Definition of cultural appropriation
Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements from one culture by members of a different culture without understanding or respecting the original culture. In the context of Language and Popular Culture, this often shows up through the use of language, symbols, and cultural practices in media, fashion, and entertainment. The concept sits at the intersection of power dynamics, representation, and the commodification of cultural elements in popular culture.
Origins of the concept
The term emerged in academic discourse during the 1980s as part of postcolonial studies, building on earlier discussions about cultural imperialism and exploitation. It gained much wider public attention in the 21st century as global connectivity and social media activism made it easier for marginalized communities to call out instances of appropriation in real time. At its core, the concept is rooted in critiques of Western colonialism and its lasting impacts on indigenous and minority cultures.
Key characteristics
- Involves taking or using aspects of a marginalized culture by members of a dominant culture
- Often occurs without permission, acknowledgment, or compensation to the source culture
- Typically involves a power imbalance between the appropriating and appropriated cultures
- Can lead to misrepresentation, trivialization, or commercialization of cultural elements
- May involve the use of sacred or significant cultural items out of their original context (e.g., Native American headdresses worn as festival costumes, or religious symbols used as fashion accessories)
Types of cultural appropriation
Material culture appropriation
This type involves the adoption of tangible cultural elements like clothing, accessories, or artifacts. The fashion industry is a frequent site of material appropriation, as when designers use traditional patterns or designs without crediting the cultures that created them. Native American-inspired prints on runway collections are a well-known example. It also extends to the commercialization of cultural items for profit, such as dreamcatchers sold as home décor, and the adoption of traditional hairstyles or body modifications like dreadlocks or tribal tattoos stripped from their cultural meaning.
Intellectual property appropriation
This encompasses the unauthorized use of traditional knowledge, stories, or artistic expressions. Examples include adapting indigenous stories or myths for film and publishing without permission or proper attribution. Corporations have also patented traditional medicines or agricultural practices developed by indigenous communities over centuries. In the music industry, this shows up through sampling or incorporating traditional melodies without credit or compensation to the originating culture.
Spiritual appropriation
Spiritual appropriation involves adopting religious or spiritual practices outside their original context. A common example is the mass production and sale of "smudge kits" that commercialize sacred Indigenous rituals. It can also manifest as the superficial adoption of spiritual practices without understanding their deeper significance, such as treating yoga as purely physical exercise while ignoring its roots in Hindu philosophy. The misuse of sacred symbols or ceremonial items in secular, commercial contexts falls here as well.
Power dynamics in appropriation
Dominant vs. marginalized cultures
Cultural appropriation reflects the unequal power relationship between the cultures involved. It typically involves a historically privileged group taking from a historically oppressed group. This dynamic matters because the dominant culture often profits economically or socially from the borrowed elements, while the source culture remains marginalized or even penalized for practicing those same traditions. For instance, Black hairstyles have historically been deemed "unprofessional" in workplace settings, yet those same styles become trendy when adopted by white celebrities. Marginalized cultures frequently have limited platforms or institutional power to protest or seek redress.
Historical context of oppression
Appropriation doesn't happen in a vacuum. It's rooted in histories of colonialism, slavery, and cultural genocide, where dominant powers actively suppressed the very cultural practices they now borrow from. This is what makes appropriation feel particularly harmful: elements that were once forbidden or punished are later adopted by the dominant culture as fashion or entertainment. This can perpetuate harmful stereotypes, reopen historical wounds, and reinforce the misconception that marginalized cultures exist primarily as sources of novelty for others.
Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation
Distinguishing factors
The line between appropriation and appreciation is one of the trickiest parts of this topic. Here are the key distinctions:
- Appreciation involves learning about and respecting the cultural context; appropriation often lacks that understanding
- Appreciation seeks permission and gives credit; appropriation takes without asking or giving recognition
- Appreciation maintains the original meaning and significance of cultural elements; appropriation tends to trivialize or misrepresent that significance
A useful test: Who benefits? If only the borrowing culture profits while the source culture gets nothing (or worse, gets stereotyped), that points toward appropriation rather than appreciation.
Respectful cultural exchange
Genuine cultural exchange is possible, but it requires intentionality. It involves mutual consent and benefit for both cultures, education about the cultural context and significance of what's being shared, and collaboration and dialogue rather than one-sided taking. Respectful exchange maintains the integrity of cultural elements and often grows out of long-term engagement and relationship-building between communities. When done well, it leads to real cross-cultural understanding rather than surface-level borrowing.