tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6817682567561164198.post8485056551089100060..comments2024-02-20T09:54:37.105-06:00Comments on Talking About Ritual Magick: Question About Cultural Appropriation in MagickFrater.Barrabbashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11689013897789072360noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6817682567561164198.post-77300398543440599002015-01-24T13:34:17.041-06:002015-01-24T13:34:17.041-06:00I fully admit to be more than a little thrilled to...I fully admit to be more than a little thrilled to hear the exchange between Papa Midnight and Constantine--a prime time television show even lightly touching the issue of cultural appropriation? Knock me over with a feather!<br /><br />In addition to the issues of respect which you've addressed above, I think there is also a strong power differential to be discussed when examining possible instances of cultural appropriation. For example, I'm a white woman who at one point practiced Chinese kung fu and lion dance. Because the grandmaster of our tradition has chosen to teach Westerners his style of kung fu (and in fact was one of the first teachers willing to do so), I believe this falls more on the side of respectful borrowing and cultural exploration than appropriation. However, if I had gone to Chinatown, seen a public demonstration, then began teaching Chinese Mantis Fighting without regard for the original system and culture as a whole, that would be appropriation. Even if I were teaching for free, it would still be appropriation because I, as a member of the dominant culture, did as I pleased with the traditions of a minority culture.<br /><br />To my understanding, it is not so much the pursuit of profit which defines cultural appropriation, but the lack of respect and power differential between the culture of the person doing the stealing versus that of the culture of origin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com