Myths and Realities of Cultural Appropriation

7 Myths about Cultural Appropriation DEBUNKED! | Decoded | MTV News

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Summary

"Decoded" by MTV Impact delves into the complex issue of cultural appropriation, clarifying common misconceptions and emphasizing the difference between cultural appreciation and appropriation. Through various examples, the video highlights the imbalance of power and respect, showcasing how dominant cultures often exploit marginalized cultures. The video aims to educate viewers about respecting cultural traditions and shows that appropriation can have a negative impact, unlike genuine cultural exchange that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

Highlights

Cornrows can be worn by anyone, but black communities face stigma while celebrities are praised, showcasing power discrepancies. 🙅‍♀️
A designer using Maori tattoos to sell sunglasses is an example of stripping cultural symbols of their meaning for profit. 🤦‍♂️
Assimilation is not the same as appropriation; marginalized groups conform for survival rather than choice. 🚫
Attending an Indian wedding and wearing a sari is an example of cultural appreciation, as it involves permission and respect. 💃
Cultural appropriation often involves power dynamics, where the dominant culture benefits without acknowledgment or understanding. 👩‍🎤

Key Takeaways

Cultural appropriation isn't just about the adoption of elements from a minority culture; it's about the power dynamics where dominant groups exploit marginalized cultures. 😕
Appreciating a culture involves understanding and respecting its significance, while appropriation strips it of its context and meaning. 👍
Marginalized cultures often face discrimination for the same cultural elements that dominant groups are praised for adopting. 👎
Assimilation by marginalized communities often happens out of necessity rather than choice, contrasting with cultural appropriation. 🔄
Cultural appreciation involves participation by invitation and understanding, unlike appropriation, which is selective and can be disrespectful. 👗
The goal isn't to police fashion or traditions but to promote understanding and respect for cultural heritage and voices. 🌎
Education and open dialogue are key to discerning cultural appreciation from appropriation. 📚

Overview

Cultural appropriation occurs when a dominant group borrows from a marginalized group without permission or understanding. This practice often leaves marginalized communities without credit or recognition, even as they endure discrimination. In contrast, cultural appreciation involves learning about and valuing cultural traditions with permission and insight, creating a mutual exchange that respects all parties.

Examples of cultural appropriation include fashion models and celebrities adopting styles like cornrows, which can penalize the communities they originate from, while being hailed as edgy for those outside the community. Similarly, Maori tribal tattoos are used by designers without understanding or respecting their cultural significance, reducing them to mere fashion statements. This selective adoption highlights the inequities in how cultural elements are treated.

On the other hand, genuine cultural exchange happens when people are invited to participate in a culture and do so with respect and understanding. This can involve attending cultural events, learning about the traditions, and engaging with members of that culture. At the heart of this issue is the need for respect and acknowledgment of cultural contributions, ensuring that everyone can celebrate and learn from different cultures in a manner that honors their true significance.

7 Myths about Cultural Appropriation DEBUNKED! | Decoded | MTV News Transcription

00:00 - 00:30 - They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. But what happens when it's not so flattering? (fast-paced electronic music) The more you learn about the world and the people in it, you quickly realize just how beautiful and diverse it is. So where's the line between cultural exchange, appreciation, and appropriation? Why does it even matter? Here are seven myths about cultural appropriation debunked. "You're just looking for something to be offended by. "It's just clothing, hairstyles, decorations, whatever.
00:30 - 01:00 "Don't you have something better to worry about?" Okay, first off, it's possible to care about more than one issue at a time. The main problem with cultural appropriation comes from dominant groups borrowing from marginalized groups, who face oppression or have been stigmatized for their cultural practices throughout history. Like cornrows: I mean anyone can wear their hair in cornrows, but black people still face stigmas for wearing them, along with perfectly natural hairstyles like braids and locks. There are even companies and schools that prohibit these natural hairstyles. People have actually been fired for wearing braids.
01:00 - 01:30 Meanwhile, fashion models and celebs like Kylie Jenner get praised for wearing cornrows. And that's the main point, one group is being penalized by institutions for wearing natural hairstyles, while the other is called edgy and stylish for doing the exact same thing. "I'm doing it because I think it's beautiful and exotic. "I'm just showing appreciation for the culture." Look, it's great that you find another group's culture beautiful, but in order to show you truly love it, you need to have respect and understanding.
01:30 - 02:00 Take, for example, tribal tattoos. The Maori of New Zealand have facial tattoos with deep family meaning and cultural significance. But fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier used the tattoos in ads to sell sunglasses. Now, that's a perfect example of cultural appropriation. No matter how much the designer likes the look, he's stripped the tattoo of all of its cultural meaning just to sell a product. Now if you really appreciate something, you should respect it, instead of assuming you can use it however you want. "Well, I don't find it offensive and I asked someone
02:00 - 02:30 "from that culture, and they said it was okay." Well, it's not your culture that's being disrespected, so sure you don't find it offensive. And if you know someone from that background who doesn't mind your tattoo, costume, or whatever, that's cool, but remember that one person doesn't speak for all members of that community. "Whatever, fashion, art, film, music always "borrows from other sources. "Plus, it doesn't hurt anyone." Sure, cultural exchange has been goin' on since the beginning of time. But exchange is mutual; it needs to be done respectfully. A couple of years ago, Katy Perry did a geisha-themed
02:30 - 03:00 performance with Japanese women dancing in the background. Not only was it super stereotypical, her outfit wasn't even from the right country. The Japanese-American Citizens League said it best, "The thoughtless costuming and dance routines "by Katy Perry played carelessly with stereotypes "in an attempt to create a Japanese aesthetic." And that kinda crushes the idea that appropriation is harmless. "You're just tryin' to tell everyone what to think." "Hello, thought police! "Have you ever heard of the First Amendment?" Nobody's telling you what to think, wear, or say. Marginalized people can't stop you from doing your thing, even if they wanted to.
03:00 - 03:30 But if you think you have the right to use any cultural tradition just 'cause, that's where you get into oppressive territory. And if you genuinely don't care if someone is hurt by your appropriation, that's just crappy. "So because I'm white, I'm automatically racist. "And if I wear this clothing, I'm even more racist?" This isn't about beating up on white people. Anyone can appropriate elements of marginalized cultures. Heck, Pharrell even made the mistake of wearing a Native American headdress on the cover of Elle Magazine. And after getting some much-deserved flak,
03:30 - 04:00 he actually issued an apology. "If Chinese people wear blue jeans, "aren't they appropriating my culture? "Or what about black girls wearing blond weaves? "Or how about speaking English?" Okay, this is a tough one: Assimilation and appropriation aren't the same thing. Marginalized people conforming to standards set by dominant, or in this case Western cultures, is often a means of survival. When your cultural heritage is looked down on, often people change or hide things about themselves in order to be accepted by majority culture. For example, there are schools where students have been
04:00 - 04:30 punished or even suspended for speaking Spanish or indigenous languages, so there are people who are literally being forced to assimilate or else. So it's not really a fair comparison. "So, you're saying I should never enjoy another culture? "That's not fair." Not at all! For example, say you're invited to an Indian wedding and you're not Indian. Wearing a traditional sari or getting henna would be a great example of cultural exchange. You're being invited to participate, enjoy the culture, instead of just picking and choosing parts of it for yourself.
04:30 - 05:00 You can also travel, take cooking classes, read books, listen to music, and visit museums if you really want to learn about and enjoy other cultures. Here's the thing: Cultural appropriation is about a privileged group misrepresenting and disrespecting marginalized cultures. The originators rarely get credit, but always deal with the consequences. The goal isn't to shame you out of wearing or enjoying certain things. But listening to the people from the culture you're interested in shows you have a genuine love, respect, and understanding for something that's not your own. So what are some misconceptions
05:00 - 05:30 you've heard about cultural appropriation? Or maybe you had some misunderstandings yourself. Tell us in the comments below and we'll see you next week here on Decoded. In our last vlog, we talked about student loan debt with Ben O'Keefe. Here's what you had to say. Oh, Schokohase, you don't have to pay for college? Way to rub it in! No really, I wish we did that here. You know, Andrea, free college would be awesome, but I will totally settle for affordable and no crushing debt. Actually, AssassinSurreal, I use the skills I learned getting my degree almost every single day, but trade school's a great option for lots of people.
05:30 - 06:00 Our last sketch was all about whitesplaining and since I have the talking stick, I'm gonna respond to your comments. You know what, Paul, I agree with you. Everyone should have equal freedom of speech, no matter their skin color. But that's not what our video was about. It's about not talking over people, because that's rude. Ever heard of being rude? Thanks, VGC, I'm really glad you enjoyed it. And keep watching, 'cause you might like the next one. Oh, Antoine, a YouTube Oscars would be awesome. Not just 'cause you think we would win, but 'cause I just wanna get dressed up. (upbeat electronic music)
06:00 - 06:30 (fast-paced percussive music)