Cultural Appropriation Done Right
I found this video in a blog post done by a fellow GRSJ230 blogger, tied to her critic of an article that featured the video and then made claims that “cultural appropriation can be done right in the everyday”, which Tania points out, is a largely problematic thought. While the video doesn’t have anything to do with Asianess, I feel like it can add to our conversation about cultural appropriation.
The title of this video alone makes me tense, bracing myself for ignorant cultural appropriators trying to absolve themselves of their wrong doing, but in watching the video I was pleasantly surprised. If you analyze the video separate from the article Tania was deconstructing (Tania’s focus was more on the article itself) it provides a refreshing take on how one can Culturally Appropriate correctly.
The thing is, I don’t really see this as culture appropriation, or even cultural borrowing. As they said in the video itself, the designer is not really taking anything from the culture directly rather being inspired by the geometry and colours of the culture (like Prabal Gurung with Tibetan Monks), and the beauty of the natural surrounding. Inspiration is vastly different in my mind from appropriation, because it infused with personal creativity without any obvious copying.
I also think the fact that the designer had a relationship with these people before he decided to launch a campaign inspired by their culture is important. Through this he obtained consent to share their culture, something which they encouraged and enjoyed, and did so in collaboration with them, having them as an active part of the process.
Finally, the economic structuring is promising. By sharing the profits with the people he took inspiration from the designer is recognizing their ownership of the culture. I am just a bit wary in the fact that the portion shared is undisclosed, so as far as we know the people may be making a pitiful sum. Still, its a nice contrast to the nothing that other appropriated groups always receive. I also worry slightly about the way this line may be marketed, for I feel that the agreement could be abused as a selling factor, therefore removing the feeling of sincerity of it.
None the less, I find this video is an interesting take on how we can globalize culture ethically.
You can take a look at the full collection here.








