Opinion of cultural appropriation?

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

What Oldiesfreak is talking about is not really cultural appropriation as people whine about it. The analogy wouldn't be foreign countries having McDonalds but rather people who throw a fit about how white Americans eat "ethnic" food that isn't their culture, or white people having dreadlocks or cornrows or watching anime.

Also it's kind of silly to act like American culture is ONLY corporate stuff like McDonalds, btw DeBeers are not American (autos aren't really a good example, that's kind of like calling Samsung phones an aspect of Korean culture), there is American culture that goes beyond all that. Onion rings and cheese curds are very much American foods in origin, but is it an attack on the cultures of other countries if someone set up an independent restaurant there that served them? Is Japanese or Latin American culture threatened by playing baseball there? There actually are some minor leagues for what Americans call football in Switzerland and Germany, is that cultural appropriation or a threat to those places?

Complaining about "cultural appropriation" actually strikes me more as a far right style view, in the belief that all peoples and cultures need to be segregated, and that it's wrong if anyone steps outside of "their role".

[White Trash]

What Oldiesfreak is talking about is not really cultural appropriation as people whine about it. The analogy wouldn't be foreign countries having McDonalds but rather people who throw a fit about how white Americans eat "ethnic" food that isn't their culture, or white people having dreadlocks or cornrows or watching anime.

Also it's kind of silly to act like American culture is ONLY corporate stuff like McDonalds, btw DeBeers are not American (autos aren't really a good example, that's kind of like calling Samsung phones an aspect of Korean culture), there is American culture that goes beyond all that. Onion rings and cheese curds are very much American foods in origin, but is it an attack on the cultures of other countries if someone set up an independent restaurant there that served them? Is Japanese or Latin American culture threatened by playing baseball there? There actually are some minor leagues for what Americans call football in Switzerland and Germany, is that cultural appropriation or a threat to those places?

Complaining about "cultural appropriation" actually strikes me more as a far right style view, in the belief that all peoples and cultures need to be segregated, and that it's wrong if anyone steps outside of "their role".

This is pretty much in line with my beliefs. Specifically that part at the end. The beauty of culture is in its ability to adapt and flow. I think everyone has a right to hold on to their cultural traditions, but they also have the right to take on certain elements of other cultures.

It is entirely hypocritical for those on the left to criticize anyone for stepping outside of their own "cultural boundaries". The entire concept of "cultural boundaries" is inherently tribalist in nature. You cannot draw your sword against the evils of xenophobia and racism while defending such an insidious form of tribalism.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Hell actually you could argue that those bands I linked to in the Eurovision thread are guilty of "cultural appropriation" or a sign of their respective countries' cultures being eroded, that's a VERY American style of music (to the point where it was even birthed in the capital of the United States!) even if it's not mainstream or widespread in the slightest. They also wear very American style fashions, case in point or check out the bassist in this one. Hoodies as we know them today are not only an American creation, they don't seem like they'd be a common clothing item in Italy due to the climate there.

Do these people look like they live in Africa?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Also it's kind of silly to act like American culture is ONLY corporate stuff like McDonalds, btw DeBeers are not American (autos aren't really a good example, that's kind of like calling Samsung phones an aspect of Korean culture), there is American culture that goes beyond all that. Onion rings and cheese curds are very much American foods in origin, but is it an attack on the cultures of other countries if someone set up an independent restaurant there that served them? Is Japanese or Latin American culture threatened by playing baseball there? There actually are some minor leagues for what Americans call football in Switzerland and Germany, is that cultural appropriation or a threat to those places?

1. I know De Beers isn't American. It was founded by Cecil Rhodes, for God's sake. Sorry I didn't clarify that.
2. What you're saying is what I was trying to get at in my second paragraph. There are a ton of people in the social sciences who seem somehow congenitally incapable of saying 'this specific instance of X is a bad thing; that specific instance of X is not a bad thing'.

[KingSweden]

What Oldiesfreak is talking about is not really cultural appropriation as people whine about it. The analogy wouldn't be foreign countries having McDonalds but rather people who throw a fit about how white Americans eat "ethnic" food that isn't their culture, or white people having dreadlocks or cornrows or watching anime.

Also it's kind of silly to act like American culture is ONLY corporate stuff like McDonalds, btw DeBeers are not American (autos aren't really a good example, that's kind of like calling Samsung phones an aspect of Korean culture), there is American culture that goes beyond all that. Onion rings and cheese curds are very much American foods in origin, but is it an attack on the cultures of other countries if someone set up an independent restaurant there that served them? Is Japanese or Latin American culture threatened by playing baseball there? There actually are some minor leagues for what Americans call football in Switzerland and Germany, is that cultural appropriation or a threat to those places?

Complaining about "cultural appropriation" actually strikes me more as a far right style view, in the belief that all peoples and cultures need to be segregated, and that it's wrong if anyone steps outside of "their role".

This is pretty much in line with my beliefs. Specifically that part at the end. The beauty of culture is in its ability to adapt and flow. I think everyone has a right to hold on to their cultural traditions, but they also have the right to take on certain elements of other cultures.

It is entirely hypocritical for those on the left to criticize anyone for stepping outside of their own "cultural boundaries". The entire concept of "cultural boundaries" is inherently tribalist in nature. You cannot draw your sword against the evils of xenophobia and racism while defending such an insidious form of tribalism.

Great summary, thank you. This 100%

[checkers]

I agree that cultural exchange is a great thing, generally, and that most of the recent controversy is ridiculous, but there needs to be a way to acknowledge that cultural exchange can't be divorced from global power structures. Western people do get to pick and choose what cool cultural traditions they want to adopt while American culture encroaches everywhere due to cultural hegemony. I don't think a white girl who wears a sari is a terrible person, but it's important to understand the context in which this is happening.

(Also the commodification of cultures is often gross and tacky so I understand why people are bothered).

[checkers]

I agree that cultural exchange is a great thing, generally, and that most of the recent controversy is overblown, but there needs to be a way to acknowledge that cultural exchange can't be divorced from global power structures. Western people do get to pick and choose what cool cultural traditions they want to adopt while American culture encroaches everywhere due to cultural hegemony. I don't think a white girl who wears a sari is a terrible person, but it's important to understand the context in which this is happening.

(Also the commodification of cultures is often gross and tacky so I understand why people are bothered).

[DavidB.]

there's definitely a lot of overblown hysteria, but at its core, accessorization of minority cultures is a real problem.

I... agree with you? Basically this.

Voted neutral.