Oh, and I love their complete and total lack of self awarness.
Screeming "cultural appropriation"... indicates that one infact does see their culture as superior. The article states "Borrowing from another culture is most problematic when it plucks from a minority group (especially one that has been exploited or otherwise oppressed). Using aspects of another culture from a position of privilege is a means of additional exploitation in that it disregards the shared experiences that led to the development of the culture in question and uses ideas and traditions for their benefit"
So, inorder for this to occur one culture has to view itself superior to the other...
Well, um news flash, if you are screaming that you appropriated something - you are saying I view my culture as the superior or opressive culture.. so you are doing nothing other than acknowleding your own bigotry.
Furthermore, I am quite sure - that if you go to China you will find that they do infact think they are superior to westerners. If you go to Japan, they do also infact think they are superior to Americans. If you go to Iran or India - guess what - they too think they are superior to westerners..... So, how can westerners be "appropriating" anything from cultures who don't see themselves in an inferior position? Again, it is showing ones own hubris and bigotry to be looking at the situation - from a postion where you are convinced of your own superiority. THAT honestly - is one hell of an insult.
Here people of Japan.. we know that we are better than you. and you must be convinced that we have oppressed you.. so it is wrong for us - to take something of yours... Wow.. what arrogance. You know... the rest of the world has long been convinced of the arrogance of Americans.. and the more I think on it, they are right, American liberals are an arrogant bunch.. afterall.. its not like the rest of the world has had much contact with rubes from Texas... who is traveling the world... culturally appropriating.. I can probably say for certain, its not a bunch of ignorant redneck rightwing hicks. Its the uber enlightened liberals......... the pieces are starting to come together.. but I digress.
What happened to the idea that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery? I am quite sure that Katy Perry didn't dress up as a Geisha because she was intent on marginalizing and belittlein the culture.. but because Geisha's are the considered the gold standard of all of the worlds ladies of the night. They are beautiful, refined, genteel, intelligent and actually highly educated. She was actually honoring that piece of culture by paying homage to it. Not "appropriating" it. That would of course imply that the Japanese are some sort of inferior culture, or that they view themselves as such.. and honestly, THAT would be a greater insult.
connie
