Quote:
Originally Posted by Not Afraid
Maybe we should've taken the LoT Goes To Hell idea seriously.
Remind me not to throw a Cinco de Mayo or St. Patrick's Day party, K?
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I don't know who iSm is talking about. And personally, I really have appreciation and respect for Indian art, music, food, culture...
I've heard more often, recently, than I've ever heard about an educational push for the concept of cultural appropriation. It was a discussion that fascinated me because I'd never considered it before, and it seemed that many people felt very strongly about it. Their perspective seems to be centered in the idea that if you take the culture out of context, you lose the meaning, you belittle and ignore the history or present-day situation.
But, then, America is made up entirely of appropriation. Because it's made up of cultures that are so mixed together that it isn't surprising that one person sees another person's interesting art and builds on it. So what crosses the line between appreciation and appropriation? I'm still not fully clear on it. But I will admit that both their argument and the pending party came to mind while watching Slumdog Millionaire recently. I have to admit that I have come to appreciate the culture without a full understanding of the country itself. But that's just me, and it doesn't make me feel bad about the party, and it doesn't make me want to not enjoy the food and culture. It just makes me, personally, want to understand more about the history and current events.