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Discussion: Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropiation
ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/8/2006
Posts: 42,086
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Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropiation
Interesting article about what should we really call Cultural Appropiation:
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/cul...l-appreciation
Some extracts:
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Justin Bieber recently began to sport dreadlocks, and a lot of people reacted very negatively. Some say that it is cultural appropriation for Bieber to wear dreadlocks because it's a "black" hairstyle. However, dreadlocks have appeared in many groups throughout history, from Hinduism, Christianity, Judaism, to the Greeks, and of course African tribes and the Rastafari. Who is to say one group owns that hairstyle over the next group?
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white people wearing braids, dreadlocks, and other hairstyles dubbed as "black hairstyles" then what does black people perming their hair say? Are black people appropriating white culture? I've heard the arguments for both sides. One side says it's not the same as cultural appropriation as much as it's about the pressure to look professional. African Americans have the cards set against them when it comes to the job industry
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Is it really important for us to focus in on celebrities and their personal hair choices? I personally don't think so, but this conversation has been going on for several years now, and we still haven't seemed to reach a conclusion as a population. The question of hairstyles and its relation to cultures seems to be a small part of an underlying issue. When is it okay to get inspiration from other cultures? Is it ever not okay? Who makes the rules?
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When you set limits and claims on a culture you put people constantly on the defense. Some people really appreciate the beauty of a culture; maybe they can't understand the struggles and hardships of one culture to another, but taking the time to understand it and its history is a big part of cultural appreciation. Instead of berating people for wearing their hair one way, or wearing certain clothes, perhaps you should encourage people to learn more about your culture. Educate them about why people wore that, how they made it, and so on.
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100% agree with him/her
Thoughts?
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 9/14/2010
Posts: 78,921
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Lol people care far too much about useless ****. This is nonsense and frankly a headache to read.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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I absolutely agree with the article. A lot of the time, it's healthy for cultures to mix because it reminds us that (maybe) just maybe we aren't SO different after all. While we do have our differences, "cultural appropriation" can really only serve to drive an even bigger wedge between us all.
Looking forward to clocking those getting ready to come for me.
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Member Since: 8/19/2013
Posts: 58,053
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Originally posted by J a y
Lol people care far too much about useless ****. This is nonsense and frankly a headache to read.
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tbh
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Banned
Member Since: 9/12/2011
Posts: 9,897
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Lmfao, cultural appropriation is such a childish petty and non existent thing 
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Member Since: 6/25/2012
Posts: 41,860
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Originally posted by Opacho
Lmfao, cultural appropriation is such a childish petty and non existent thing |
especially in a world post globalization
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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Appreciating a culture means you're actually engaging, understanding and hence, respecting it. I don't think anyone is opposed to that as that's the ideal situation for all parties involved.
The problems come in a lot of the time simply because people don't really show that and/or show a lack of understanding or sensitivity to the culture in question.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,830
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Cultural appropriation is an idiotic idea and is to be regarded and branded as such. When thought of in depth, it is to be dismissed as illogical and illegitimate.
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 27,856
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jan
Cultural appropriation is an idiotic idea and is to be regarded and branded as such. When thought of in depth, it is to be dismissed as illogical and illegitimate.
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Having respect for another group's culture, customs and beliefs is not idiotic.
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Member Since: 4/15/2011
Posts: 6,446
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I agree in saying that for the most part, so called 'culture appropriation' and the fuss people make over it is ridiculous. As long as someone is not disrespecting another culture in any way, then I don't see any problem with it.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 3,830
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Quote:
Originally posted by Wonderland
Having respect for another group's culture, customs and beliefs is not idiotic.
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Cultural appropriation =/= respect for another group's customs and beliefs
When applied literally, it would mean that white people cannot make jazz music or rap and black people cannot make any non-black types of music. It would mean that people living in the United States cannot eat or make pizza and Italians cannot make burgers. It would mean that wearing cowboy hats if one's not from the American South isn't okay.
We live in a globalised world. There is no better way of preserving Italian culture than by eating pizza, spaghetti and, for example, listening to Italian music. There is no better way of preserving and appreciating black culture than by making or listening to black music. Etc.
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Member Since: 8/22/2011
Posts: 7,378
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The fact that we have to put up with this kinda BS just because of special snowflakes aka SJW's is so sad. 
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Member Since: 1/1/2014
Posts: 15,921
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Originally posted by katara
The fact that we have to put up with this kinda BS just because of special snowflakes aka SJW's is so sad. |
tbh
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Member Since: 1/2/2014
Posts: 18,038
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The stupid people who don't realize that these cultures that have been whitewashed and oppressed and seen as inferior for ages not seeing how the communities that demand a respect for it. Greeks aren't wearing dreads now are they? We know who and what is associated by it, post-global world my ass, not when white supremacy still exists and people still think that certain cultures are primitive so shut up to the ignorant ****s.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 9,301
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This all thing about cultural appropriation is truly tiring 
No each time I eat Green Tea Kit Kat i'm like : "Is that right, am I supporting cultural appropriation?"
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 15,732
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"cultural appropriation" is actually a pretty right-wing concept. seeing races and cultures as solid entitys.
CA is a non-issue and 90% of the time whites are the ones that are "outraged".
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 1,456
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Dumb thread. All y'all bigots are really rearing your heads. If you appreciate a culture so much you'll take the time to learn exactly why cultural appropriation is wrong and why it is both insipid and disrespectful to play dress up with culture. Example: I have good friends who are black, therefore I will not wear my hair in locs (because they face systemic discrimination when they do) and I will not use the N word (because of its history in being used to dehumanize and brutally enslave people).
Why this is so difficult for some of y'all to comprehend, I do not know, but perhaps it is telling that y'all are precisely the people who sit on online forums bleating over perceived shackles on your personal liberties and never go on to achieve anything meaningful with your lives.
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Member Since: 10/6/2010
Posts: 3,453
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Quote:
Originally posted by lonnie
The stupid people who don't realize that these cultures that have been whitewashed and oppressed and seen as inferior for ages not seeing how the communities that demand a respect for it. Greeks aren't wearing dreads now are they? We know who and what is associated by it, post-global world my ass, not when white supremacy still exists and people still think that certain cultures are primitive so shut up to the ignorant ****s.
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Except white supremacy isn't global and your average white person isn't pushing a white supremacist agenda on a daily basis.
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Banned
Member Since: 2/6/2012
Posts: 18,398
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"Appropriation" is only wrong if it's done in a deliberately offensive or mocking manner.
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 2,555
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Cultural appropriation is the large-scale phenomena of dominant culture being exploitative other cultures due to an unbalanced power dynamic.
Of course it can happen on a micro-level, and many of the micro-level examples are where people take issue about it "being fake", but simply think of it like white-owned corporations moving into business ventures meant exclusively to run out and bleed the revenue of POC-owned local businesses.
It could be something like a white monopoly trying to open up braiding shops, where the hair is not even done right, to run out a few local black-owned businesses in an area, linking it to gentrification. It could fashion designers loving aspects of Bollywood, but not being willing to hire a single Indian model. Cultural appropriation always has an aspect of harm done to the original culture. Sure, you may not find wearing native headdresses offensive, but the practice is harmful to natives, and then often the depictions rely on racist stereotypes - Native folks depicted still in 2016 as "savages", a native covered in blood with a hatchet, etc. as though native folks still aren't alive & modern.
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