I am confused as to why it is good or bad or neither. Genuinely confused. Please and thank you.
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Here in the States, a Purple Heart award is given to soldiers wounded in battle. It’s considered an important part of our culture, and people who wear it despite never being a soldier are considered assholes. Now imagine going to a bar on Halloween and seeing several people “dressed as wounded soldiers” complete with Purple Heart awards. “Look at me! I have no education so I became a soldier and didn’t know how to duck, now where’s my drink?”
That’s as close to cultural appropriation that I can think of for Americans. It’s not just that you’re doing something that’s part of a different culture; it’s something *important* to another culture that we (by accident or on purpose) use in a disrespectful way.
Although rare, some extremists on either side go nuts and say shit like, “Tacos are appropriation!” Food can definitely be culture, but it’s not cultural appropriation to enjoy a tasty taco–because, while no disrespect to tacos, they’re not that important culturally.
This doesn’t happen very often (either real appropriation or accusations of appropriation). As long as the term is authentically used to help us be respectful of other cultures, I have no problem with it.
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