If you have ever been to a Katy Perry concert, Halloween party, or countless other events you have probably witnessed cultural appropriation– even if you did not realize it at the time. Simply put, cultural appropriation is when someone takes something from a culture they do not belong to and uses it outside of the cultural significance, oftentimes changing the original meaning. Recently, controversy has risen over whether pop music icons are taking parts of cultures they do not belong to without understanding or displaying their cultural significance.
The most recent controversy regarding cultural appropriation is Coldplay and Beyonce’s new music video, “Hymn for the Weekend,” which uses India as the background. It has created social outrage on what is appropriate and what is offensive. The mixed opinions have been voiced all over social media, but there has been no firm decision on whether or not the Super Bowl duo’s music video was cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation. Beyonce may have been trying to show how much she appreciates the culture by wearing a “traditional” outfit, but it is clear that aspects of Indian culture were misinterpreted, making this video offensive to many.
Students have become concerned with this recent controversy. Junior Hayden Kickbush finds the idea of misunderstanding other cultures a huge disappointment.
“It is so important, especially in today’s world, that we get teens to learn about other cultures. Every day there are so many instances of people taking away from the significance of other cultures and the cycle will continue unless we educate teens everywhere,” said Kickbush.
However, the debate on the blending of cultures continues. Senior CJ Stowell feels that although cultural appropriation exists, it should not be a concern to society.
“Cultural appropriation is a natural part of society. Although there can and always will be inherent differences between distinct groups of people, history shows that it is not a theft of another set of ideals; but rather the influence of one group on another. Some may say that cultural appropriation produces negative consequences, but trying to stop it would lead to an infringement on American rights,” said Stowell.
The line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation is fine and hard to distinguish. Without proper knowledge of varying cultures, the debate will continue to resurface. For senior Taylor Bischot, appreciating other cultures is important as long as one is aware of what could be considered offensive.
“Appreciating and being in awe of a culture is different than insulting it because you can’t relate. But I don’t think there’s any harm in incorporating aspects of different cultures into your own life as long as you remain sensitive and appreciative of what you have learned,” said Bischot.
The United States has grown out of the blending of different cultures to form one new culture. While celebrating these unique cultures should be encouraged, it is important to make sure that the cultural significance is not misinterpreted.
