Those aren’t my words. Those are the words of Seren Sensei. I have no idea who she is, other than she appears to be a ‘cultural diversity vlogger’ (‘Sensei Aishitemasu’).
I could only handle a few of her Youtube videos before wanting to stab myself in the face with a dull spoon, but some of the best hits include ‘yes, all white people are racist’ and 'Why I Hate Adele’ (hint: because she’s not black).
I suppose the irony of a black ‘cultural diversity vlogger’ screaming 'cultural appropriator! at the top of her lungs while using ‘sensei’ as a handle is completely lost on someone who’s only real answer to ‘what research have you done’ is ‘see my Youtube channel’.
Otherwise known as “how pop music works.” Everyone is just rolling together shit they’ve heard before; the reason people think it sounds good is because in it they hear elements of music they already like, in a shiny new package.
I hope the point of this thread isn’t, “the entire concept of cultural appropriation is stupid or nonexistent, because look at how this one person used it!”
It’s not; it’s “this person is using big words she clearly doesn’t fully understand to criticize something else she clearly doesn’t fully understand.” The privilege of youth, I suppose.
This person realize that Bruno Mars is Puerto Rican, Jewish and Filipino, right? Seems like he can lay claim to a great many cultures, pop music being one of them. Like, what culture do you have to be to honestly perform pop anyway?
y’know, I vaguely remember at one point in time this country was considered the “great melting pot.”
now, all of a sudden, both left and right have shat all over that notion. The right is retreating into nationalist/nativist “us vs. everyone else,” and the left screams “cultural appropriation” any time someone even looks like they’re adopting something from another culture. same shit, different stink.
Outrage as a Pastime ™ is really getting tiring. and people who make a point to constantly be offended on behalf of others should just go DIAF.
Have we ever had a thread discussing what is legitimate borrowing from another culture, vs. what is “cultural appropriation?” Because I have a few things to say about that. Mostly about how art and style, at least, don’t belong to anyone, including however you define a culture, and about how it is human nature to borrow and build on what came before. There is such a thing as cultural appropriation, but in my opinion it should be fairly narrowly defined, more like what we used to call “cultural exploitation.”
On the other hand, I can appreciate how it may seem that a dominant group is sucking in and taking credit for a lot of stuff that was originated within non-dominant groups. Acknowledgement is important. Reducing the gaps between dominant and non-dominant groups is even more important. It’s a good idea to keep the focus and energy where it will do the most good.
Definitely: I think the label of CA is appropriate for someone who tries to take credit for other culture’s achievements, but that seems pretty rare. The only case that comes to mind is the fake Indian shamans although I’m sure there are others.
When Overwatch gave its Egyptian character Pharah a skin that made her into a traditional/stereotypical Native American, I read both of the following sentiments from Native Americans writing in good faith from a social justice perspective:
A. I nearly cried, I was so happy, when I saw this representation of NA culture as a focus of power.
B. I nearly cried, I was so angry, when I saw this thoughtless appropriation of NA culture.
As a white guy I tend to kind of stay out of this, for good or ill. This is the kind of thing I’m not sure there can be sweeping, hard fast rules about. It’s very situational–and even relative to particular people.