“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” –Charles Caleb Colton, among others
Until last year, I’d never heard the term cultural appropriation. Wikipedia defines cultural appropriation as the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of another culture.
Surely this has occurred since the beginning of time as one group, family, or clan of people came in contact with another. One or both groups admired/desired a mode of dress, form of music or artistic technique that the other practiced, and copied it.
Seems benign. Little girls beg to wear their hair like their new friends do, adolescents shore up their anxieties by dressing, dancing, and speaking in a stereotyped fashion that borrows heavily from groups/cultures they consider “cool”. Folks dress up at Halloween in ethnic garb (accurately portrayed or not) for fun. Sports teams choose themes and mascots from cultures that have an association with power and bravery (Vikings, Redskins)
Objection is made by authors such as Nadra Kareem Nittle (a current writer on race relations), who state that this practice causes harm when members of the “dominant” culture take elements from a minority culture that has been “systematically oppressed.”
The gist is that adopting these elements of culture is akin to stealing and is just another way in which the downtrodden donor culture has been ransacked. Also cited is deprivation of credit for the cultural practice and the fact that the “appropriating” culture made money while utilizing the cultural element that was appropriated.
Examples are given of white musicians, past and present, who have gained fame and become rich from their performances while utilizing musical/dance elements derived from their emulation of black musical culture.
Another criticism is that cultural elements are borrowed without full understanding of the appropriated culture’s historical background, including wrongs done unto an oppressed culture. This incomplete understanding is said to preclude respectful imitation.
This is a heavy burden upon any casual admirer of another culture. Full credit researched and given? Restitution of income not realized? Full and complete understanding before imitation?
If the current admirers of elements of another’s culture have no hand in the infliction of past wrongs, and mean no modern day slight or disrespect to the donor culture, is it an insult or a theft to emulate another’s culture? If credit is given to the donor culture (as Elvis credited the black musicians who influenced him) is one perpetrating cultural theft?
Are there really cultures in America today that are systematically oppressed to the point where emulating their culture is stealing? Or is the the current prohibition against cultural appropriation a method of perpetuating the resentments of the past?
I am a Jew. When then-Senator Barack Obama wore a yarmulke during his visit to the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem in 2008, my take was that this was his way of showing respect. It never occurred to me to consider his gesture an “appropriation” of Jewish culture or religion-which also has experienced some “systematic oppression” in its day. Nor does his (likely) incomplete knowledge of Jewish culture invalidate his gesture of respect in my view.
Wholesale exploitation of another culture for profit or debasement is clearly wrong. Also, some emulations are silly or in bad taste, or even downright insulting.
I think what is key here is the matter of intent. Why does it currently seem obligatory to assume evil or derogatory intent when a someone admires, adopts or experiments with elements of another culture?
Many recently cited examples of “cultural appropriation” I have seen vociferously criticized in the news and on social media leave me non-plussed. They ignore intent and often historical fact.
For example, wearing dreadlocks if one is not African American is now apparently cultural appropriation. This hairstyle appears in the history of the Hindu Vedics, the ancient Greeks and the Pharoahs!
This past Halloween Texas U. issued a list of strongly-discouraged costumes and themes including among numerous others: hobos, cowboys or Indians, anything Hawaiian or “leied”, “South of the Border”, or “Around the World”.
Recently in the news, a comedian was roundly castigated for “cultural appropriation”. His transgression? He proudly posted his attempt at the Spanish/Valencian dish paella on social media BUT he used the wrong pan, used some non-traditional ingredients and DARED to call his dish paella. Really? I mean, if he made mistakes, correct him, but to label him with a term that has become synonymous with bigotry, robbery, cultural insensitivity and ignorance seems extreme.
Please understand, if I imitate you, it’s because I admire you. If I imitate you poorly, please correct me constructively. If you feel I haven’t given credit where credit is due, please speak up. If I don’t understand something essential about your culture, I’d love for you to explain. However, please don’t assume I have ill-intent from the get-go. That would only complicate our efforts to get along together.