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Cultural Appropriation

Discussion in 'General political debates' started by Warfiend, Mar 12, 2011.

  1. Warfiend

    Warfiend Experienced Member Experienced member


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    Mar 11, 2011
     
    This is a discussion that has been brought to my attention recently. Cultural appropriation is the adoption of some specific elements of one culture by a different cultural group. The use of the term "cultural appropriation" is often used against white people who adopt different aspects of various oppressed groups (i.e. white people with dreads etc.). It is said to have negative qualities because the reappropriation of said aspect by a different cultural group can demean or reinvent it.

    I personally, am against the term and see it as another form of fashion/image fascism. The belief that you may only dress/act/get tattoos/etc. in a fashion that fits your cultural background. It also encourages a society based on segregation where the white people have their image and culture and the ethnic people have their image and culture. It leaves no room for intergrated society.

    The same term could be used to badmouth people who watch anime, listen to rock music, get Chinese letter tattoos, stretch their ears etc.

    What are your opinions on Cultural Appropriation? Is it a fair comment or just another form of social fascism?
     

  2. Rabbit

    Rabbit Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Oct 26, 2009
     
    While I do believe in personal freedom, there are certain things to be sensitive about.
    Dreads may have special significance in Rastafarianism and other religions, but it is also a universal property of human hair. It's generally thought that early homo sapiens tended to let their hair form into dreads, so that's a bad example.

    Better examples generally come from native cultures that have been largely wiped out. There are issues with taking elements of fashion from these groups without understanding their significance. An example would be if Catholics were an oppressed group (ha! just pretend for a minute) and Pope hats came into style around the world. Teenagers everywhere would be essentially cheapening that symbol of religious power and authority. That's the issue in a nutshell.

    Best real example I can think of is the keffiyeh (sp). I think it started as a solidarity for Palestine thing, but it's definitely expanded to a general hip fashion thing.
     
  3. JackNegativity

    JackNegativity Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Nov 9, 2010
     
    A term invented by racial seperatists and by white parents pissed off that their kids were wearing baggy pants and "acting black". "Acting black", that's a term I heard people use alot, especially in my teenage years. Usually by the same people who'd then say "I'm not racist, I have black friends" or something to that effect, which is pretty racist in itself.


    I will admit though, my disdain for people who get tribal tattoos without belonging to the particular tribe the tattoos originate from. But that is mainly because of it's popularity with frat boys and nu-metal jerkoffs. But then again, i don't give them shit for "acting Maori", just for being unoriginal douche-bags.
     
  4. Mike Generic

    Mike Generic Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Mar 29, 2010
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    While I don't really have a problem with people appropriating little bits of culture, but where I do have a problem is when it gets fetishized, and sought after simply because it's from another culture.
    Rabbit had a good example with the keffiyeh.
     
  5. grizzlybeer

    grizzlybeer Active Member Forum Member


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    May 13, 2010
     
    This just sounds like complete bullshit to me. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Anyone legitimately concerned with say a white boy stretching their ears or a black chick getting a Chinese symbol tattooed on their back probably has their head up their ass. Culture should be shared.
     
  6. DirtyRottenThrashPunk

    DirtyRottenThrashPunk Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Nov 11, 2010
     
    :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
     
  7. Rich

    Rich Member New Member


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    Mar 6, 2011
     
    Yeah, I agree with Jack. Cultural appropriation sounds like some American separtist bullshit. America is such a melting pot of different people and cultures, they are bound to bleed into each other. One cannot put chocalate and caramel in a crockpot and not expect them to mix when heated up. If borrowing from other cultures were indeed wrong, then we would lose out on alot of food and spices, simply because they are not native to our culture (pizza is an import I do not want to lose - while in its current form it is American, it is "appropiated" from Italy). I do believe, however, there is a line between the imitation being flattery or being disrespectful as Rabbit pointed out (anyone ever see any old movies involving blackface? Not very flattering). The fact is, culture is just a bunch of man made up traditions and/ or rituals claimed by the people of that region created because of enviroment and what was available at the time and should not be feared or reserved for only one group to enjoy respectfully. After all, the whole human race migrated from a tract of land in Africa, so are we really so different? (If there are any undercover racists on this forum that last statement should bring 'em out)


    I do get annoyed by capitialist college kids wearing Che Guevara gear cause its "trendy", though.
     
  8. JesusCrust

    JesusCrust Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    OMG he makes sense. You must be sober, or maybe I am, but last time I checked I wasn't . WE need to reunite :(
     
  9. Ivanovich

    Ivanovich Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Jan 31, 2010
     
    Indeed. Sharing culture kills racism.
     
  10. grizzlybeer

    grizzlybeer Active Member Forum Member


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    May 13, 2010
     
    Nope I was drunk as a skunk. We do need to reunite, and get drunk and mad at things.
     
  11. butcher

    butcher Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Sep 8, 2009
     
    surely that'd be considered as a cultural phenomenon of white racism, rather then 'borrowing' something from African-American culture...

    Anywayz, I don't really understand the whole 'cultural appropriation' line of thought (insofar as some radicals argue that its bad). Having said that, I kinda understand how some things (like the tendency to use names from Australia's Indigenous population for places when the places are built on a history of genocide inflicted on said population; or rich white kids borrowing the aesthetics of poor black kids, without having to live with the realities of poverty and marginalisation - although this is just as much about class as race) are in rather poor taste, and is probably viewed as a cruel joke and fairly offensive to those on the wrong end of the deal.
     
  12. JackNegativity

    JackNegativity Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Nov 9, 2010
     
    Not all white kids that listen to rap and wear the associated clothing are rich, though. I often speak with what has been called "urban slang" or "ebonics" (as well as an annoying NJ accent that comes and goes). I'm not copying anybody, that's just how kids talked where I grew up in the melting pot surrounding NYC. Black/White/Brown/Tan/Yellow + all mixes and variations. Rich, middle class and poor. I've never been rich, in fact I don't think I've ever even been middle class.

    Free lunch and food stamps, that's what's up, son!
     
  13. butcher

    butcher Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Sep 8, 2009
     
    hence my clarification: 'although this is just as much about class as race'.
    Moreover, the problem with generalisations, as I did above, is that they are, like, general, thus have many exceptions, etc... :ecouteurs:
     
  14. some asian dude

    some asian dude Experienced Member Uploader Experienced member Forum Member


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    Sep 21, 2009
     
    I think people can take this way overboard. In regards to the example of the keffiyah, Why should somebody, lets say in the desert or an arid region care what culture first used the keffiyah. If it works and provides at least some shade, why not use it?
     
  15. DirtyRottenThrashPunk

    DirtyRottenThrashPunk Experienced Member Experienced member Forum Member


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    Yeah that kind of culture has more to do with class then anything else...most wannabe rapper, street tough, legitimately ghetto kids I've known have been white...also, as of now you have 666 posts. So yeah.
     
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