Just what is cultural appropriation? Is it always inappropriate? It seems to be a term used in condemning certain conduct or people.
Well, you see what I've done of course. Above is a photo of certain people of Asian descent (Chinese, in fact) playing cellos. The cello is a Western musical instrument, most typically played with other instruments in Western classical music, as a part of an orchestra, quartet or quintet, though Bach's works for solo cello are sublime. By playing a Western musical instrument and, most likely, Western classical music, do they engage in cultural appropriation?
One searches for a definition. I do at least. Here's one, from the Cambridge Dictionary Online. Cultural appropriation is "the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect that culture." Now let's consult Cambridge's great rival institution. According to Oxford Reference Online, cultural appropriation is "a term used to describe the taking over of cultural forms, themes or practices by one cultural group by another. It is in general used to describe Western appropriations of non-Western or non-white forms, and carries connotations of exploitation and dominance."
The Cambridge Dictionary's definition allows that cultural appropriation may be engaged in by anyone, of any culture. The folks at Oxford view it as less universal. It is something generally practiced by Western or white people and, as practiced by them, connotes exploitation or dominance. I wonder. Does what Western or white people do necessarily connote exploitation or dominance, or is cultural appropriation something which has such a connotation when engaged in by Western or white people? It would not, presumably, in the rare instances when engaged in by non-Western or non-white people ("generally" doesn't mean "always").
It's unclear to me why Oxford Reference refers to "taking over" as I doubt anyone, even Westerners or whites, can "take over" another culture's forms, themes or practices. Use them, certainly, even exploit them. Perhaps this is the result of a difference between American and British English, but those of one culture, as far as I'm aware, continue to use its forms, themes and practices even if they are used by others. Cultural appropriation doesn't connote exclusive use.
I doubt very much that those who culturally appropriate X dominate X in the sense that they become the primary or premier actors in that area. They may indeed be inept at it. Yo-Yo Ma, though, is an outstanding cellist, his Chinese descent notwithstanding. Assuming he engages in cultural appropriation by being such an accomplished musician playing a Western instrument, does he dominate that which he appropriates? Is it possible that his mastery of the cello means that by playing it he doesn't practice cultural appropriation? Is skill a factor in determining whether it takes place?
The late George Harrison played the sitar. He learned how to do so from Ravi Shankar, a master of the instrument. Harrison played sitar on several Beatles songs. Was that cultural appropriation? Was it so by virtue of the fact that money was made from his use of it, or was the mere use of it sufficient to constitute cultural appropriation?
Perhaps cultural appropriation in music is not so easily ascertained. What about literature? Did Mark Twain engage in cultural appropriation when he wrote, and made money by writing, Huckleberry Finn? That book has long been described as racist, but is it cultural appropriation? Does the mere depiction of someone of another culture or race constitute cultural appropriation in a book or painting, or does it result when an author or painter purports to describe what is felt or done by someone of a different culture?
Exploitation is one thing, as is mockery. But is learning of another culture, admiring it, listening to its music or language and act of appropriation? Is trying to play its music or instruments something that should not be done?
Is thinking about another culture appropriation? Perhaps it can be, depending on how we think of it. Does the use of logic, the scientific method constitute cultural appropriation of what has been, according to some, a Western way of looking at things, doing things?
To each his own? Then we can dispute what our cultures are, as well as whether they're being appropriated.
