Is it ever appropriate to "borrow" culturally inspired ideas? Who has
ownership over intangible culture? What role does power inequality play?
These questions are often at the center of heated public debates around
cultural appropriation, with new controversies breaking seemingly every
day.
Cultural Appropriation in Fashion and Entertainment offers a
sociological perspective on the debate, exploring appropriation of
cultures embedded in race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and religion in
entertainment as well as the clothing, textiles, jewelry, accessories,
hairstyles, and tattoos we wear.
Case studies are drawn from K-pop, Bollywood dance, J-pop, Bhangra
music, Jamaican reggae, hip hop and EDM fashion to explore how, when,
and why cultural borrowing or appreciation can become cultural
appropriation. There's also discussion of subcultural territories that
extend beyond geography, race and ethnicity, such as cosplay and LGBTQI+
communities.
By providing a range of global perspectives on the adoption, adaptation,
and application of both tangible and intangible cultural objects,
Kawamura and de Jong help move the conversation beyond simply
criticizing designers and creators to encourage nuanced discussion and
raise awareness of diverse cultures in the creative industries.
