Cultural Appropriation

How did rock music get so white?

Professor of media studies at the University of Virginia and Slate music critic Jack Hamilton interviewed on how rock and roll changed from an inter-racial expression to the soundtrack of whiteness.

‘Pat Boone covering Little Richard is probably the most egregious example of this. “But he was able to get his music played on radio stations that wouldn't play the black originators of that music and he was someone who almost objectively made much worse versions of that than the originals.”’

Why Malaysians Need a New Term to Define Cultural Appropriation and Appreciation

Analysis of cultural appropriation in Malaysia, even after centuries of intercultural exchange in Malay, Chinese, Indian and indigenous communities.

Five creative project scenarios are presented that raise questions of appropriation, and potential alternative ways of moving forward more ethically.

'Cultural power acknowledges that imbalances exist. It’s not just about sharing, but recognising that dominant cultures dictate what’s acceptable while minority cultures face erasure or stereotypes.'

Out of Context

Article series on cultural appropriation in the music industry offering perspectives for those "seeking to acknowledge historical context [and] honor cultural traditions that are not their own".

Includes discussion on the cultural ownership of dreadlocks, white composers seeking the 'novelty' of traditional sounds, issues with non-Western musicians having to 'play the ethnic card' and 'The Whitewashing of Prince'.

Simpsons actor Hank Azaria says he will no longer voice Apu

The white actor who voices the Simpsons' Indian convenience store owner is stepping down from the role, after comedian Hari Kondabolu highlighted cultural stereotypes in his doucmentary The Problem with Apu.

Out of Context #5: Appreciation vs. Appropriation of Cultural Musical Objects

A 10-part series that addresses the topic of cultural appropriation as it intersects with both Western European-based classical music and the broader social landscape.

'I do not doubt [John] Cage’s sincerity with his use of the I Ching, and his emersion into Zen and Japanese culture was probably deep and profound. But in a world where we celebrate the ideas of individual geniuses like John Cage, how do we also acknowledge the source communities for these ideas?'

Whose life is it anyway? Novelists have their say on cultural appropriation

Hari Kunzru, Kamila Shamsie, Aminatta Forna and others on writing outside their experience.

Ask 'Did I find it easier to write about this because I filtered it through a white gaze and thus made it palatable for a largely white publishing industry? And most of all, and this bears repeating, don’t get defensive. Because you may be making a larger conversation about marginalised communities, and their ability to tell their own stories in their own voices, all about yourself.' ~ Nikesh Shukla