Cultural Appropriation

While the concept of “cultural appropriation” was first popularized in the academic sphere in the 1980s, it has only recently become a major topic of public discourse. Ensuring that other cultures—particularly marginalized ones—are respected is a more significant priority today, but what counts as cultural appropriation is a topic of contentious debate. Some argue that using elements of other cultures without proper acknowledgment is disrespectful and exploitative, while others say that it is a way of showing appreciation for other cultures and that it is impossible to avoid in a globalized society. The viewpoints in this volume attempt to clarify the difference between cultural exchange and appropriation through a wide range of perspectives.