Cultural Appropriation in Fashion AMANDA VAN BUREN

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHOtBn3JjgA

What is it? According to Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University and author of Who Owns Culture? Appropriation and Authenticity in American Law “Taking intellectual property, traditional knowledge, cultural expressions, or artifacts from someone else's culture without permission.” “...can include unauthorized use of another culture's dance, dress, music, language, folklore, cuisine, traditional medicine, religious symbols, etc.” According to Nadra Kareem Nittle, race relations expert, “In the United States, cultural appropriation almost always involves members of the dominant culture… ‘borrowing’ from the cultures of minority groups. African Americans, Asian Americans, Native Americans and indigenous peoples [are] generally... the groups targeted for cultural appropriation.

The problem There is a certain power dynamic in cultural appropriation where members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group. “...is not the same as cultural exchange, when people share mutually with each other – because cultural exchange lacks that systemic power dynamic.” “...not the same as assimilation, when marginalized people adopt elements of the dominant culture in order to survive conditions that make life more of a struggle if they don’t. Focusing on appropriation in fashion by the media

How is it harmful? Why does it matter? The true meaning of the cultural elements is lost, the media portrays it as “exotic” when a member of the dominant culture does it when it actually has meaning Gives credit to the person wearing it instead of the people the idea came from

Where its taking place This is a past and present issue Happens worldwide Focusing on the U.S Happens in media (Television, Internet, Social media)

How can it be solved? Not saying members outside a culture can’t wear items from another They just need to be educated on what they have on means, where it comes from, etc Most of the time it’s a matter of ignorance If the media is praising someone about what they have on, they should also at the same time, educate the viewer on where it comes from

Citations http://racerelations.about.com/od/diversitymatters/fl/What-Is-Cultural-Appropriation-and-Why-Is-It-Wrong.htm https://img1.etsystatic.com/010/0/5543772/il_570xN.426584323_42yu.jpg : http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C-5Jci9RZ5U/UHeX6X-2KLI/AAAAAAAAGhM/xilCrekvSzY/s1600/African-dashiki-dress-ciaafrique-how-to-wear.jpeg http://everydayfeminism.com/2015/06/cultural-appropriation-wrong/ : https://www.pinterest.com/asheely036/edges-on-fleek/ : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2997337/Is-style-ll-wearing-summer-Baby-hair-latest-beauty-trend-hit-catwalks-featured-Katy-Perry-FKA-Twigs.html#ixzz4QlBrzCod http://assets.teenvogue.com/photos/56eacf79a0443d2b5d11227e/3:2/w_1200,h_630,c_limit/Kim.png https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/80/37/9b/80379b27cf93f25bae26a1b872fa5899.jpg https://lookatmyblackbeauty.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/lambb-cornrows.jpg?w=1140 https://ioneglobalgrind.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/screen_shot_2013-05-10_at_2-48-02_pm.png?w=540 http://24.media.tumblr.com/ebed0a3ba7aed7c5824e5e5f08f33f57/tumblr_n23t6iNq2Y1rps32io1_1280.png http://foothilldragonpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Screenshot-2015-11-07-at-10.14.13-PM.png http://www.readunwritten.com/wp-content/uploads/culture-e1455691255372-696x398.png