What Is Cultural Appropriation

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A common theme seen in the Grand Narratives of many westernized cultures is the cultural appropriation of minority cultures. This begs the question of why do these dominant cultures with such ethnocentric self-identities build themselves based off of the many traits of other cultures that they oppress; as well as what effect this might have on intercultural communication. By looking at the following articles I found they show a strong understanding of a Grand Narrative and its effects, how and who dominate cultures have oppressed over years of building their own cultures as well as what they have borrowed from these cultures and incorporated within their own. I also found personal view points on cultural appropriation and finally modern examples …show more content…

Sports teams in North America, especially the United States, are a prime example of this. Many teams use American Indian terms, for example the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Redskins. Larocque et al (2011) discusses how these terms are used and how the image they portray are, “often biased and distorted, and they misrepresent reality.” (p.2) From this statement alone, an understanding of the negative impact this must have on the American Indians already becomes clear. Furthermore, the article discusses the psychological distress this cultural appropriation causes American Indians to feel through a survey they conducted with college students. I found this information very useful, as it shows a very current and ongoing controversial example of cultural appropriation, that I can relate to as I watch many sports and never truly thought about the impact these athletic team names could have on American Indians. This would most definitely cause miscommunication cross culturally, as many Americans do not see the harm in this or how it may offend those who are apart of the American Indian …show more content…

Tourist Studies 10(3) 195–208. Retrieved from http://resolver. scholarsportal .info.proxy.library.brocku.ca/resolve/ 14687976/ v10i0003/195_aswatoai.xml Kleisath, C. (2014). The Costume of Shangri-La: Thoughts on White Privilege, Cultural Appropriation,and Anti-Asian Racism. Journal of Lesbian Studies 18:142-157. Retrieved from http://journals2.scholarsportal.info. proxy.library.brocku.ca/pdf/ 10894160/v18i0002/142_tcostopcaaar.xml LaRocque, A., McDonald, J., Weatherly, J., Ferraro, F. (2011). Indian Sports Nicknames/Logos: affective difference between American Indian and non-Indian college students. The Journal of the National Center, 18 2 1-16. Retrieved from http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.library.brocku.ca/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=8c3787c2-c5be-411d-8e70-6cfd24723577%40sessionmgr4003&vid=21&hid=4103 Schreyer, C. (2014) Canadian Geography as National Identity: Hudson’s Bay Company Place Names and their Aboriginal Counterparts. International Journal of Canadian Studies, 49 315-333. Retrieved from https://attachment.fbsbx.com/ file_download .php?id=1715887798655065&eid=ASvzOa3ZeSrFogu3R Qr9_I1pTx6d9WLfI-0SyspNJgieOW6VUeMAECHCd1NB1 OVWOnc& inline=1&ext=1453

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