Reflection 3: What's Hot Now!—Cultural Appropriation and Religious Symbols

Gods, symbols, and rituals have all been absorbed into the mainstream

Cultural appropriation is the act of one culture "incorporating" aspects of another culture into its own. However, this is different than American hip-hop adopting Bollywood moves or fusing Thai ingredients into Mexican cuisine. In cultural appropriation, a dominant group assimilates aspects of a foreign culture without regard to their original use or intent. In other words, parts of one culture might be absorbed into another in insensitive or offensive ways, often for their perceived exoticism or cool factor. This practice extends to the religious and spiritual practices of other cultures, as well. Thus, in America, we've seen hipsters embrace Dia de los Muertos, the popularization of sacred Tibetan symbols as tattoos, celebrities sporting Kabbalah string bracelets, and the labeling of a clean, Asian-influenced design as "Zen" style. Each of these is misunderstood and, in turn, misapplied; and yet each has seeped into pop culture. How have you seen the religious iconography of other cultures absorbed into the American mainstream? And what of those instances when a particular culture is offended by the use of their religion in our culture, such as Buddhists objecting to Victoria's Secret's Buddha-themed bikini? What is the line between borrowing, often sacred, cultural artifacts and misusing them? Do we truly respect and understand the traditions of Ojibwa dreamcatchers, or Maori tribal tattoos, or Siddha Yoga chants when we engage them?

Include at least two of the following in your discussion:

• "Kanji Tattoos are Primarily for Western Eyes” (Japan Times)
• "On Hipsters/Hippies and Native Culture" (Bitch)  
• "Día de los Muertos: Cultural Appropriation Meets Craft" (ONTD Feminism)
• "The Conversation on Cultural Appropriation" (The White Hindu)

Required:

• MLA Style
• Must be exactly two-full pages in length

Due: We 9.28