Question

What criteria do you think should be applied to determine whether a person is engaging in an act of cultural appropriation or whether that person is acting appropriately in her use of taking or using things from another culture?

Answer 1

Cultural appropriation is when people use others' culture as a style statement or interpreting it with their own spin on it. It is a form of colonialism but of intellectual property of natives to a culture. More often than not the collective intellectual property rights of a native culture are violated here. This happens mostly in the fields of music and art where artists try to imitate the dressing ,accent or and symbols original to a culture in a wrong way without thinking if it may cause hurt to the rightful owners of the culture. Tattoos and quotes, natives' folk dances and music and their dressing and doing the hair are some of the cultural elements which may have deep meaning to the original culture but are reduced to "exotic" fashion or toys by those from the dominant culture. Cultural appropriation has been in focus in the media in the recent past due to many celebrities, as well as youngsters, flaunting elements of another culture with pride. Many detractors of cultural appropriation identify it with power play and white Supremacy, indicating that it is an attitude of acquiring or snatching without permission. However, in my personal opinion, I feel this reaction is more in line with a deep rooted dislike for domination by whites. This appropriation however is not exclusive to the whites and many natives of various nations are seen sporting bindis and sarees.
Considering extensive globalization resulting from extensive development and Communication Technology, the world is a village adage, has been proved true. Considering that all information including various cultures and the dresses that are available across the world being available at one's fingertips, it is only natural that most broad minded youngsters would be tempted to experiment with various items related to these cultures. In the present global scenario it is the duty and responsibility of every citizen to promote Universal harmony and interaction, before each of us should exhibit love for the other's culture through adoption and acceptance of the same, and awarding it the respect it deserves. Cultural appropriation is harmless should be considered a matter of pride and not insult. In case imitation is meant to insult, ridicule, or make fun of any culture, it should definitely invite immediate and strong action against the offender.

Reference:

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ae0b/35229e6bbaa1aec6e0b53f15e7a0ef3724bd.pdf