Hm, it think it’s seen more as taking something from a marginalised culture and making it a fad - like wearing dreads as a caucasian - and therefore removing this specific aspect from its cultural context.
Now I also don’t quite agree with this interpretation and I, too, prefer the more positive connotation of taking part in it and sharing cultural phenomena. If someone borrows from my culture I generally like it, as long as it is done respectfully and in good faith, but I am not part of a marginalised group.
Honestly the people who confuse honest cultural imitation or fusion with appropriation aren’t thinking critically about what harm is being done.
American exceptionalism produces a lot of these false positive responses, which is super annoying because it’s a real problem with economic consequences.
E.g. dreads is an ancient hairstyle for different ethnicities, cf. any sadhu, and no one is getting rich off of it.
Depending on who you ask, Jews could potentially be considered a marginalized group. I don’t speak for all Jews at all but I’ve never been offended or felt that my culture was being stolen by someone using Yiddish slang or eating kugel or matzah or challah or any other Jewish food. Hell, if someone walked in and was all “sup bitches, it’s Tu BiShvat, yesher koach yall” id be in stitches and happy that someone paid attention and remembered.
Hm, it think it’s seen more as taking something from a marginalised culture and making it a fad - like wearing dreads as a caucasian - and therefore removing this specific aspect from its cultural context.
Now I also don’t quite agree with this interpretation and I, too, prefer the more positive connotation of taking part in it and sharing cultural phenomena. If someone borrows from my culture I generally like it, as long as it is done respectfully and in good faith, but I am not part of a marginalised group.
Honestly the people who confuse honest cultural imitation or fusion with appropriation aren’t thinking critically about what harm is being done.
American exceptionalism produces a lot of these false positive responses, which is super annoying because it’s a real problem with economic consequences.
E.g. dreads is an ancient hairstyle for different ethnicities, cf. any sadhu, and no one is getting rich off of it.
Depending on who you ask, Jews could potentially be considered a marginalized group. I don’t speak for all Jews at all but I’ve never been offended or felt that my culture was being stolen by someone using Yiddish slang or eating kugel or matzah or challah or any other Jewish food. Hell, if someone walked in and was all “sup bitches, it’s Tu BiShvat, yesher koach yall” id be in stitches and happy that someone paid attention and remembered.
But again, I’m vastly in the minority on this.