From this, the doors opened and the appropriation commenced, glamorizing the once disdained culture, but still not properly crediting the people within it. In the case of cultural appropriation, it is an exchange that happens when a dominant group takes or "borrows" something from a minority group that has historically been exploited or oppressed. In this sense, appropriation involves a lack of understanding of or appreciation for the historical context that influences what is being taken. But in 2019, the prominent Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq accused Shaw and RoT of cultural appropriation using Inuit throat singing without proper acknowledgment or compensation. It took more time and effort then I wished it had to get into a nursing program, but I made it. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper. A quick look at the RoT website reveals the ensemble is dedicated to mining the expressive potential of the human voice. The third element in this musical/cultural gumbo is the 1855 hymn Shining Shore by George F. Root, which is introduced in the movements second large section. In the meantime, thanks in large part to to streaming bypassing radios gatekeeper status to become the primary driving force in popular music,black artists have thankfully returned to the top of the pop charts and in 2018, all but one No. Both the model and brand executives apologized profusely, This kind of appropriation has found its way across many different platforms such as music, television and fashion. After having signed to T.I.s Grand Hustle label in 2011, Azalea had made waves early in the decade with a series of buzzy mixtapes and EPs, but lacked an undeniable hit to bring her to national renown. To be clear, I was not coerced into Western composition but picked it as my chosen career path. If conversations about this disparity were simmering for much of 2013 particularly following Cyrus and Thickesinfamously salacious performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, in which the duo were accused of, among other things, using their black backing dancers as sexual props they burst throughthe surface in 2014. The duos four wins received instant criticismfrom fans and tastemakers who felt that there were worthier artists of color nominated in the categories they won particularly breakthrough rapper Kendrick Lamar, coming off his rapturously acclaimed major label debutgood kid, m.A.A.d city, who was up for all four awardsMacklemore & Ryan Lewis ended up winning. Afterward, and subsequently through the years, they have commissioned several works from me; Chanticleer felt it was especially important to contract with me as a Mohican-Lenape composer to create the indigenous-inspired works they would later perform. Cultural appropriation IS a real, academic concept that is widely studied and accepted among social scientists. Cultural appropriation is a phenomenon where the dominant culture takes elements of one or various subjugated cultures, and strips them away from their original meaning. And insensitivity to the historical and current sufferings of marginalized groups remains apparent today. Society has yet to move completely beyond those gross injustices. Though it seems ironic, acultural neutrality is a narrative the West has culturally taught itself. Cultural appropriation is perhaps inevitable in a modern-day culture of musical sampling. In short, people all over the world are educated or are influenced by people the culture and [], Uncertainty Reduction Theory (URT) suggests that uncertainty is a negative an unpleasant condition. The culture can certainly be replicated in an honorable fashion, as long as its publicly embraced and celebrated too. Has that individual given permission for the item to be sold? Model Karlie Kloss wore a Native American headdress in 2012 Victorias Secret Fashion Show. Navajo speech does not encode realities which might exist independently, objectively apart from itself. 1 single (Ariana Grandes Thank U, Next) featured an artist of color as either a lead or featured artist. Beyonce being in the video makes this a bit more complicated, because she is dressed like an Indian movie star with her clothing and henna tattoos, but for the sake of simplicity we will focus on the main artist, Coldplay. At the Grammys in January,Macklemore & Ryan Lewis were among the evenings biggest winners, taking home best new artist, best rap album (for 2012sThe Heist), best rap song and best rap performance (bothfor Thrift Shop). While cultural appropriation in music is not limited to one race, ethnicity, or culture, it is most prevalent in black music in the United States. Students who find writing to be a difficult task. Nothing about traditional indigenous life is acultural. To behave responsibly and sensitively toward other groups, ask yourself a series of questions: The sharing of ideas, traditions, and material items is what makes life interesting and helps diversify the world. 1 on the Hot 100 with the minimalist pop fantasy Royals. It was the year that Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, a throwback hip-hop duo from Seattle, turned a local following into a national movement with a pair of ubiquitous pop-rap smashes. (on Lines)and funk legend Nile Rodgers (on Lucky) while a pair of Seattle soul men, Wanz and Ray Dalton, each guested on one of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis two No. ZE closed in 1984 it was only active for six years, which makes its reach all the more remarkable. Many of the biggest, most exciting artists across the genres Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Beyonc had turned their focus towards being album artists, less concerned than ever with radio singles (which, for instance, Wests unapologetically abrasive2013 albumYeezusdidnt even try to produce). My ancestors experienced rampant extermination along with forced cultural change, massive theft of land and resources, coercion to learn English and adopt Western ways, all while facing abuse and death for being indigenous. Lets take a look at a few within one entertainment industry: K-POP (Korean Pop Industry). But some viewers felt uncomfortable with one of those guises presenting her in hoop earrings and short shorts,navigating incredulously around a number of twerking, predominantly blackbackup dancers. Systems theory can be applied to any system that exists in nature, technology, or, or human domains (Boulding, 1991). 1 hits (Thrift Shop and Cant Hold Us, respectively). Cultural Appropriation Dominated the Pop Music Discussion To recap the decade that was, Billboard is looking at one major theme from each year and explaining how it dominated that 12-month period. 2022 gradesfixer.com. So who is Native American? Susan Scafidi, a law professor at Fordham University, told Jezebelthat its difficult to give a concise explanation of cultural appropriation. Suicides icy genius now soundtracks a perfume ad; Cristina died of Covid. Powwow grounds of Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation, WI, 2017. What is the source? "A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Cultural Appropriation." Yet a growing number of composers who are federally-recognized Native American citizens are listed in the ICD databases of catalogued works. Exclusively available on IvyPanda. Full disclosure: I was a graduate student working toward two masters degrees, one in music theory and composition (college of fine arts) and another in the anthropological study of Native American ritual and performance (college of liberal arts). With globalization, its become easier to appropriate other cultures. Non-Indians composed hordes of pseudo-Indian operas, lieder, piano pieces, and all manner of musical works. It's a controversial topic, one that activists and celebrities like Adrienne Keene and Jesse Williams have helped bring into the national spotlight. https://pages.stolaf.edu/americanmusic/tag/cultural-appropriation As Native Americans, we remember the major culture clashes when colonists with a hard-driving philosophy of ownership forced us to give up our lands, waters, resources, languages, cultures, and in many cases, our lives. I wanted you to win. Appropriation is the illegal, unfair, or unjust taking of something that doesn't belong to you. Is it something you feel called to do? ThoughtCo, Feb. 7, 2021, thoughtco.com/cultural-appropriation-and-why-iits-wrong-2834561. Because they have appropriated so much, their cultural boundaries when it comes to creativity and expression have become almost non-existent. Cultural Appropriation vs. They recorded a reggae-inspired song under a title from a Cockney joke. IvyPanda. Every individual can make the decision to show sensitivity toward others. Chanticleers modus operandi was to collaborate directly with indigenous composers for their indigenous-inspired commissions. Need a custom Essay sample written from scratch by So, if youre new in the music industry and planning to build your career on stable grounds, refrain from this practice. Meanwhile, R&B and hip-hopwere goingthrough a bit of a dry spell in terms of crossover hits. The guide defines cultural appropriation and explains how cultural appropriation takes many forms, such as in the appropriation in music and of native cultures. Native American fashion, art, and rituals have also been appropriated into mainstream U.S. culture. In order to understand the notion, one should look through cultural appropriation essays that dwell upon it extensively. Therefore, he strongly opposes the notion of cultural appropriation, especially in the United States, which is a country of many nations and cultures. Considering the title, the band showed gross insensitivity towards Jamaican culture. This generative way of perceiving the world is something shared by many indigenous peoples; while these world views are not exactly the same, they bear family resemblances to each other. Brad Wells, RoT Founder and Artistic Director, answered Tagaqs accusation with an anecdote published in Indy Week (Dan Ruccia, 2019) that inferred there is no distinction to be made between a mutually equitable exchange of culture versus Americas unrestrained use of forced cultural change against indigenous people, missing the genocidal backstory of Inuit life specifically, and Native American life generally: I remember, a few months ago, talking to an anthropology professor who had studied textiles on some Southeast Asian island about how the textiles responded to Westerners coming through from the fifteen-hundreds on. As further explanation, Ive been extremely lucky to have worked firsthand with two renowned ensembles, Chanticleer and Kronos Quartet, who both carried out processes of cultural exchange and commissioning that were artistically enriching and entirely respectful. This practice is the basis for the rapid inhale-exhale gestures that form the surface texture of much of the movement, as well as the imitative hocket and gradually-unfolding, procedural structure. It is the relational process that is paramount, not the music. By definition, cultural appropriation is: the act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture (Cambridge Dictionary). Perhaps one positive aspect of Madonnas cultural appropriation is that she has given underrepresented communities wider exposure. Indigenous cultures see music like giving birth so that each new song event is a new creation. We utilize security vendors that protect and Its not fair for blacks to have to watch their uniquely constructed culture be praised because its being represented by another race. Would people from that group object to the piece of art or to it being sold to outsiders. must. Cultural appropriation is "taking the external trappings of cultural traditions and using them as decorations on your own history without developing mutually supporting relationships in the community that you're taking from," says Michelle Heffner Hayes. With cultural respect comes a deeper historical context for approaching the quality of music. Still, at recent count, there are 573 federally recognized tribal nationstreatied nationsnot counting the hundreds of cultures in the Alaska Native villages. Obviously I fully cop to this being an imperfect ranking, and would love to hear more examples that maybe "slot in" between the five points I selected. Its hard to separate trolling from legitimate criticism When you get thrown into the deep end, you have a natural inclination as a human to defend your character. The database is updated daily, so anyone can easily find a relevant essay example. Music is not only an industry but an essential element of culture. To verify the gatekeeping effect by orchestras, specifically, a quick look at the Orchestra Season Analysis published by the Institute for Composer Diversity (ICD) each year reveals how orchestras fare especially low for diversity, participation by Native Americans being among the least of all. They never tried to borrow cultural elements without speaking about them or giving proper credit. Avoiding the individualistic legal copyright issue, and setting aside the indigenous intellectual property issue (an effort by the United Nations to protect the cultural knowledge and collective intellectual property of indigenous people), it does seem to my ears that some measure of cultural appropriation as likely as not occurred with respect to the Inuit culture. However, some may argue that it shouldnt really matter because imitation is the best form of flattery, and that its good thing the African culture has become so widely spread. Not only did the Beach Boys blatantly steal the content of another artist, but they failed to recognize the culture of which their smash hit came from. September 16, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/music-and-cultural-appropriation/. By continuing well assume you board with our cookie policy. The artist who found herselfmost at the core of the discussion around cultural appropriation in 2014, however, was unquestionably Australian rapper Iggy Azalea. Without exaggeration, we barely escaped total annihilation; an eradication capitalized on by James Fenimore Cooper in his novel, The Last of the Mohicans. As the decade ends, the system is still very far from fixed, but discussions about inclusivity, representation and general cultural thoughtfulness and respect are louder and more prevalent at all levels of popular music than theyve ever been before. Music executives chose to promote white performers over Black performers, reinforcing the idea that cultural appropriation involves impacts on a non- dominant group. It was the year a prodigious 16-year-old singer-songwriter from New Zealand named Lorde crossed over from the alternative world all the way to No. Love podcasts or audiobooks? Music has shown to be one of the most obvious art forms that whites have appropriated from blacks. When a musician writes a song, they do not think of whether or not to adopt elements from other cultures. A Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Cultural Appropriation. It can be stated that dominant white America didnt pay much mind to African Americans or their culture until they began to steal their music style and create similar sounding content. Daryl Hall would agree with my view because he believes that any culture is actually a blend of other cultures that had existed previously in history. The labelling theory refers to the fact that the labels imposed upon a person will ultimately shape the individual's self image (Bernard, [], What would come to students mind when they hear the team work at class or at university? However, much of the public remains confused about what the term actually means. A genuine interest in other cultures is not necessarily wrong, but cultural appropriation raises questions that should not be ignored. It was the year of Blurred Lines. It was the year of Harlem Shake. It was a lot for one year. But for Native languages, words create reality; they spawn it, and are considered generative. In some cases, musicians adopt elements from other cultures, which results in cultural appropriation (Crayton 2018). But her firstsingle of 2015, the Britney Spears-featuring Pretty Girls, was met with a muted response, and both Azaleas newalbum and tour were postponed numerous times, the latter eventually being canceled. It exists in white performers donning cornrows or Bindis in their music videos, or singing the blues without understanding the context and evolution of the genre. Indigenous languages are known to give rise to what is really real. Music and Cultural Appropriation Essay. (2022, September 16). In Witherspoons interpretation, Navajo words do not mirror reality. It didnt feel genuine. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis had already been taken to task for their mockery of hip-hop extravagance via the winkingly budget-conscious lyrics and video for Thrift Shop, and the Grammysincident seemed to only confirm that they were operating as outsiders to the culture. Cultural appropriation has occurred longer than people have understood the true meaning behind it. The two music videos once released caused a backlash from viewers and created an increased discussion of the concept of culture appropriation and stereotypes in media. Words do not stand for, or as is often said, symbolize any reality apart from themselves. The song being sung might be a time-honored song, but when performed it is newly rebornit is not considered the same song. The debate around cultural borrowing and appropriation is ongoingexamples abound in the arts, music, and fashion fields. Rather than attempting to meet indigenous people on equal terms with genuine collaboration, the Indianist composers mistook their poaching of Indian life as the discovery of a primitive precursor to their own civilization. Spurred on by the written transcriptions of Alice Fletcher, Ruth Underhill, Frances Densmore, and others from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, Indianists were busy gathering Indian songs (as one might pick a bushel of apples), codifying what they thought was true Indian music, and grossly misunderstanding what Indians were really doing. I decided to create a poll for members of my World Music & Cultures class at Temple University to take in order to gather some opinions. For example, was the tattoo done in reverence or because it's cool? The result is that music like rock-n-roll is largely associated with White people and its Black pioneers, like Little Richard, are denied the credit for the contributions that they deserve. "Music and Cultural Appropriation." As a child, she portrayed a different image of herself in public, so everyone knew her as the sweet little rich girl. We fiercely fight to protect, amend, and interpret the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Amendments. Music may be well crafted, but what is the music saying? It would be easy to point to the EDM takeover of the previous two years a movement that, despite electronic dance musics 70s and 80s roots in the black culture of disco and house music, was almost exclusively heralded this time around by white dudes as being to blame, but aside from Baauers fluke viral hit and Daft Punks anti-EDM disco throwback, none of the biggest dance artists really threatened the top of the charts in 2013. The boost that on-demand streaming would ultimately give hip-hop on the charts was still years away from becoming fully realized. Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Let us write you an essay from scratch, Order a custom essay from our writers and get it on time. September 16, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/music-and-cultural-appropriation/. It has little to do with ones exposure to and familiarity with different cultures. Theres an arrogance in our role, thinking of ourselves as the powerful culture and handpicking little things to use to our profit. Another example of popular culture borrowing elements from Native Americans is Chers single Half-Breed because the term is offensive to that community. Iggy Azalea is one such example. It is my firm belief that by championing a respectful cultural process as an artistic standard we not only achieve important cross-cultural understanding, but we form important intercultural relations with each other. By clicking Continue, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy. In the 1950s, white musicians appropriated the music their Black counterparts invented. Minute cultural awarenesses break through sometimes, but often the positive changes we are desperate for are obstructedinnocently or intentionallyby the numerous gatekeepers of Western classical music. For Native Americans, the song-ings are considered voicings of the originators, and although sometimes they are communally shared, they cannot be autonomously borrowed away from the originator. In the early 1970s, Bob Marley was already an established household name. Retrieved from https://ivypanda.com/essays/music-and-cultural-appropriation/. While cultural appropriation definitely can be wrong and used merely for financial gain, I think it is dangerous to limit music to the confines of geography. She picked various Black cultural elements without giving credit. The longer I thought about it on a wider scope, the more I realized, the broader issue was two-fold. The benefits of using elements from cultures other than yours are short-term. Music is not only an industry but an essential element of culture. Baby., Gwen Stefani embraced her admiration for Japan's Harajuku culture. MUSC 1100. Written By Mia Van Allen. IvyPanda. That decision was a consequence of mutual culture sharing and a process of balanced acculturation, very different from what we call forced culture change, when cultures are forced to change their cosmologies according to the existential postulates of the domineering culture. The film shows the act first hand by illustrating the white theft of originally black composed songs. It was the year that multimedia star Justin Timberlake and EDM progenitors Daft Punk made massive,long-awaited comebacks. In terms of cultural appropriation within the United States, it most commonly involves the white population replicating aspects of the black population and refusing to acknowledge the African culture of which it came from. Instead, cultural appropriation typically involves members of a dominant group exploiting the culture of less privileged groups. Much of this stemmed from the white appropriation of black music dating back to the early 20th century during the jazz and rock and roll eras. These elements can include music, attire, food, art, or other iconography. On the contrary, Navajo speech embodies the speakers intentionality, and extends the self beyond the body, to shape a reality coming into being (Morrison 2000). It takes Native Americans to create our music, though those outside the cultures may not easily recognize the indigenous characteristics. Cultural Appropriation in Classical Music. For one, this sort of borrowing is exploitative because it robs oppressed groups of the credit they deserve and often the capital owed to them as well. What about the mixing or sharing of cultures? "Tutti Frutti" by Pat Boone, 1955. As a result, the subjugated cultures lose their traits without receiving due credit, respect, or compensation. We were prohibited from enacting our ceremonies under penalty of death. I had never in my entire life considered music without culture before; culture was a musical fact like gravity. I think it is important to always discuss and think about these issues while challenging others to do the same. "Music and Cultural Appropriation." Meanwhile, Miley Cyrus career reboot was shepherded in large part by renownedAtlanta hip-hop hitmaker Mike Will Made-It, and Justin Timberlakes20/20 Experienceagain brought back longtime collaborator Timbaland as his behind-the-scenes creative partner. Her reporting focuses education, race, and public policy. Cher was ignorant of the comments and further performed the song on stage. ensure the integrity of our platform while keeping your private information safe. The purpose of this article is not about condemning or choosing a side, but merely to present a couple different arguments about the subject of cultural appropriation in music. What one person perceives as a tribute, others may perceive as disrespectful. The masses recognized this and werent in favor of it, but Azalea dismissed the accusations of cultural appropriation. This is one of the fewer examples of white musicians who have replicated content, but arent appropriating. Covering the lodge with plastic tarps was just one of Ray's mistakes and he was later sued for impersonation. But in many cases in North America where the indigenous people faced eradication and forced culture change, no such equal sharing or collaboration was possiblequite the opposite transpired. Minute cultural awarenesses But the fact that society has lost sight of the origin of which these cultural aspects come from, doesnt allow credit to be given where its due and the African culture somewhat becomes lost and forgotten. Due to the deeply rooted separation of blacks and whites, the dominant white population would rather take over these cultural aspects and treat them as their own than to give the blacks credit for their achievements. Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox, A daily briefing on what matters in the music industry. Second, there is an air of cultural neutrality in Western classical art music, where music is considered an expression of sound alone, devoid of ancestral roots or indigenous cosmologya Western birthright that functions as the default mainstay foundation for equitable, objective, unbiased sonority. If youve ever taken a theory class in music school, you were most likely enrolled in Music Theory 101, for example, or Pedagogy of Music Theory, when more correctly, those courses should be identified as Western music theory. Coldplay, a successful and famous British pop/rock act, is using the highlights of Indian culture to make their video more appealing and successful, while ignoring their societies problems such as poverty. IvyPanda. Indigenous and non-indigenous people, alike, might encourage each other in meaningful collaboration with living, changing, vibrant cultures in ways that remain dynamic. Similarly, in Australia, a period occurred when it was common for Aboriginal art to be copied by non-Aboriginal artists, often marketed and sold as authentic. Would a Muslim man wearingthekeffiyehbe considered a terrorist for that simple fact? 2019 Jul 10 [cited 2022 Dec 11]. Definition and Examples, Is the Fashion Industry Appropriating Native American Culture, Native American Dance Regalia in the Powwow, Interesting Facts about Diverse Groups in America, What Is Colonialism? 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