The topic's been raised recently, so here's something I wrote about Cultural Appropriation.
Basically, it's not a thing.
Let's discuss!
#culturalappropriation
@theoutrider - Ah, you think? It wasn't my intent. Perhaps it's better phrased as "CA, as typically defined by outraged parties, isn't a thing - or at least, not a bad thing."
Does that seem less baity?
@NFG from my personal lived experience I do think it is very much a thing though I agree one that likely doesn't usually happen with any kind of malicious intent.
Doesn't help that there are wide grey areas and overlaps with other things (normal cultural exchange, racial stereotyping, general power imbalance between cultures, etc) which make it difficult to discuss, and I'm probably worse equipped than yourself do so what with never having actually lived outside of European cultures...
@NFG I think the point you're going for there is "don't hold it against people"? Which I generally agree with - but at the same time it *is* important to make sure that it's replaced with actual healthy and respectful cultural exchange, because otherwise it does little but perpetuate stereotypes. Which is difficult to do without acknowledging that and why things are Problematic.
@theoutrider - To some extent I think this is correct: don't hold it against people.
But that's only one part of the math here. Perhaps it's more important to fly two flags: Don't seek to be an asshole, and Don't assume the worst of people.
There's just so many balls in the air when it comes to juggling the whole idea of CA.
(haha, trying to have this discussion in 140 chars 🐦 )
@NFG Sorry but if your starting stance is "cultural appropriation is not a thing", there's really nothing to discuss with you.
If you had spent any time listening to folks who call out cultural appropriation, you might not have embarrassed yourself with this blog post.
@NFG Don't expect anyone to engage you in good faith when this is where you start from.
Do better.
@davidsgallant - I'm not entirely sure your total dismissal is any more conducive to a discussion.
I've never heard a compelling argument in favour of CA being a thing we should avoid. If you'd like to offer one, I'd love to read it.
@NFG re: postmodernism. What a load of garbage nonsense that stuff is... Don't ever read any of their "scholarly" publications unless your want your brain to melt trying to figure out what the string of nonsense words they threw together mean.
@NFG re: cultural appropriation. I can't wrap my head around people who claim to be pushing tolerance and acceptance then out of the other side of their mouth they're saying that appreciating another culture in any way is offensive and debases that cultures value somehow. 1/
@NFG I guess they should throw all their Scandinavian inspired Ikea furniture in the trash. Oh wait, cultural appropriation only applies to Western cultures appropriating non-Western culture but only as it suits their agenda at the moment. 2/
@NFG Probably should stop eating poke, its Hawaiian. Quit eating sushi, the Japanese should too, it's Chinese. How's that California Roll taste now? Got a wok? Trash it. Ninja Warrior America? Iron Chef America? Forget it. Yoga? Bet more than half the people in the USA doing yoga don't even know any Indians. Low riders are cool, huh? Well they belong the the Chicano culture in my state so fuck off with yours.
See how this works? I don't... It just boggles my mind. 3/3
@NFG I think your phrasing there is liable to invite irritated reactions, and you go *directly in the other direction* right at the start of the actual text so it feels like you're being a bit baity here :V