Cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is the adoption of elements of cultural expression of one societal group, such as forms of dress or personal adornment, music and art, religion, language, or behavior, by an external group, who often ignore the underlying purpose and intent of the expression. The term has a negative connotation, due to perceived or actual superficiality, and generally is applied when the subject culture is a minority culture or somehow subordinate in social, political, economic, or military status to the appropriating culture; or, when there are other issues involved, such as a history of ethnic or racial conflict between the two groups. Further, the term implies the theft of something considered precious or proprietary to the subject group without respect on the part of the external culture for, or an understanding of, either the subject culture or the people who practice it. In some cases, appropriation can occur to the point to where the dominating culture will credit itself for the establishment of the expressive element. In the U.S., rock music has been assumed to be a white, middle American cultural invention, even though its roots are traceable to African American musical expressions.

Related topics

• African American music
• Afrocentrism
• Blackface
• Cool (African philosophy)
• Cultural imperialism
• Dreadlocks
• Eminem
• Hip hop
• Minstrel show
• Orientalism
• Elvis Presley
• Rock and roll
• Pop punk
• Wigger
• Cultural diversity
• Multiculturalism