Is the Notion of "Cultural Appropriation" Intellectually Bankrupt?

[Sunstone]

"Cultural Appropriation" is the notion that the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture is a largely negative phenomenon. "Generally, an assumption that the culture being borrowed from is also being oppressed by the culture doing the borrowing is prerequisite to the concept. This view of cultural borrowing is controversial, both in academic circles, and in general society." [Source]

Recently, a student at the University of Ottawa complained that a yoga class held on campus was "cultural appropriation". Apparently, as a consequence of one student's complaint, the class was cancelled:

Staff at the Centre for Students with Disabilities believe that “while yoga is a really great idea and accessible and great for students … there are cultural issues of implication involved in the practice,” according to an email from the centre.

The centre is operated by the university’s Student Federation, which first approached Scharf [the yoga instructor] seven years ago about offering yoga instruction to students both with and without disabilities.

The centre goes on to say, “Yoga has been under a lot of controversy lately due to how it is being practiced,” and which cultures those practices “are being taken from.”

The centre official argues since many of those cultures “have experienced oppression, cultural genocide and diasporas due to colonialism and western supremacy … we need to be mindful of this and how we express ourselves while practising yoga.”

[Source]

It seems to me that the notion of cultural appropriation is entwined with the notion that borrowing an element of some other person's culture can, under some circumstances be a form of oppression. That would appear to me on the face of it to be an intellectually irresponsible notion with no backing in science whatsoever.

It is nevertheless a notion that is growing in popularity. For instance: "Eating Ethnic Food Has Now Become 'Cultural Appropriation'."

Among other things, I think the notion that borrowing, using, or adopting elements from someone's culture is oppressing them might be born of today's tendency to confuse anything that gives offense with something that oppresses. But such confusion is not justified. To be offended is not the same as to be oppressed.

But what do you think?

 

[YmirGF]

But what do you think?

When I first heard this news a day or two ago my first reaction was that this was a clear example where whoever brought this up should have been soundly smacked up the side of the head and told to just shut up. What puzzles me is that advocates must see the rabbit hole that this kind of thinking could grow to include. Will "privileged" whites be told they can no longer listen to the Blues, Jazz or Hippety-Hop/Rap etc due to these art forms originating in an oppressed segment of the population? The other thing that grabs my attention is doesn't this fly in the face of diversity and multiculturalism?

 

[Augustus]

It's one of these things where there is obviously a legitimate basis for the issue, but it has been taken far too far as people go out of their way to find things to be offended about.

Where the line is is somewhat opaque, but those who find offence in everything and those who think it is entirely a made up thing for do-gooders to complain about are both part of the problem.

 

[YmirGF]

It's one of these things where there is obviously a legitimate basis for the issue, but it has been taken far too far as people go out of their way to find things to be offended about.

Where the line is is somewhat opaque, but those who find offence in everything and those who think it is entirely a made up thing for do-gooders to complain about are both part of the problem.

That's what I am getting at by saying "advocates must see the rabbit hole that this kind of thinking could grow to include" unless it is in very strict guidelines. What's next Perogies?

 

[Revoltingest]

When I first heard this news a day or two ago my first reaction was that this was a clear example where whoever brought this up should have been soundly smacked up the side of the head and told to just shut up. What puzzles me is that advocates must see the rabbit hole that this kind of thinking could grow to include. Will "privileged" whites be told they can no longer listen to the Blues, Jazz or Hippety-Hop/Rap etc due to these art forms originating in an oppressed segment of the population? The other thing that grabs my attention is doesn't this fly in the face of diversity and multiculturalism?

Hey, this example is from your country.
Have we infected you guys with our over-reaction to the fear of offending some hyper-sensitive minority?

 

[4consideration]

It reminds me of the kind of thinking that lead to Jim Crow laws.

 

[Senseless]

I think it's a negative phenomenon in that it reinforces the division between 'them' and 'us' and what is appropriate for 'us' to do with 'their' ideas, instead of treating us all as one species, race, one whole, which is what equality actually is.

I'm all for celebrating our differences, definitely. It's just important not to let them get in the way of the overwhelming similarities and make us quarrel about petty things.

 

[Sunstone]

It's one of these things where there is obviously a legitimate basis for the issue...

In my opinion, that remains to be seen. Furthermore, the burden of proof that the issue is legitimate rests with the proponents. Merely asserting that it is legitimate does not cut it here.

 

[Sunstone]

The other thing that grabs my attention is doesn't this fly in the face of diversity and multiculturalism?

Indeed, I think it does. Good point.

 

[Sunstone]

It reminds me of the kind of thinking that lead to Jim Crow laws.

That's a fascinating comment. But how so?

 

[Augustus]

In my opinion, that remains to be seen. Furthermore, the burden of proof that the issue is legitimate rests with the proponents. Merely asserting that it is legitimate does not cut it here.

Ever lived anywhere you are a stereotyped minority?

 

[Sunstone]

I think it's a negative phenomenon in that it reinforces the division between 'them' and 'us' and what is appropriate for 'us' to do with 'their' ideas, instead of treating us all as one species, race, one whole, which is what equality actually is.

I'm all for celebrating our differences, definitely. It's just important not to let them get in the way of the overwhelming similarities and make us quarrel about petty things.

At a time when it seems we're either going to come together as one humanity in order to deal with some very pressing problems (e.g. climate change, over population, thermonuclear war, terrorism...), it does not help for us to be figuring out new ways of dividing us.

 

[Sunstone]

Ever lived anywhere you are a stereotyped minority?

Wouldn't the charge of stereotyping cover that sort of abuse? Why create a whole new category of abuse -- and especially such a poorly defined and nebulous one?

 

[4consideration]

That's a fascinating comment. But how so?

It seems an artificial attempt to interfere with the mixing of cultures. "You can't go there."

The same type of idea, from the same type of thinking (IMO.)

Jim Crow laws kept the minority from the "territory" of the majority, and this type of thinking seems the same to me, only reversed. I would not expect a better outcome from it.

 

[Skwim]

From what I read in the OP and some of the matter in the link, cultural appropriation seems to be born of a fear of losing cultural identity. If this is the case then I don't see why the retention of cultural identity is a responsibility of others. Why should I stop benefiting from your X just because you can no longer claim it as your own? Personally, it barks of unjustified selfishness.

 

[McBell]

But what do you think?

I think it is people revealing their hypocrisy.
They whine about how their culture is being "appropriated" but then ignore their appropriating of other cultures.

 

[Sunstone]

I think it is people revealing their hypocrisy.
They whine about how their culture is being "appropriated" but then ignore their appropriating of other cultures.

What do you think of the notion that "cultural appropriation" is a form of oppression? That is, not merely something that might give someone else offense, but might instead actually oppress them?

 

[StarryNightshade]

But what do you think?

When most people think "appropriation", I think they really mean misappropriation. Which certainly does exist, but I hardly think the average person is out to destroy a culture by "stealing" it.

Frankly, it's another form of Neo-Tribalism, and is usually propagated by middle/upper-middle class westerners who barely know anything about these cultures they claim to protect.

 

[McBell]

What do you think of the notion that "cultural appropriation" is a form of oppression? That is, not merely something that might give someone else offense, but might instead actually oppress them?

I don't know.
Is there even one example that can be shown?
I read both links in the OP and did not see anything that resembles "oppression"....
But perhaps there is a definition of the word I am not familiar with?

 

[Sunstone]

I don't know.
Is there even one example that can be shown?

Indeed, that's what I've been wondering. Or more precisely, if there's an example of "cultural appropriation" that is both oppression and distinctly "cultural appropriation", rather than also something else, such as stereotyping.