Cultural Appropriation: Reflections on a Problematic Concept

A brief reflection on how we frame and understand the concepts of culture, identity, ownership and art.

[@matthewcopley8742]

Dude... I can't be the first to say it and it can't be that it hasn't occurred to you, but having an audience in front of you vastly energizes and informs your presentation. Please, in the name of all that is holy, make it so. -a big fan

[@neeedanaccounttotrol]

Great nuanced look on a relevant topic!!! Loving the regular uploads Wes! Thank you!

[@rivmaisr6750]

Thank you so much!

[@HelionDark]

Great theme for next walk

[@JojenReed]

Excelente as per usual

[@sophiafakevirus-ro8cc]

Everything is up for grabs

[@Figaroblue]

I love your work. Will you tackle veganism soon?

[@cyberpunkworld]

I think every "creator" borrows elements. The notion is then that of a "kitsch." :))

[@creativestudios3d]

I think there are several distinctions that need to be drawn: (Taking the Mexican restaurant, for example): Let's say that a person from Ireland visits Mexico, becomes fascinated by the food cultures there (Since there are so so many) and decides when they return to Ireland, that they want to open a 'Mexican' restaurant. The means and efforts made by the person shows the difference between 'Appreciation' all the way through to almost a mockery. 1. The person takes 3 months, studies (Perhaps working in a kitchen or with a Mexican teacher) the preparation of 'Northern Mexican food of the ____ region', learns the traditional methods and also learns Spanish. Upon going back to Ireland, they order as many of the authentic ingredients are possible, import some decorations from the region and try to give some 'authentic' look to the restaurant, perhaps also hiring Mexican people who know this cuisine. 2. The person gets inspired, has some vague notions of the food there as a general 'Mexican' food, returns to Ireland, opens a restaurant and makes some vaguely 'Mexican' food (Tacos, burritos, etc etc) as close as they can remember and throws some Mexican decorations around. 3. The person spends a week in Mexico, travels a bit, has fun and when they get home, they think 'Wouldn't it be great to make some sort of fun/funny Mexican restaurant?' then proceeds to just throw things into tortillas, put sombreros and Mexican caricatures on the walls and names the place 'Paco's Mexican Restaurant'. As someone that is half Native Mexican who lives in Europe, I have seen number 3 several times, including a place called 'Gringo's' which was a horror show of hamburger patties and sour cream thrown into store bought 'wraps', witch ridiculous décor. In essence, the distinction should be made from those seeking to 'ape' (Badly imitate) a culture (Especially in terms of a power context), someone that wants to actually participate in a respectful, educated manner and someone that just mocks a culture.

[@ongobongo8333]

There is nothing wrong with number 3

[@TomRauhe]

With my attire, I am mostly culturally appropriating white western guys from 1920s Britain, so it's totally fine. Lucky me.

[@alan2here]

I've experienced complaints about cultural proprioception a couple of decades ago, they seemed like obvious racism, the message is that nobody appreciate "another" culture as that from their point of view that is a threat, that's how they act, like old men do, like they're threatened by anything new. In my experience that sentiment has come from people who get a kick out of bullying and would be violent but for their fear of being hurt if they are. They always seem on the edge of violence but their own fear holds them back. They always drink a lot as well, which is fine, but it seems like a trend how often it's the case.

[@cheri238]

"A general definition definition of civilization: a civilized society is exhibiting of the fine qualities of truth, beauty, adventure, art, peace." Alfred North Whitehead 🙏❤️🌎🌿🕊🎵🎶🎵 Tolstoy, Doedysifsky, Puskin, Chekov, William Blake, Edgar Allen Poe, Walt Whitman, Emerson, Thoreau, etc. Tchaikovsky, Rachmanioff, Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Ravel, Satie, etc. Michael Angelo, Botticelli, Raphael, Da Vinci, (Goya,) Van Gough, Monet, Picasso, Modiglianni, etc., Jackson Pollack. Too many to write about. Centuries of artistry, 8000 years before Christ.

[@rama_lama_ding_dong]

I disagree here. I think Nesta was a classic case of deterritorialization, an impetus, a Dynamo, a catalyst. Bullshit can only be made less unpalatable, it can't be made palatable. I mean Nesta was demonstrating the universality of rastafarianism. Although his terminology was race-centric, the message of rastafarianism is the universal struggle to end oppression; albeit with less modern nuance like gay liberation(ex. as homophobic as reggae music is stereotyped, Buju Banton--the Nesta of his generation--took all the homophobic content off his selector). I mean I wrote papers about reggae music while ironically getting my degree in science. I'm fluent in patois. I mean that Nesta created points of eruption. His profound internalization of rasta was a rererritorialization. He interacted with Babylon in the way a farmer interacts with land by seeding. The seed isn't compromised, the land submits

[@clintonhaws8984]

Why not call him Bob?

[@Figaroblue]

I disagree with your assessment that power dynamics are dubious with respect to this concept. Do you have a rationale for why that is dubious? Also, I would enjoy it if you made YT shorts responding to comments in your videos.

[@Buy_YouTube_Views_Gain_Fame301]

Thumbs up if this video brought a smile to your face!