Cultural Appropriation on Tumblr
Cultural Appropriation is a real, serious thing.
Much of what you see on tumblr is confused idea of cultural appropriation. This tumblr is about answering questions and critical thinking on the subject. Where is the line between borrowing and appropriation?
Ask questions, submit post, and search the tags. Don't be shy if you disagree or don't understand. Anon is on for you.
I sometimes post things I do not personally agree with, but if the idea is out there it is best understand where it comes from.
-
Post reblogged from SMASHING CONTROL MACHINES
Am I the only person who thinks that Macklemore is essentially a popular music version of the Mighty Whitey trope where a white man enters a primitive world of savages and rescues them by becoming better at their “savagery” than they themselves are? We really don’t need more white people taking hip-hop and deciding to purge it of all history and style so as reach ignorant hipsters and racist frat boys who want black music with all the actually black parts drained out.
-
Wait, the words "Side-eye" are appropriation? I just can't with tumblr's version of cultural appropriation anymore.
Asked by Anonymous
Oh that has been a thing. Be glad you’ve missed it.
-
I read thru the henna tag but am unsure. If I, a POC who presents as white and isn't Indian, apply henna purchased from an Indian grocery (as powder) to my person as a decorational element but understand and respect the cultural significance (the bridal application, et al.), is it appropriation or is it appreciation? Is it offensive? Is the grocer selling it to me considered them allowing me to use it in that way?
Asked by Anonymous
Anyone can use Henna. The attitude of respect for the cultural significance you have here won’t steer you wrong, You sound like you know what kind of patters wouldn’t be cool.
-
Post reblogged from eir highness
as a sociolinguist, I am fully aware of the fact that languages come into contact and spread their features across linguistic boundaries
however, at the same time, as a person who makes efforts in eir life to incorporate social justice principles in eir daily actions, I cannot ignore the power differentials that happen when languages come into contact and things are stolen rather than “borrowed”
so, first, I’m coming from an understanding where the only people who get to define the boundaries of a language are (1) the speakers of the language, and (2) people who by heritage have connections to the language—there are some other marginal cases as well, but I won’t discuss them here
that means that, for example, I, as a non-speaker of AAVE, do not get to define what is and isn’t AAVE
however, I’ve previously called people out for appropriating terms such as “basic”, “side-eye”, “the struggle”, etc. that have their origins in AAVE—and yet, as a non-Black, non-speaker of AAVE, and therefore neither a member of the community that speaks the language nor as a member of the community with heritage ties to the language, do I have the linguistic right to determine who is and isn’t a member of the community, and who can and can’t use AAVE?
at the same time, however, this linguistic appropriation is in many cases still like stealing—just because I’m at a friend’s house and it’s not my house to define the rules of ownership doesn’t mean that I should just let someone come in and steal things: it’s still an ethical responsibility of mine to call out and prevent theft even if I’m in a house where the objects aren’t mine
so
I definitely have no authority to say what is or isn’t AAVE—just like how I have no authority to step into a friend’s house, pick up a vase that I know is theirs, and say out of the blue, this isn’t yours, this is that other person’s
but
as an ally to Black people of color, and as a person who strives to dismantle antiblackness in order to undo white supremacy, I have an ethical obligation to protect and respect the cultural productions of Black people, including linguistic cultural productions, as the theft and appropriation of these cultural productions is a routine part of antiblackness
it is therefore my responsibility as an ally—so long as Black people say it’s my responsibility, at least—to call out cultural & linguistic appropriation
and yet, that leaves the question open of: what if people say it’s not my responsibility? who do I listen to? respecting the agency of Black folks is first and foremost in being a constructive ally, and yet, like any other group, Black folks aren’t homogeneous and have differing opinions—what happens when those opinions conflict?
I don’t know, and I don’t have all the answers
still thinking a lot of things through
but these are some preliminary thoughts, I guess
Okay.
So at what point does it become stealing?
The word basic existed before the advent of AAVE, but AAVE uses it with a changed meaning. Was that stealing?
When this dialect, which is used in several different areas of the united states, becomes more common wouldn’t it be weird for words not to be shared? Language has rules, but is still fluid and evolves.
And even if an individual didn’t grow up speaking it, what exactly is the harm in something like “side-eye” becoming part of just american slang? How is that harmful? How is that “theft,” if used correctly? How is that antiblackness?
-
Are Hebrew National hot dogs cultural appropriative if a non-Jew eats them?
But what about the tofu dog tag? Can I post in there?
Ugh no. Obviously not.
Hot dogs descended from German food and Tofu is east/south Asian The two should have never met and every time them do all world cultures suffer.
-
Are Hebrew National hot dogs cultural appropriative if a non-Jew eats them?
I am so sorry. I did not realize that public tags on a public website were somehow owned by a certain group of people. Is this a new option added by yahoo?
Someone owns the hot dog tags guys ;(
Can I not post hot dog pictures now?
The hot dog tag is actually mine, you appropriating goyim.
What about sad hot dog?
-
Are Hebrew National hot dogs cultural appropriative if a non-Jew eats them?
I am so sorry. I did not realize that public tags on a public website were somehow owned by a certain group of people. Is this a new option added by yahoo?
Someone owns the hot dog tags guys ;(
Can I not post hot dog pictures now?
-
What's it called when non-first world countries appropriate first world cultures? For example the Christian themes in Evangelion, India's "Hitler" idiom (means a very strict person), or a hypothetical Portuguese restaurant ran by Chinese people in Shanghai.
Asked by Anonymous
It is still called cultural appropriation, but don’t confuse that with inspiration Something like Christian themes in Evangelion would be inspiration. (As far as I know, I’ve only seen part of the series.)
A hypothetical Portuguese restaurant ran by Chinese people in Shanghai wouldn’t be cultural appropriation.
The Hitler idiom…that’s kind of weird, but still not cultural appropriation. Hitler is a world wide historical figure, so he can’t really be appropriated. I mean, people throw Hitler around in political commentary and on here like it nobody’s business, so I guess I shouldn’t find that weird.
Edit: BWT Calling counties first or third world these days is no-no. It quickly becoming out dated and will piss a lot of people off. You’re anon so it doesn’t matter, but be careful who you say that around in real life.
-
I want to connect to my ancestral background, as my parents chose not to (despite my grandparents and great-grandparents trying to teach them) participate. Is it okay for me to bridge that gap and honor my great-grandparents' country of origin? I mean... I'm not going to act like I'm from that country, but just stick to research and use/have small tokens to show my appreciation for said countries.
Asked by Anonymous
That is absolutely fine! It is always okay to learn about another culture.
You should do it if you get the chance, particularly if you have a solid connection to someone in the culture
