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White people in Southeast Asian costumes with oil paper umbrellas

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White people in Southeast Asian costumes with oil paper umbrellas

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This picture is an example of cultural appropriation because a European individual wears Southeast Asian ceremonial garments and holds a traditional oil-paper parasol as a performative prop, detached from their original cultural context. This is a problem because the attire and parasol carry specific spiritual and social meanings tied to rituals and identity, which are erased when reduced to exotic aesthetics. The damage that it does is reinforcing colonial narratives where non-Western cultures are treated as costumes, perpetuating the idea that these traditions exist solely for Western consumption.

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This picture is an example of cultural appropriation because white individuals wear sacred Indigenous war bonnets as generic festival accessories. This is a problem because these headdresses symbolize earned honor and spiritual leadership in Native communities, and their casual use disrespects centuries of tradition. The damage that it does is trivializing Indigenous sovereignty and spirituality, reducing living cultures to disposable decorations for non-Indigenous entertainment.

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White people in Southeast Asian fantasy costumes

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White people in Southeast Asian fantasy costumes

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This picture is an example of cultural appropriation because a European model wears a reinterpreted version of Southeast Asian ceremonial dress in a fantastical setting, divorcing the garments from their ancestral significance. This is a problem because it reframes sacred patterns and motifs as "mystical" or "otherworldly," reinforcing stereotypes about Southeast Asian cultures being inherently "foreign" or "primitive." The damage that it does is erasing the lived experiences of Southeast Asian communities, whose cultural symbols are distorted into Western fantasies rather than being understood as part of a living heritage.

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Why We Need to Pause Before Claiming Cultural Appropriation

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Why We Need to Pause Before Claiming Cultural Appropriation

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This article tells us that the term “cultural appropriation” originally described exploitative power dynamics under colonialism yet is now often reduced to personal offense without considering historical and economic contexts about cultural appropriation. From reading this article I learned that distinguishing harmful cultural appropriation from healthy cultural exchange requires focusing on systemic inequality rather than isolated actions. My opinion on this article is that this deeper perspective reminds us to reflect on power relations and historical background before hastily labeling something as appropriation.

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Why we need to pause before claiming cultural appropriation | Ash Sarkar

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The debate is a difficult one. Yet not every interloper is a colonialist in disguise, says Ash Sarkar, a senior editor at Novara Media

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Cultural Appropriation of Māori Traditions Is an Exercise in Entitlement and Privilege

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Cultural Appropriation of Māori Traditions Is an Exercise in Entitlement and Privilege

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This article tells us that non‑Māori people’s unauthorized use of Māori cultural elements reflects a colonial sense of entitlement that undermines indigenous cultural sovereignty and protocol about cultural appropriation. From reading this article I learned that Māori culture is governed by strict tikanga—rituals and customs—and that using elements like tā moko tattoos or haka performances without permission can inflict real harm and dilute their significance. My opinion on this article is that it powerfully underscores the importance of respect and consent, urging genuine and respectful cultural exchange with indigenous communities.

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Cultural appropriation of Māori traditions is an exercise in entitlement and privilege | Tina Ngata

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Māori face dispossession and hyper-incarceration – cultural assaults are part of the same pattern

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Furore Sparked by Jamie Oliver Children’s Book Cultural Appropriation Opens Wider

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Furore Sparked by Jamie Oliver Children’s Book Cultural Appropriation Opens Wider

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This article tells us that the controversy around Jamie Oliver and Elly Griffiths reveals how prominent white authors’ crude portrayals of indigenous cultures can perpetuate stereotypes and cause offense, exposing publishers’ lapses in cultural sensitivity review about cultural appropriation. From reading this article I learned that the publishing industry often neglects thorough cultural consultation, leaving marginalized voices to shoulder the burden of pointing out mistakes after publication. My opinion on this article is that this debate effectively exposes systemic issues in literary representation and emphasizes that authors and publishers must proactively collaborate with indigenous experts and communities to avoid appropriation and misrepresentation.

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Furore sparked by Jamie Oliver children’s book opens wider cultural appropriation debate

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Another novel written by a UK author has been withdrawn as publishers and booksellers grapple with the issues of First Nations culture and history as plot points

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Defining Cultural Appropriation Through Power Structures​

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Defining Cultural Appropriation Through Power Structures​

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​the symbolic use of minority ethnic clothing by white elites​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that this reflects systemic exploitation rooted in power imbalances, where privileged groups commodify cultural symbols for personal gain​​. I agree because ​​such acts strip cultural heritage of its original meaning while perpetuating inequality, as seen when high-income individuals use traditional attire to appear "worldly" in professional settings​​.

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Clashing Views on Japanese Cultural Engagement​

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Clashing Views on Japanese Cultural Engagement​

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​the distinction between cultural exchange and appropriation in practices like wearing Japanese yukata​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that appropriation becomes harmful when it exploits sacred symbols for profit without respect​​. I partially agree because ​​while non-colonial cultures may welcome cross-cultural engagement, religious elements demand strict adherence to the originating community’s boundaries​​.

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Race, Representation, and Artistic Freedom​

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Race, Representation, and Artistic Freedom​

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​accusations of cultural appropriation against a Black actress cast as Juliet​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that this criticism masks systemic racism in historically white-dominated artistic spaces​​. I disagree because ​​reimagining classical roles across racial lines challenges exclusionary norms, whereas true appropriation involves extracting cultural value without consent​​.

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​white rappers adopting Black hip-hop styles while avoiding systemic consequences​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that this comparison ignores the historical devaluation of Black cultural labor​​. I disagree because ​​Black creators face systemic barriers to owning their cultural output, whereas white artists profit from racial privilege even when claiming "appreciation"​​.

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​claims that cultural borrowing is inherently flattering, not exploitative​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that this erases power imbalances, such as colonial industries profiting from Indigenous art​​. I strongly disagree because ​​framing exploitation as "admiration" silences marginalized voices—for example, non-Native brands selling tribal patterns without revenue-sharing​​.

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The author of this blog post is writing about ​​K-pop groups using religious symbols in music videos for controversy-driven visibility​​. The author's opinion on this topic is ​​that this prioritizes shock value over cultural sensitivity​​. I partially agree because ​​while some acts intentionally provoke, others arise from shallow attempts at "global fusion" aesthetics​​.