What is Cultural Appropriation?

Summary

In 1973, Marlon Brando's refusal to accept his Oscar, represented by Sacheen Littlefeather, highlighted Hollywood's misrepresentation of Native Americans. This pivotal moment sparked discussions on cultural appropriation, a concept dating back to the 1940s. The video explores the nuances of culture, its shared nature, and the power dynamics involved in appropriation. It delves into the evolution of culture, the challenges of legal ownership, and the real-world impacts of misrepresenting marginalized cultures, urging viewers to consider the broader implications of cultural representation.

Takeaways

• 🏆 Marlon Brando won the Best Actor award for his role in 'The Godfather' but declined to accept it, sending Sacheen Littlefeather to represent him at the 1973 Academy Awards.
• 🗣️ Sacheen Littlefeather read a statement on Brando's behalf, highlighting Hollywood's misrepresentation of Native Americans and the importance of addressing cultural appropriation.
• 🌐 The concept of cultural appropriation is complex and often involves a mix of appreciation and misuse of elements from another culture.
• 📚 The term 'cultural appropriation' was first used in 1945, but the debate around it has intensified since the 1980s.
• 🤔 The debate on cultural appropriation revolves around three key questions: What is culture? How does power relate to culture? What are the boundaries between participation and appropriation?
• 🧠 Raymond Williams' definition of culture includes three aspects: intellectual and spiritual development, shared ways of life, and shared creative and artistic productivity.
• 🌀 Culture is like concentric circles, with the most tangible and outward-facing aspect being cultural production, which is most susceptible to appropriation.
• 📉 The argument that culture cannot be owned due to its shared nature is flawed because it overlooks the collective ownership by a group and the power dynamics at play.
• 🚫 Cultural appropriation occurs when a dominant culture takes elements from a marginalized culture, removes them from their original context, and uses them without considering the consequences.
• 🎭 The misrepresentation of Native Americans in film has real-world implications, affecting how Native American children perceive themselves and their culture.

Q & A

Who declined the Academy Award on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973?

Sacheen Littlefeather declined the Academy Award on behalf of Marlon Brando in 1973.

Why did Marlon Brando refuse to accept the Oscar for Best Actor in 1973?

Marlon Brando refused to accept the Oscar to protest the movie industry's continued misrepresentation of Native American people in film.

What was the main focus of Sacheen Littlefeather's statement at the Academy Awards in 1973?

The main focus of Sacheen Littlefeather's statement was to draw attention to the American Indian Movement and to highlight the issue of cultural appropriation in film.

When did the term 'cultural appropriation' first appear in print?

The term 'cultural appropriation' first appeared in print in 1945 and was attributed to the late professor Arthur E Christy.

According to Raymond Williams, what are the three main umbrellas under which our modern use of culture exists?

According to Raymond Williams, the three main umbrellas under which our modern use of culture exists are intellectual and spiritual and aesthetic development, shared way of life of a defined group of people, and shared creative and artistic productivity.

What is the most concrete portion of culture according to the script?

The most concrete portion of culture according to the script is cultural production, which includes art, literature, music, films, songs, and general representation of a given culture or group of people.

How does the script describe the concept of cultural appropriation?

The script describes cultural appropriation as a process where a person or a member of a dominant culture takes parts of a marginalized culture, divorces them from their original meaning, and uses them for entertainment value without considering their original context or the negative ramifications for the people from that culture.

What is the significance of the Wounded Knee Massacre in relation to the cultural representation of Native Americans?

The Wounded Knee Massacre of 1890, where an estimated 150-300 Lakota Sioux were killed by US troops, is significant as it represents a historical injustice and is related to the cultural representation of Native Americans because it is an example of how their culture has been misrepresented and appropriated in films and media.

What did Marlon Brando argue was the impact of misrepresenting Native American cultures in movies?

Marlon Brando argued that misrepresenting Native American cultures in movies not only degraded the Indian and made a mockery of his character but also had real-world implications, such as injuring the minds of Native American children who saw their race depicted negatively in films.

What is the relationship between cultural appropriation and power according to the script?

According to the script, cultural appropriation is related to power because it involves a position of power or a member of a dominant culture taking elements from a marginalized culture, often without considering the original context or the negative consequences for the people from that culture.

What is the challenge in establishing legal ownership of cultural products according to the script?

The script states that establishing legal ownership of cultural products is challenging because culture is constantly evolving and shared among a group, making it difficult to attribute a fixed set of creators to a cultural product, which is a requirement for legal protections like copyright or trademarking.