Currently, such a phenomenon as cultural appropriation is receiving increasing attention. It requires consideration due to the fact that it can very easily be confused with a negative attitude towards another culture. This scientific paper thereby aims to consider the degree of controversy of cultural appropriation and what it is. Moreover, the work will provide information about what people need to know to avoid misinterpretation of someone else’s culture.
Thus, first of all, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of what cultural appropriation is. The research defines it as “the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture” (Nittle 1). In other words, this phenomenon can be defined as the use of objects of a distinct culture that does not respect the original meaning. Similarly, in this case, credit to the source is not given and contributes to further strengthening and reflecting stereotypes about particular people. Examples of unauthorized use of another culture’s elements may be clothing, music, dance, or literature.
Henceforth, cultural appropriation is a multilevel and complex phenomenon that has some controversy. This is also due to the fine line between respect and disregard for someone else’s culture. Therefore, the problem is that often a dominant culture can exploit non-dominant items. These factors contribute to the rooting of the importance of using someone else’s cultural attributes. An example would be the increasing popularity of using African hairstyles among the stars of the prevailing culture. However, many black people may feel discriminated against because it relates to their culture.
Another essential aspect to examine when considering the topic of cultural appropriation is cultural encouragement. Hence, appreciation is the desire of people to study and better understand another nation’s traditions and views. This effort is being made to broaden the horizons and approach other cultures and their traditions. Appropriation, in turn, implies the simple use of some aspects of a culture to which a person does not belong. Moreover, the second concept can be limited to the simple application of a piece of clothing for fashion purposes without having a clue about the culture in which it was created. The controversy lies in the fact that using parts of the different cultures without a certain level of knowledge and data means disrespect and inattention to other aspects of it.
Considering all the above information, it is necessary to have an understanding of how people can avoid cultural appropriation and its negative consequences. One of the ways is to determine one’s own motivation for using this or that element of someone else’s culture. Also, it is possible to give credit or pay respect to the origin of aspects that will be withdrawn or presented from other representatives of traditions. The most important and critical step is to study and analyze the features and problems of culture before using any of its attributes. This can be done either by self-search or by consulting directly with representatives of culture.
Therefore, it can be concluded that cultural appropriation is more negative in nature. This is due to the fact that this phenomenon if performed incorrectly, can cause discontent due to a sense of disrespect towards other cultures. Moreover, it closely borders on such a concept as appreciation, which carries a more positive meaning. In the end, the research paper suggests ways to avoid cultural appropriation.
Work Cited
Nittle, Nadra Kareem. “A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Cultural Appropriation.” ThoughtCo, 2018. Web.