Cultural appropriation

Cultural appropriation is when a person takes a tradition from another culture and adapts it as their own. This includes religious symbols, artefacts, traditional knowledge as well as any other unapproved use of cultural practice or ideation. When it comes to wearing clothes based on other cultures, people often think they are dressing “unique” and “different” and don’t really recognise the issue of being offensive. The dangers of cultural appropriation go beyond antagonising people, it continues patterns of disempowering groups that are already marginalised.  

Cultural appropriation is an issue that is seen quite commonly portrayed  among celebrities in a way in which is not respectful of the culture’s values and morals. An example of this is Katy Perry performance at the 2013 American Music awards that was “Geisha-inspired”, culturally appropriating and misaligning a part of Japanese entertainment typically performed in a much more socially aware context. Phyllis Heitjan stated that “Between the lack of Asian women on stage, the heavy-handed use of bowing and shuffling around in the choreography, and the ethno-confused set and costume design, Perry presented her viewers a one-dimensional Eastern fantasy drawn by a Western eye right out of the gate”.  Basically, her performance borders on mocking a culture rather than truly understanding its origins.

Celebrities at the Met ball further displayed this notion. The theme of this event was, China: Through the looking Glass.The celebrities failed to portray this theme and did not represent it at all and led to their outfits becoming borderline offensive. The celebrities seemed to rely on specific stereotypes to represent an entire culture for example dragons, braids and chopsticks. According to Vogue, the night’s theme was meant to “primarily examine how eastward-looking Westerners have understood and misunderstood Chinese culture.” In which the outfits certainly exemplified western stereotypes of China and failed to honour and represent the culture.

The stereotypical Chinese themes were clearly adopted into the celebrities outfits, they didn’t even bother seeking designers from the country the theme was based on, with Rihanna being the only celebrity to wear a dress made by a Chinese designer, which shows that the celebrities primary focus was how they looked instead of portraying the theme correctly. Ahead of the event fashionista noted “When it comes to cultural appropriation and accidental racism, the fashion industry doesn’t have the best track record”. Which is extremely true, when you consider things like the usage of cornrows, Native American headdresses, or traditional geisha wear, the Western region of this global industry has not upheld the best reputation into what is and what is not okay to wear.

Cultural appropriation belittles a culture’s history, significance and future. By customising another group’s traditions or way of life to fit another’s, the value of the culture decreases.  It is a prevalent issue that continues to rise in Hollywood and become more evident from prominent figures. It is a issue that needs to stop as it leads to misrepresentation and racism. A way for this issue to be prevented is for ‘appropriation’ to be replaced with ‘appreciation’ and show an understanding of the culture and become more aware of respectful ways to appropriate traditional and symbolic aspects of cultures different to their own.

References:

http://www.theallstate.org/2015/08/27/cultural-appropriation/

Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kadia-blagrove-/cultural-appropriation-it_b_7800126.html?ir=Australia

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2013/11/25/cultural-appropriation-katy-perry_n_4337024.html?ir=Australia

Studying abroad

Within my first weeks of studying at The University of Wollongong it was immediately evident that there was a mass amount of international students. Out of all my classes I had at least one student that had come to Australia on exchange to study. After speaking to a Chinese girl who had to ask me to repeat everything I said and speak slower it was made quite clear to me how hard it would be moving from another country to study abroad, especially when you are not from a english speaking county. Exchange programs are a great way for international students to be able to experience another country and also a great way for them to gain a deeper understanding of another culture. Although there are many positives of exchange it can also be extremely difficult for the international student to  transition into another culture.

International students have to face the extremely difficult task of leaving their own country and adapt to another countries language, beliefs and culture.It is seen in the research funded by the Global development Network of the World bank how difficult it is for international students to adjust to Australians lifestyles.Within the study students stated that “It was particularly difficult to understand the Australian accent” (Kell & Vogl, 2007, pg. 4). As when students from overseas are taught english, they are taught the proper and formal way to speak the english language and are not informed on the abbreviated words like “Uni” or “Arvo”.Within Peter Kell’s and Gillian Vogl’s article, it is highlighted that the informal nature of Australian English is seen to be one of the main reasons for the international and local divide between the students. With Australian slang being exceedingly difficult for international student to understand, making it extremely hard for international students to interpret what is being said and resulting in the international students lacking confidence speaking to the locals and therefore creating an immediate a communication barrier.

This issue could stem from the ideas of ‘ethnocentrism’ which means to subjectively classify and judge other peoples cultures according to the standards of one’s own culture. As stated in Marginson’s study, international students are subordinated by ethnocentric practices and therefore lead to them being seen as inferior or in deficit.

To create a more enjoyable experience for international students, local students as well as teachers have to be prepared to help and guide the international students and help minimise the communication barriers. Examples of these include creating classes taught by local students educating the international students on everyday slang used. Another way for international students to feel more comfortable in their new surrounding is for the university to create a pen pal operation, in which local students write to the international student and give them an outline of what to expect before they come to the country so that they feel more prepared as well as feel more comfortable as they have already spoken to someone from the university and may have created a friend. With simple procedures like these, studying abroad can be an extremely enjoyable opportunity for the student in which they get to meet to new people as well as experience another countries culture.

References:

Kell, P and Vogl, G (2007) ‘International Students: Negotiating life and study in Australia through Australian Englishes’, Everyday Multiculturalism Conference Proceedings, Macquarie University, 28-29 September 2006.

Marginson, S (2012) ‘International education as self-formation: Morphing a profit-making business into an intercultural experience’, Lecture delivered at the University of Wollongong, 21 February 2012, available online athttp://focusonteaching.uow.edu.au/content/groups/public/@web/@cedir/documents/doc/uow119828

Globalisation: The impact of social media

Within the recent years the development of technology has flourished and played a major role in globalisation. The world is becoming smaller and countries are becoming more accessible just by the click of a button.

Within today’s globalizing society, technology has become a vital aspect of individual’s lives and the number one form of communicating worldwide. Technology provides a platform for people to be able to continue communicating even when they are on the other side of the world. It allows people to be updated on current news, exchange messages as well as maintain relationships no matter the geographical boundaries. Social media is a great way in which people are being connected worldwide with websites such as Instagram which allows you to look at photos of other countries and be able to visually encounter another location just by searching a hashtag. Another example is facebook which gives you the opportunity to speak to people from all over the world by messenger or video call which is immediately evident in the home page which states “Connect with friends and the world around you on facebook” which has shortened the ties of distance as you are able to speak to people no matter their geographical location.

Globalisation allows people to be able to get an insight of another country through technology and be able to access all aspects of different cultures including their beliefs, customs, clothing, values and food. It educates individuals on how to respect other religions beliefs and promotes the  interconnectedness of our culturally diverse world. 

“People of the world can be brought closer together by the globalisation of communication, no matter how far apart we may actually live” (O’Shaughnessy & Stadler p.459)

Marshall McLuhan’s view of ‘The global village’ portrays this above statement by O’Shaughnessy and Stadler as it is indicating that no matter how far people are away from each other geographically they can be brought together simply by the use of media. The global village therefore acts as a platform for people all around the world to express their believes and views on various topics no matter where they live.

Activism is also something that is being pushed forward through social media. Activism has been used to  raise awareness and take action via social media to expand movement’s and create change. Social media continues to emerge as one of the most used form of communication worldwide, with people using social media to create videos to protest, inform and inspire change about many different social issues. As videos on youtube and shared on facebook are becoming one of the new ways to promote various causes like environmental campaigns as well as campaigns against fur clothing. Through globalisation social media is therefore spreading issues worldwide and creating awareness about it. Social media also allows people with certain disabilities, caretakers and those with young children who are restricted, still be able to have a voice and be involved in activism and not be limited due to their inability to physically mobilize.

Globalisation has connected people worldwide and allowed for people to come together no matter there distance as well as created awareness of various issues surrounding the world.

references:

O’Shaughnessy, M and Stadler, J (2008) ‘Globalisation’, Media and Society(fifth edition) Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 458-471.

Megan O’Neil,2010, 5 great examples of Activism through web video, Social times, 14/08/15, <http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/5-great-examples-of-activism-through-web-video/16321&gt;.

Rebecca Sawyer,2011,The Impact of New Social Media on Intercultural Adaptation,Title of Article on Webpage/Title of Webpage,digitalcommons,14/08/15 <http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1230&context=srhonorsprog&gt;