Cultural Appropriation: Katy Perry

“You see, the discussion surrounding appropriation takes on so many more layers than most think-piece authors care to engage with-layers that desperately need to be brought to the discussion”(Jaikaran, Elizabeth). “Movements that advocate the equality between races, religions, and cultures are extremely prominent in our modern-day society”(Cohen, Amanda). Cultural appropriation in pop culture allows for cultures to be spread and ultimately accepted by a wide variety of people.  Once an audience sees someone they follow do something,  they will likely accept it and try the same things; people in the media pave the way for everyone else and can start a movement.  Putting cultures in separate groups and not allowing for certain styles to be used by others is the root of discrimination of cultures. The main influencers in pop culture have been knocking down these separations and preaching the idea of mixing cultural styles into every aspect of life.  Pop culture has some of the most influence on society and the example that it sets for people to follow is needed

Grace Bonner’s groundbreaking reputation stems from her success in pushing black male identity in fashion beyond the streetwear and her identity as a mixed-race individual is integral to her practice. Cultural appropriation prevails as a controversial issue in the fashion industry. As designers constantly seek for inspiration beyond their immediate culture, their designs often result to be imprudent and objectively offensive. Jenni Avins, however, reminds us that “we have to stop guarding cultures and subcultures in efforts to preserve them. It’s naive, paternalistic, and counterproductive. Plus, it’s just no how culture or creativity work.” Adopting elements of different culture is natural by-product of the interaction of different customs and globalization that indicate a diverse and rich society. This, however, should not function as a leeway for designers to abuse cultural appreciation as cultural appropriation or racism. Many don’t realize that wearing elements of different cultural backgrounds inadvertently perpetuate segregation and stereotypes, especially when a subculture becomes haute couture: universally promoted by and promoting Western refinement. Those who claim that ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’ fail to recognize their inherent privilege or be aware of the history of oppression that the population of a subculture suffered from.

Racial and cultural appropriation has become increasingly significant in society within the past 30 years. “The idea of “cultural appropriation” has recently entered mainstream

Cultural appropriation is not seen exclusively in dance but rather a multitude of pop culture. For example in fashion. Fashion is a huge part of today's culture, and many designers created their clothing through the inspiration of other objects and or culture. Appropriation begins to

In Randa Jarrar’s essay Why I can’t stand white belly dancers she bluntly addresses the predicament of cultural appropriation. Jarrar’s main purpose is to inform her audience on appropriation, whether it’s done oblivious or uncaring of the situation. There are many ways she presents the situation, the tone she takes on to convey the problem is unsympathetic and transparent.

With all the media coverage of the Water is Life/No DAPL protests, one piece of artwork kept circulating social media. Tyler Amato’s most recognized piece is of two girls: One is an indigenous American and also a Water is Life protester. The other is a White girl, culturally appropriating Native culture for Coachella (a music festival that revolves around fashion as well). “A deeper understanding of cultural appropriation also refers to a particular power dynamic in which members of a dominant culture take elements from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed by that dominant group” (“What’s wrong with cultural appropriation?”).

Another example of this kind of cultural appropriation is exemplified in a more contemporary example: Lana Del Rey’s music video for her song entitled “Ride.” This music video features Del Rey riding through what is presumable the expansive West while being with men, burning fires in the western desert, and sporting a traditional Native American headdress. While this example also conflates the same issues as the above example, it also brings on a new problem: taking a sacred cultural emblem and using it for stylistic

“appropriation occurs when a style leads to racist generalizations or stereotypes where it originated, but is deemed as high fashion, cool or funny when the privileged take it for themselves.” While African American artists are unfairly and inaccurately stereotyped for wearing grills, Madonna and other white stars like Katy Perry don grills ‘just because they can,’ with little consequences to their image and without recognizing the culture it came from and the history of racism that comes along with a black identity.

In most cases of cultural appropriation, it is seen in a negative light because of the context it is shown it. The first image I will be looking at is Karlie Kloss wearing a war bonnet that is characteristic of the native Americans, at the Victoria Secret Fashion Show. The part where Karlie walked down the runway in this ‘costume’ was edited out of the VS Fashion Show footage, as many native Americans found it to be insulting and insensitive.

The authors goal of the text was to discuss cultural appropriation. She uses African American culture as the primary example for inappropriate and misuses of their culture. The paper

At a birthday party there is an African American boy wearing a sombrero while hitting a piñata. Down the street, there is a Russian girl who dances with a Japanese fan that her neighbor gifted. These two children, according to the current media, are displaying cultural appropriation. In America, citizens have the rarity of experiencing what many call the “Melting Pot” of different cultures and ethnicities. To many other countries, the different cultural exposures are not of such a common privilege. Cultural appropriation is what sets us back from connecting to other cultures around the world. I understand that it may bring misunderstanding of what certain clothing items and practices really mean respect and value wise. However, demonstrating

In America, cultural appropriation has been a prominent topic in the media. From the afro in the 70’s and perms in the 80’s, some ethnic groups see some ethnic groups culture fashionable and “aesthetic.” Though not intended, those specific groups (mostly African American and Native American cultures) see this as a form of mockery and feel discredited when someone with power in the media takes a certain style and profits. I believe that if you take a specific item out of it’s original context it is cultural appropriation by using certain items in the media as everyday

Cultural appropriation defines as someone from one culture taking or borrowing aspects of another culture that is not their own. “Appropriation occurs when a style leads to the racial [assumptions and] generalizations…where it [may have stemmed from], but is deemed as high-fashion, cool, or funny when the privileged take it for themselves” (Stenburg). In spite of the slight confusion, cultural appropriation is far more than the idea of pizza merging from Italian immigrants, and eventually becoming a food many people label as American. Cultural appropriation does differ from cultural appropriation, there is a fine line between the two, but nonetheless, they are two different things.

Katy Perry’s music video of “This Is How We Do” is an example of cultural appropriation and it has attracted numerous reactions from the critics and millions of teenage girls who are primarily her audience. The music video refers to different cultures and Katy Perry depicts the culture’s different popular sayings and habits. In an interview with Rolling Stone, she explains that she believes that by showcasing different cultures in her video, she is patronizing them but some of the viewers don’t agree with her. The viewers believe that she is being racist and stereotyping the different cultures. At the beginning of the video, Katy Perry is seen laying on a pool side bed with long, braided hair and holding up a watermelon.

1. Amandla Stenberg defines cultural appropriation as a rampant phenomenon, which it occurs when the appropriator does not have a deep understanding of the significance of a certain culture. Then use this culture as a part of their artworks. 2. The widespread appropriation of hip hop culture rises the movement called “Black Lives Matter”, which is an institutional racism, when the time the police department as an institution brutality against black people.