Nov 21, 2021
(Bonus) Cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or
inappropriate adoption of an element or elements of one culture
or
identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be
controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from
minority cultures. According to critics of the practice, cultural
appropriation differs from acculturation, assimilation, or equal
cultural exchange in that this appropriation is a form of
colonialism. When cultural elements are copied from a minority
culture by members of a dominant culture, and these elements are
used outside of their original cultural context ─ sometimes even
against the expressly stated wishes of members of the originating
culture – the practice is often received negatively. Cultural
appropriation is considered harmful by various groups and
individuals, including Indigenous people working for cultural
preservation, those who advocate for collective intellectual
property rights of the originating, minority cultures, and those
who have lived or are living under colonial rule. Cultural
appropriation can include the exploitation of another culture's
religious and cultural traditions, dance steps, fashion, symbols,
language, and music.