Project Humanities Archives

Cultural Appropriation

What is Appropriation

What is Cultural Appropriation?

“Cultural appropriation” describes the taking over of creative or artistic forms, themes, or practices by one cultural group from another; generally Western appropriations of non‐Western or non‐white form. The act of cultural appropriation connotes cultural exploitation and dominance (Oxford). More broadly, cultural appropriation is the taking of intellectual property, cultural expressions, or artifacts, history and ways of knowledge from a culture that is not one’s own (Ziff).

About

Although our society is increasingly integrated, we are still not connecting on fundamental levels that involve understanding and embracing fundamental difference. There still exists a misunderstanding of cultures that lead to racial and cultural bias and cultural insensitivity. While teaching future generations about tolerance and awareness, we continue to debate locally and nationally the notion cultural sensitivity vs. political correctness, each time circling back to unexplored notions of Privilege. Attitudes toward race and culture seem to have regressed, especially on college campuses. As many declare the 21st century as post-racial, the research underscores a national backlash or a blatant defiance of anything deemed culturally sensitive which goes beyond “political correctness” and the micro aggressive claims of intentions and “over-sensitivity.”

This toolbox of resources includes news articles, videos, and writing that demonstrate the urgency of engaging in critical dialogue regarding cultural appropriation. We invite you to explore these resources and help us build our database. Look out for upcoming programs designed to address this and other issues pertaining to cultural awareness.

An Inquiry To Project Humanities

Project Humanities Leaders:

I would like to know where to get more information or support about cultural appropriation. I am Anglo, my son is Navajo. I have worked hard as an adoptive  parent to make sure my son is connected with Navajo culture. We have friends that live on the reservation as well as Native friends who are community leaders and professional role models that live in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.  We attend to Navajo fairs, ceremonies, pow-wows, arts festivals, and his experiences are authentic. 

 My son is having a negative experience with the Boy Scouts and their use or misuse of Native culture.  I have made a formal complaint to Boy Scouts of America's national office about appropriation of Native American culture within their honor fraternity Order of the Arrow. My complaint has been ignored to the point they haven't given me a contact name of who to address the issue with after months of repeated contacts. Although my complaint has an official incident # to record my communication with them, they tell me that they don't know who is in charge of the issues I am addressing. Order of the Arrow's misuse of Native sacred objects, Native language, wearing of head dresses, and other Native regalia, and performance of imitated pow-wows is a source of anger, frustration, and depression for my son. Would you know where we could get help with the issue? I would also like more research articles or materials about the negative effects of misappropriation with Native youth. My son does not want to quit Boy Scouts, but wants voice concerns and make changes within the Boy Scout culture.

I also took my son to Boy Scouts Philmont Scout Ranch museum, and saw they had the book Two Little Savages on display - a book about two (white) boys that went in lived in the wilderness.  The book is from about 1912 era. 

-- Thank you, Karen A. (New Mexico) (November 2015)

Resources

Ten Notions About Cultural Appropriation

  1. Cultural Appropriation, in the anthropological sense, is taking intellectual property, cultural expressions, artifacts, history, and ways of knowledge from a culture that is not one’s own.
  2. Cultural Appropriation, in the justice sense, is concerned with the difference between respectful and disrespectful “taking”. Cultural Appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups, often with little or no understanding of the latter’s history and traditions. 
  3. Who decides what is respectful/disrespectful? Default to multiple original sources from people of the appropriated culture on the topic of the appropriated practice or artifact. No one person decides.
  4. Default to respect and how respect is shown and practiced in the culture being appropriated. Are people truly paying homage by 
  5. “My culture is not a costume” is a movement of Ohio University students to showcase how individuals of a culture can feel marginalized and unaccepted when their culture is reduced to stereotype and worn for fun.
  6. When a dominant culture wears articles of an oppressed culture as fashion accessories it marginalizes the struggles some face for being "different," while those of the dominate culture are lauded for their kitschy fashion choices. 
  7. “We say that it is our past, our culture and heritage, and forms a part of our present life. As such, it is ours to control and it is ours to share on our terms.” - Aboriginal Elder from a community in Australia.
  8. Individuals within a culture differ on whether a certain instance of appropriation (or any appropriation at all) matters to them. Seeing any culture as monolithic is disrespectful to individuals within that culture.
  9. Saying that appropriation is never okay isn't necessarily the correct answer. Cross-cultural sharing is important to understanding one another. An authentic cultural exchange should feel free and affirming, rather than plagiarizing or thieving.
  10. Many people will say upon hearing negative feedback about instances of appropriation that it wasn't their intent to offend, or that they had the best intentions. Damage can be done regardless of intention.

 Articles:

Videos:

Music Videos

Slam Poetry

Genuine Expression?

Sage Francis – White hip hop artist from New England Playlist - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4vVH3hBfs4&index=3&list=RDB8UMxK5koZY Website - http://www.sagefrancis.net/

Die Antwoord – White rap-rave group from South Africa Website - http://www.dieantwoord.com/

Two drastically different videos:

“I Fink U Freeky” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uee_mcxvrw
“Ugly Boy” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMK0prafzw0
 

Eminem – White hip hop artist from Detroit “Real Slim Shady” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w

Articles:

Colleges/Universities

High School

National

International

Tattoos

How the ‘Civilized’ West Muddied the Meaning of Tribal Tattoos.

Articles:

Videos:

Music Videos

 Articles:

Slam Poetry

Genuine Expression?

Sage Francis – White hip hop artist from New England
Playlist - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4vVH3hBfs4&index=3&list=RDB8UMxK5koZY

Website - http://www.sagefrancis.net/

Die Antwoord – White rap-rave group from South Africa

Website - http://www.dieantwoord.com/

Two drastically different videos:

“I Fink U Freeky” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Uee_mcxvrw
“Ugly Boy” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMK0prafzw0

Eminem – White hip hop artist from Detroit

“Real Slim Shady” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJO5HU_7_1w

Articles: