Why Cultural Appropriation Is Wrong

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of certain elements from another culture without the consent of people who belong to that culture. Its a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means.   People from hundreds of different ethnicities make up the U.S. population, so it’s not surprising that cultural groups rub off on each other at times. Americans who grow up in diverse communities may pick up the dialect, customs, and religious traditions of the cultural groups that surround them. Cultural appropriation is an entirely different matter. It has little to do with one’s exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups. Quite often, this is done along racial and ethnic lines with little understanding of the latter’s history, experience, and traditions. Defining Cultural Appropriation In order to understand cultural appropriation, we must first look at the two words that make up the term. Culture is defined as the beliefs, ideas, traditions, speech, and material objects associated with a particular group of people. Appropriation is the illegal, unfair, or unjust taking of something that doesnt belong to you. Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University, told Jezebel  that it’s difficult to give a concise explanation of cultural appropriation. The author of  Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law, defined cultural appropriation as follows: â€Å"Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone elses culture without permission. This can include unauthorized use of another cultures dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc. Its most likely to be harmful when the source community is a ​In the United States, cultural appropriation almost always involves members of the dominant culture (or those who identify with it) â€Å"borrowing† from the cultures of minority groups.   African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and indigenous peoples generally tend to emerge as the groups targeted for cultural appropriation. Black music and dance, Native American fashions, decoration, and cultural symbols, and Asian martial arts and dress have all fallen prey to cultural appropriation. â€Å"Borrowing† is a key component of cultural appropriation and there are many examples in recent American history. In essence, however, it can be traced back to the racial beliefs of early America; an era when many whites saw people of color as less than human. Society has moved beyond those gross injustices, for the most part. And yet, insensitivity to the historical and current sufferings of others remains apparent today. Appropriation in Music In the 1950s, white musicians borrowed the musical stylings of their black counterparts. Because African Americans weren’t widely accepted in U.S. society at that time, record executives chose to have white artists replicate the sound of black musicians. The result is that music like rock-n-roll is largely associated with whites and its black pioneers are often forgotten. In the early 21st century, cultural appropriation remains a concern. Musicians such as  Madonna, Gwen Stefani, and Miley Cyrus  have all been accused of cultural appropriation. Madonnas famous voguing began in black and Latino sectors of the gay community. Gwen Stefani faced criticism for her fixation on Harajuku culture from Japan. In 2013, Miley Cyrus became the pop star most associated with cultural appropriation. During recorded and live performances, the former child star began to twerk, a dance style with roots in the African American community.   Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke perform during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards. Theo Wargo/Getty Images Appropriation of Native Cultures Native American fashion, art, and rituals have also been appropriated into mainstream culture. Their fashion has been reproduced and sold for profit and their rituals are often adopted by eclectic religious and spiritual practitioners. A well-known case involves the sweat lodge retreats of James Arthur Ray. In 2009, three people died during one of his adopted sweat lodge ceremonies in Sedona, Arizona. This prompted the elders of Native American tribes to speak out against this practice because these plastic shamans have not been properly trained. Covering the lodge with plastic tarps was just one of Rays mistakes and he was later sued for impersonation. Similarly, in Australia, there was a period during which it was common for Aboriginal art to be copied by non-Aboriginal artists, often marketed and sold as authentic. This led to a renewed movement to authenticate Aboriginal products. Cultural Appropriation Takes Many Forms Buddhist tattoos, Muslim-inspired headdresses as fashion, and white gay men adopting the dialect of black women are other examples of cultural appropriation that are often called out. The examples are nearly endless and context is often key. For example, was the tattoo done in reverence or because its cool? Would a Muslim man wearing  the  keffiyeh  be considered a terrorist for that simple fact? At the same time, if a white man wears it, is it a fashion statement? Why Cultural Appropriation Is a Problem Cultural appropriation remains a concern for a variety of reasons. For one, this sort of â€Å"borrowing† is exploitative because it robs minority groups of the credit they deserve. Art and music forms that originated with minority groups come to be associated with members of the dominant group. As a result, the dominant group is deemed innovative and edgy. At the same time, the disadvantaged groups they â€Å"borrow† from continue to face negative stereotypes that imply they’re lacking in intelligence and creativity.   When singer Katy Perry performed as a geisha at the American Music Awards in 2013, she described it as an homage to Asian culture. Asian Americans disagreed with this assessment, declaring her performance â€Å"yellowface.† They also found issue with the song choice, Unconditionally, alongside a stereotype of passive Asian women. The question of whether it is a homage or an insult is at the core of cultural appropriation. What one person perceives as a tribute, people of that group may perceive as disrespectful. Its a fine line and one that must be carefully considered. How to Avoid Cultural Appropriation Every individual has choices to make when it comes to sensitivity toward others. As a member of the majority, someone may not be able to recognize a harmful appropriation unless its pointed out. This requires awareness of why youre buying or doing something that represents another culture. The intention is at the heart of the matter, so its important to ask yourself a series of questions. Why are you borrowing this? Is it out of a genuine interest? Is it something you feel called to do? Or, does it simply look appealing and youre following the trends?What is the source? For material items such as artwork, was it made by someone from that culture? What does this item mean to them?How respectful is this to the culture? What would someone from that group feel about it? Genuine interest in other cultures is not to be discounted. The sharing of ideas, traditions, and material items is what makes life interesting and helps diversify the world. It is the intention that remains most important and something everyone can remain conscious of as we learn from others.

Military Bearing Essay - 618 Words

In the United States Army, military bearing is the root in which every service member practices in order to carry out good discipline and ethics throughout their military careers. Army regulations and The Articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice show us how a military service member should conduct themselves on a daily basis. All military soldiers have an obligation to conduct themselves like they are adults and to show respect to the ranks above them. If a Soldier fails to do so they are not only disrespecting the NCO and Officer above them. They are also breaking rules and regulations set in place by regulations and UCMJ. There are many different ways military bearing ties into your every day life it take†¦show more content†¦Answering or addressing the NCOs by saying â€Å"SGT† and officers by â€Å"sir† or â€Å"ma’am†. Dependability is a major aspect of military bearing. Without dependability, one can neither perform properly in the work space or be depended on by their fellow soldiers, or chain of command to carry out their military duties properly. A military member is required to be punctual, and reliable. Lack of this in a service member not only hinders the mission of the command but of the entire Army. In braking your military bearing you violate many regulations such as FM 7-21.13 CH 4 and the UCMJ articles 91 and 92. The punishments for these violations varies on the severity of the offence. Anywhere from a summarized article 15 to a field grade article 15. The best way to avoid avoid these punishments is to hold your military bearing and to remember your rank and position. Sometimes it is very difficult for me to keep military bearing. I get too comfortable with my enviroment and I tend to disrespect people. I do plan to fix my problem of losing military bearing. The ways I plan to fix it is standing at parade rest for every enlisted member to get my body in the habit of just doing it and standing at the position of attention for every officer, I will also address every enlisted member by there rank regardless if they are subbordinate to me or not. IShow MoreRelatedMilitary Bearing1023 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Military Bearing† and how it affects the Army as a whole Bearing, put simply, is the appearance and demeanor of a person throughout the activities and circumstances that an individual is seen or observed. An individual is largely judged by others through the bearing that the individual exudes as he goes about his daily affairs, and thus it is very important that the person shows a bearing of competence and professionalism at all times. Militaries since the beginning of recorded history have setRead MoreEssay on Military Bearing2093 Words   |  9 PagesImportance of Military Bearing Military bearing is the root in which every soldier practices in order to carry out good discipline and ethics throughout ones military career. Army regulations and soldiers on our own creed illustrate how a military service member should conduct themselves on a daily basis, on and off duty. Loyalty, duty, respect, commitment, honor, punctuality, reliable, integrity, and personal courage are Army core values. Courage is the ability to stand up for ones beliefs andRead MoreMilitary Bearing Essay1046 Words   |  5 PagesIn the United States Army, military bearing is the root in which every service member practices in order to carry out good discipline and ethics throughout ones military careers. 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Military discipline will be developed by individual and group training to create a mental attitude resulting in proper conduct and prompt obedience to lawful military authority. Read MoreSoldier and Appearance Military Appearance Essay634 Words   |  3 PagesWords 5 Pages Always Maintain Good Military Appearance Military Appearance In this paper I will discuss the importance of why a NCO or Drill Sergeant should maintain proper military appearance and why it is important. The NCO’s Creed first states that â€Å"no one is more professional than I†, so I am sure that means more than just appearance. It Premium 1553 Words 7 Pages Appearance Is a Very Important and Highly Regarded Concept in the Military. Appearance is a very important and

Apprising Employees at the San Diego Zoo Free Essays

Reed Nevers Chapter 8 Case study Case study 2 November 10,2012 Online Employee performance 1. The San Diego Zoological Society finally came to the realization that they needed more from their employees even though the society was nonprofit. After further research the society decided to go with a new appraisal system to evaluate their employees. We will write a custom essay sample on Apprising Employees at the San Diego Zoo or any similar topic only for you Order Now They concluded it would be an online appraisal system. The strategy behind this system was to come up with a collaboration that would coincide with the organizational goals, and give the ability of the employee to set their own goals. This idea would help prevent breakdown within the system, which allows the employees to communicate on a personal basis. This system eventually lead to a merit based platform to help pay the employees’ salaries. Not only did the system reach its goals it allowed those who were slightly computer illiterate to be able to add input and it allowed the employees to record their achievements. 2. Is it worth it for the society to go with an online system? There are the pros and cons. For example by changing to an online system the society will be able to streamline their efforts of recruiting, reduce paperwork, while increasing a subjective base of individuals, furthermore it allows the managers to design a process that fits their needs and ideals based upon the organization’s mission. On the flipside the employees have concerns about the outcome of the sample that is generated by the software. They feel that it could be biased based upon the organizational needs instead of the employee’s needs. 3. I feel that the new appraisal system will allow the employee to have the opportunity to track their performance achievements throughout the year in a simple way, this process will be beneficial to them when it comes to the annual appraisal with their managers. The managers on the other hand will have the ability to track and maintain a centralized data base of information of measures to help establish a baseline on the employee for the annual appraisal. The online system will benefit both the employee and the manager. How to cite Apprising Employees at the San Diego Zoo, Papers

Strings of Life free essay sample

Have you ever thought about what we are made of? Many new ideas are being explored by scientists driven by this one question. The String Theory is one these ideas. This String Theory in short, describes that a string makes up a quark, which makes up a proton or neutron, creating the atom, and essentially the world. Id like to think that moments in my life have made me who I am, just like the little strings that make up an atom. Something so small, yet so significant.Just like the String Theory, there are unlimited possibilities in life and the future seems to be indefinite. I can remember feeling the urgency to grow up as fast as possible, when everything was one large fairytale, and when school and fun were synonymous. However, being a high school student can change all that, grades and competition with peers seems to be on everyones brain. We will write a custom essay sample on Strings of Life or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page On paper, Im a scholar and a talented student, but Im more than just that. I wont allow grades and awards to define me. Im a girl of multiple races, which is probably the reason why I love cultures that are foreign to me. Outside of school, I teach myself Japanese, Russian, and many other languages. Along with languages, I love literature and tend to covet Greek mythology. These interest in addition to my desire for knowledge are the strings that make me who I am.One moment in time can ultimately change your life, no matter how long or short it is. I can name one significant moment in my life that can surmount the others. At the age of 8, I can clearly remember my fathers passing. At the robust age of 44, he was the best father-role model-friend anyone could have. His death affected me in more ways than one. It wasnt the fact that I could no longer see him that hurt the most, it was the fact that I took the time we spent together for granted. The effects of my fathers death are endless, however not all of them are negative. My father always told me to be happy no matter what, so I took his advice and I live my life recalling my moments with him and with future aspirations to make the world a more content place.Without these vital moments in our lives, where would we be? How could we exist if strings didnt make up the atom? Life without love and pain is unrealistic, just as life is without cells in our bodies.Everyone has strings; its what you make of them that define you.