? What obligation, if any, do we have to first educate ourselves? For example, can we truly understand the traditions of Ojibwa dreamcatchers when they're worn as car charms, or respect Hindu and Buddhist principles when we do yoga with goats? Is it possible to appreciate another culture in a more respectful manner? How can that be achieved?

 

 Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "The Cultural Appropriation Primer" (Medium)
• "When is it Okay to Wear an Item from Another Culture, and When is it Appropriation? How to Tell (TED)
• "Cultural Appropriation—Is it Ever Okay?" (Refinery29)
• "Cultural Appropriation: How Not to Celebrate the Day of the Dead" (TalkDeath) 
• "Is It Cultural Appropriation When It's Queer Culture?" (Pride)
 

Required:

• MLA Style, plus works cited page
• 2 pages
  

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