Is there a right way to do cultural appropriation?

Great Debates
121

Of course, lots of things are “in rather poor taste” One that my Austrian and Bavarian friends are offended by is the “sexy dirndl” wearing by people with zero connection to that culture.

It seems pretty irrelevant in the great scheme of things but it matters a lot to those who take their national dress very seriously.

So yes “poor taste” indeed and capable of causing offence to those I know and love but I stand by the wider point that you quoted.

122

Not incredulity at all, and I was sincere when I asked for a description of what you found offensive. I never meant to imply that you were incapable of being offended.

I know I’m not a reverential person and not much offends me. I also believe -strongly- in not offending reasonable people who might have a emotional attachment to their culture or religion, even though I have no such attachments. If you tell me you find something is offensive, I’ll listen.

As with many things, I think it comes down to basic decency and manners. I also think the problem is not so much in the wearing of clothes from another culture but in how you behave when wearing them. I’m not going to be offended if you wear a kimono to a party, but if you post a picture of yourself and caption it “Hello sailor, me love you long time”, I’m going to be offended af.

So I think it comes down to “Don’t be a jerk.”

123

So if someone, potentially anyone, misjudged my intent, then it’s cultural appropriation? Wow.

124

Is a “white person” who speaks Samoan fluently, has lived somewhere in Polynesia for many years, and has a deep and wide-ranging knowledge of Polynesian history and culture allowed to sit in a tiki bar in Los Angeles (or anywhere in the United States) and have some kind of “tropical” drink?

Can said “white person” own a tiki bar? And serve drinks to “white people” who have never been anywhere in Polynesia, don’t speak any language spoken in Polynesia, and know nothing about the culture?

Can a “white person” in the latter category own a tiki bar?

There’s a thread over in Cafe Society (or there was – it’s moribund now) about tiki bars. Everyone involved agreed they were a lot of fun. The topic of cultural appropriation seems never to have come up.

Which leads me to believe that what most people believe about cultural appropriation is that it’s what other people do.

125

Is there a right way to do cultural appropriation?

How about Porgy & Bess featuring an all-white cast with upper-class British accents?