Sarkar notes that while Coutts-Smith never actually used the term cultural appropriation, he was the first to bring together the Marxist idea of “class appropriation” (in which notions of “high culture” are appropriated and defined by the dominant social and economic class) and “cultural colonialism,” which describes the way Western cultures take ownership of art forms that originate from racially oppressed or colonized peoples.Īcculturation is a process of social, psychological, and cultural change that stems from the balancing of two cultures while adapting to the prevailing culture of the society. The artist Kenneth Coutts-Smith wrote one of the first essays on the subject in 1976, entitled “Some General Observations on the Concept of Cultural Colonialism,” as reported by Ash Sarkar for The Guardian. Both the model and brand executives apologized profusely, but unfortunately, the brand has continued to feature Indigeneous-inspired fashion in their shows, like in their 2017 “Nomadic Adventure”-themed fashion show. Model Karlie Kloss wore a Native American headdress in 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. The debate around cultural borrowing and appropriation is ongoing-examples abound in the arts, music, and fashion fields. Unlike acculturation and assimilation, cultural appropriation echoes domains of economic dominance and is a form of colonialism, which seeks to reign extended authority over a group of people, and/or territories. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures. In my course, Intro to Iconic Dance, we start this discussion by introducing three key concepts: Appropriation, Acculturation, and Assimilation.Ĭultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture by members of another culture. Think about high profile artists who have been accused of cultural appropriation over the past few years: Justin Bieber sporting dreadlocks Justin Timberlake beat-boxing Ariana Grande rapping in a “Blaccent.”
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What does it mean to be authentic in today’s society? How can one remain true to themselves while engaging in conversation with other cultures? When is it okay to borrow, quote, or pay homage to a culture that is not your own? And how can we do that thoughtfully and respectfully? In an increasingly global society, extremely focused on innovation and originality, the issue of authenticity is more relevant than ever.
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The following is excerpted from the upcoming Berklee Online course Introduction to Iconic Dance and Urban Movement.