Cultural appropriation can best be defined as the use or adoption of elements of one specific culture by members of a different culture. One of the primary ways to make best use of one’s travels is through immersion of oneself into the culture of the geographic location visited. In a land where all is green and unfamiliar, approaching such experience with an open mind allows for the experience to mold your identity. Alfred, Lord Tennyson in “Ulysses” states, “I am a part of all that I have met.” This is applicable to every traveler seeking a greater sense of being through geographic relocation whether it is temporary or permanent in nature. But when does this go too far? When is adoption of specific cultural elements with the intention of acquiring
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Intent determines the distinct difference between an encounter and an experience. Therefore, Davies clarifies the distinction between cultural immersion with the intent of growing in knowledge and global appreciation versus cultural appropriation marked by invasion and a lack of drive to understand or learn about a particular culture. Adichie’s “The Thing Around Your Neck” tells the story of Akunna, a young African- born woman who wins a visa to go live in America and subsequently learns that good fortune is not granted to all who inhabit the states. Many assume because she is black with an accent that she must be from Jamaica. However, becoming accustomed to these interactions, she seems rather taken back by Adichie’s deceivingly well-traveled male character that was familiar with her home and its customs. However, these opportunities were afforded by the work of his parents. “He said he had taken a couple of years off to discover himself and travel, mostly to Africa and Asia. You asked him where he ended up finding himself and he laughed. You did not laugh. You did not know that people could simply choose not to go to school, that people could dictate to life” (Adichie …show more content…
“Political correctness” in itself presents a contradiction. In order to know what is right, we must also know what is wrong. The application of the ever-changing political correctness is not the less-offensive plan of evacuation from social indecency. In order to know what is deemed politically correct, it must be separated from the “politically incorrect”, aka the judgments, stereotypes, and preconception that the alternate notion will inflict nominal offense. In lieu of this logic, it seems by the definition of political correctness, the attempt to be politically correct itself is rather diplomatically incorrect. In terms of tangibility and concrete means of cultural exploration, Adichie and Davies reaffirm intention as the primary distinction between cultural appropriation conducted in an exploitive manner versus adopting migratory subjectivities in an appropriate nature, allowing novel experiences to mold ones nationality, an ever-evolving
Intent determines the distinct difference between an encounter and an experience. Therefore, Davies clarifies the distinction between cultural immersion with the intent of growing in knowledge and global appreciation versus cultural appropriation marked by invasion and a lack of drive to understand or learn about a particular culture. Adichie’s “The Thing Around Your Neck” tells the story of Akunna, a young African- born woman who wins a visa to go live in America and subsequently learns that good fortune is not granted to all who inhabit the states. Many assume because she is black with an accent that she must be from Jamaica. However, becoming accustomed to these interactions, she seems rather taken back by Adichie’s deceivingly well-traveled male character that was familiar with her home and its customs. However, these opportunities were afforded by the work of his parents. “He said he had taken a couple of years off to discover himself and travel, mostly to Africa and Asia. You asked him where he ended up finding himself and he laughed. You did not laugh. You did not know that people could simply choose not to go to school, that people could dictate to life” (Adichie …show more content…
“Political correctness” in itself presents a contradiction. In order to know what is right, we must also know what is wrong. The application of the ever-changing political correctness is not the less-offensive plan of evacuation from social indecency. In order to know what is deemed politically correct, it must be separated from the “politically incorrect”, aka the judgments, stereotypes, and preconception that the alternate notion will inflict nominal offense. In lieu of this logic, it seems by the definition of political correctness, the attempt to be politically correct itself is rather diplomatically incorrect. In terms of tangibility and concrete means of cultural exploration, Adichie and Davies reaffirm intention as the primary distinction between cultural appropriation conducted in an exploitive manner versus adopting migratory subjectivities in an appropriate nature, allowing novel experiences to mold ones nationality, an ever-evolving