Drifting away from the typical focus on South Asian culture, let's take some time and step back to take a widespread view of cultures around the world.
Before defining cultural appropriation, let me ask you: What is culture? This term is very ambiguous and incorporates many factors. Allow me to briefly break it down for you. Culture, as defined by a video from Origin Of Everything, is broken down into 3 categories. First comes ideologies, then shared ways of life, and finally cultural production. Ideologies are the least tangible section of culture while cultural production is the most concrete, as it refers to the physical items we look at and engage with.
Because cultural production is the umbrella in which ideologies and shared ways of life fall under, it is more widespread and open to interpretation and in cases of cultural appropriation, misrepresentation.
Screenshot from the video:
Cultural Appropriation – What is it?
This leads us to cultural appropriation, which is often noted as the " cherry-picking" of marginalized cultures. This act of appropriating cultures is typically done by those in power belonging to a 'dominant' culture. These individuals belonging to a dominant culture often steal and misuse parts of a minority culture for which they are oftentimes praised for. If the people originally part of that minority culture were to do the same act, they would get looked down upon or punished.
In many cases, the wrongdoers neglect and belittle the significance of the aspect they take from another culture and instead use it for their own personal benefit. This is considered offensive to the original culture as their traditions and beliefs are trivialized.
Examples of Cultural Appropriation in Pop Culture
Pop culture is brimmed with cultural appropriation. Although some may be obvious, there are also some instances where celebrities have subtly appropriated a culture. For instance, take Coachella, an annual music and arts festival where a majority of the attendees appropriate culture with their 'aesthetic' outfits. Headdresses, bindis, henna, dashikis, cornrows, you name it. All are such aspects of culture that have been stolen for the 'aesthetics.' Little do they know that these 'aesthetics' are indeed offensive and culturally insensitive.
Here are a few images of celebrities at Coachella:
Such examples are just a glimpse into the unmindful actions of celebrities, who have the ability to influence others’ opinions and prompt their followers to imitate their actions. In the above images, Vanessa Hudgens is wearing a bindi, native to South Asian culture, especially Hindus. It serves as a third eye that does not see outwards toward the physical world but inward towards God. The position in which the bindi is placed is called the ajna chakra, which is spot of "concealed wisdom." By placing the bindi in this position, it helps to "regain energy and maintain concentration." Alessandra Ambrosio is wearing a Native American headdress, stripping it from its original significance of strength and bravery, where those that are the most influential are only entitled to wear the headdress. Each feather on this headdress represents every act of bravery the indigenous person has performed. Moving onto Kylie Jenner's cornrows, which appropriate African-American culture. Cornrows have had a historical significance, as they were one of the many styles of braids meticulously done on a woman's head that "upheld societal customs" while incorporating fashion. These methods of braiding were passed down from generation to generation, which was abruptly ended by the English colonizers who shaved off women's hair, along with their connection to their homeland, while kidnapping nearly 12 million Africans to enslave in the New World in the 16th century.
What can we do from here on to fix this issue?
Instead of appropriating a culture and disregarding the significance behind the aspect, try to promote cultural appreciation instead. The difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation is a fine line which is research and awareness. Awareness of the significance of the object you will be representing from another's culture, and the responsibility to carry forward the aspect with the same amount of significance.
You may be asking, Well, how do I show cultural appreciation? You can show cultural appreciation by considering the context where you choose to use these cultural aspects. For example, are you using it for the "aesthetic?" If so, that is appropriation. Wearing henna and a bindi to a traditional South Asian wedding? That is cultural appreciation! Actions like these help to show that you are indeed participating in the culture instead of isolating and misusing it.
ந றி, Shakthika :)
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Written by Shakthika T. from Newark, New Jersey
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