Cultural Appropriation

[Dystopia]

Here's what the Wiki, in its introduction, says:

Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture.[1] Cultural appropriation is seen by some as controversial, as the use of elements of a minority culture by a cultural majority are seen as wrongfully oppressing the minority culture or stripping it of its group identity or intellectual property rights.[2] This view of cultural appropriation is sometimes termed "cultural misappropriation." According to proponents of the concept, cultural misappropriation differs from acculturation or assimilation in that the "appropriation" or "misappropriation" refers to the adoption of these cultural elements in a colonial manner: elements are copied from a minority culture by members of the dominant culture, and these elements are used outside of their original cultural context—sometimes even against the expressed, stated wishes of representatives of the originating culture.[3][2][4][5][6][7][8]

Often, the original meaning of these cultural elements is lost or distorted, which means that these uses may be viewed as disrespectful by members of the originating culture, or even as a form of desecration. Cultural elements which may have deep meaning to the original culture can be reduced to "exotic" fashion by those from the dominant culture.[3][4][9] When this is done, the imitator, "who does not experience that oppression is able to 'play,' temporarily, an 'exotic' other, without experiencing any of the daily discriminations faced by other cultures."[9]

[Emphasis added -- Thump]

Note that the opening sentence lays it out: "Cultural appropriation is the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of a different culture." Following that, this passage turns to the idea of misappropriation, which is clearly not a settled matter. But the fact is that cultural appropriation is exactly what I'm doing in playing blues or jazz, or cooking Italian food. It follows, then, that misappropriation -- which certainly exists in the forms you both mention -- is only a subset of cultural appropriation.

My point was aimed at people who view all such appropriation in the above-mentioned "colonial" manner.

I stand by my interpretation of my own actions, and the actions of many if not most people in the world, as being a form of cultural appropriation, and if that hurts people's feelings -- well, maybe it means as Aegon says, I'm an asshole (which is a fact I freely admit, by the way, but not for this reason). Or maybe it means people who get hurt by a white boy playing the blues need to get a helmet.

Thump, I don't think quoting a wikipedia definition will prove your point - Even so, perhaps I'm just using a stricter definition of cultural appropriation, and it is my right to do so - The word appropriation itself, derives from Latin, "appropriationem", and one of the possible meanings is "take possession of", so it confirms my view that it's taking something as if it was yours, not just enjoying it.

If you think appropriation is simply cooking Italian food or listening to Blues, then I would agree that it's fine, except I'd prefer to call it cultural exchange because I'm not appropriating anything as my own, I'm just learning about it and using it.

Personally, I don't have anything against people doing what the hell they want - But that's not the issue, I support their right to dress as they please and do what they want, but I can still think it's both irrational and wrong. I'm thinking of Tribal tattoos. You've certainly seen it, it's a trendy type of tattoo art. I don't have anything against people using tribal drawings to express something of their own, but there are people who use tribal symbols just for the sake of it and because it looks good, without knowing what it actually means for the tribe it belongs originally. My tattoo artist refuses to tattoo tribal symbols if the person didn't request permission from the tribe - Which by the way, may be assholish but is his right as a professional. Now, people can have tribal tattoos as they please, but I still think it's stupid and wrong to ink something on your skin that belongs to some group of people without at least caring to know what it means.

Cultural appropriation in the colonial sense is relevant because westerns have used many forms of art and cultural habits from other cultures without due credit, and then we proceed simply to bash other cultures as less (not all of us, just some). 

Many people in this topic seem to think this is just about letting people do what they enjoy - I'm not against that, I'm just saying I can let people do what they want while still criticize things I find wrong, and I will continue to do it.

Speaking of Hip Hop again, one of the things that just pisses off people is that hip hop is frequently seen as an "inferior", "ghetto" cultural movement and rap is seen as dumb music, but as soon as it reached the mainstream media and westerns started consuming the music, it was suddenly acceptable to like hip hop - I'm a western who enjoys old school hip hop, there's lots of good stuff - But I understand many people apply different standards depending on the fact westerners listen or not to it.

Exactly my point. I don't get butthurt when people up North listen to western swing music, a Texan form of country music. But I do get irked when they portray all Texans as bigoted morons ... not because they're appropriating my culture, but because they're being bigots.

Well, it looks like they are misappropriating your culture then

Similarly, I don't like it when Portuguese people from the south make fun of my northern accent, and I do think they are insulting the culture of most northerns, but I don't stop them from doing it... I just think it is wrong and prejudiced