The culture of many people around the
world is different from one region to another. Some have similarities, while
others possess their uniqueness. In a world that many people live in, many
cultures are introduced to others and sometimes this can be an issue. People
seem to take ideas of one culture and use it to represent an idea or subject
which can be a problem or benefit to people who truly understand the history
and meaning behind these ideas. Also the knowledge and stereotypes that an individual
possesses is a factor in their depiction of other ideas and how they are shown.
The concept is called cultural appropriation, and it has been happening for a
quite a while.
The misconception that people say when
performing such actions, relate to the idea that they are representing the “good”
of the culture which, to some of the people of the targeted culture will take
it the other way. The concept of cultural appropriation has some aspects of
negative responses. It
Sometimes people use cultural
appropriation to show their homage of other cultures to different people, to state
a claim, or to just appreciate its ideas. For example, the All Blacks of New
Zealand who play ruby and perform the signature “haka” before a game. The
culture and dance are related to one another and how the team fully understands
that the history of the dance and the culture in relation to their home land.
The problem though is how other cultures perceive such depictions. For instance, Andre Brett explained how
people were against the dance which the rugby players performed, especially the
part when they are doing “a throat-slitting motion at the end.” The problem that he claims is that people do
not understand the history of the “haka.” The Maori, of New Zealand would
usually perform the “haka” to perform “war dances… welcome distinguished
guests, and to acknowledge significant occasions.” So the team fully knew what they were doing
before each game. Sometimes people are not aware of cultures and rely to
stereotypes to answer or make claims on different cultures that they lack
knowledge on. This is a problem for many people, both who want to show homage
and others who want to express their culture. If people are not aware of
different cultures, then they should learn about the culture, same applies to
the people who want to use ideas and objects of a different culture as not to dishonor
that cultures ideas.
People have been involved in the concept
of cultural appropriation, big or small, it does matter because it involves the
ideas of other cultures. Many people either lack the knowledge of what they perceive
or see, which causes a problem. But others, are aware and do see the
appreciation of another culture when it has been done correctly and with the consent
of that group they are representing.
People should be allowed to express different ideas, but again, with the full
consent of the people who they are trying to express and to also be responsible
on how they are depicting it to society.
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