Cultural Appropriation is the adoption and sometimes even adaptation of a particular cultural item into another cultural community. In today's generation cultural appropriation exists mainly due to trend and fashion. Today's post is going to be exploring the concept of cultural appropriation but in a more creative manner. The following is a letter to the editor of Huffington post Anjali Joshi, on her article "Why a Bindi is NOT an Example of Cultural Appropriation".
"Popularization of Bindi is a form of Cultural Appropriation"
Anjali Joshi
October 4 2014
I am absolutely confounded and quite frankly offended on your idea
of cultural appropriation and its non-affiliation with the cultural item of the
Bindi. The traditional Indian `Bindi marks a certain significance for the
"truly" traditional Indian men and women living in India, and to this
day have a deep religious connection with this cultural item..
Your "informal" survey which you took, does not state the context or location it was performed. The Indian population of the modern world consist of around 17% of the entire world's population in which 7.5% are second generation Indians. Also your survey is specific to the gender of women. Surprisingly the men also have certain religious connections and beliefs with the Bindi which you have conveniently excluded from you study or was this intentional?
The bindi, thanks to the media's major contribution has become a fashion statement. You yourself have agreed to this in your article stating that it has quote “become an accessory with little religious belief”. This in its very statement is a form of cultural appropriation, which you have stated as a fact but later regarded in your article as merely a form of cultural evolution.
As a counter argument and recommendation I suggest that you understand the different aspects which categorize the Bindi as a form of cultural appropriation. This includes the western lifestyle of “hipsters” using a traditional item in a provocative manner rather than understanding the cultural importance of this figure.
Your article has had an impact on the western society and the majority who see the Bindi as a fashion accessory in a way I must state as negative. This said because in a way you clearly reaffirms their thoughts that the Bindi is not a form of cultural appropriation because it is just a growing trend of the world. Also you are misinforming them that wearing it in a non-traditional sense is in no way disrespectful.
Your "informal" survey which you took, does not state the context or location it was performed. The Indian population of the modern world consist of around 17% of the entire world's population in which 7.5% are second generation Indians. Also your survey is specific to the gender of women. Surprisingly the men also have certain religious connections and beliefs with the Bindi which you have conveniently excluded from you study or was this intentional?
The bindi, thanks to the media's major contribution has become a fashion statement. You yourself have agreed to this in your article stating that it has quote “become an accessory with little religious belief”. This in its very statement is a form of cultural appropriation, which you have stated as a fact but later regarded in your article as merely a form of cultural evolution.
As a counter argument and recommendation I suggest that you understand the different aspects which categorize the Bindi as a form of cultural appropriation. This includes the western lifestyle of “hipsters” using a traditional item in a provocative manner rather than understanding the cultural importance of this figure.
Your article has had an impact on the western society and the majority who see the Bindi as a fashion accessory in a way I must state as negative. This said because in a way you clearly reaffirms their thoughts that the Bindi is not a form of cultural appropriation because it is just a growing trend of the world. Also you are misinforming them that wearing it in a non-traditional sense is in no way disrespectful.
I understand that
this may be difficult to comprehend but personally I do not agree with your
statement that the Bindi is not a form of cultural appropriation because it
clearly is. Although I agree with you that nothing can stop this rapid trend
because in the new world where fashions are now overcoming values bindis will
be worn by “white girls at Coachella” as a fashion statement. The only
miscommunication is that I believe one should clearly state that it is a form
of cultural appropriation and then one can decide based on the truth of the
matter.
Thank you for your time and I hope that my letter has been able to shed light on this matter for you.
Thank you for your time and I hope that my letter has been able to shed light on this matter for you.
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