Cultural Appropriation

Cultural Appropriation

Introduction

The cultural appropriation is the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society. It’s any action that aims to take advantage of the art and culture of another ethnic group, which is usually a minority.

In ours days, a lot of scandal beaks out like J-LO and the n-word, Ariana Grande’s skin getting darker and darker or white people having dreadlocks.

By the way, music is more and more a cultural appropriation field and a sensitive subject.

Our subject is “Cultural appropriation in music specially in Jazz”. In a first time, we will talk about cultural appropriation in music. And secondly, we’ll see the cultural appreciation in music.

Cultural appropriation

1920 is the period when country and jazz appeared in the music lands. These two musical styles are essentially “created” by the American black community. The country as for it, born thanks to the folk and the blues in South Africa. These 2 styles remain to this day two musical genres representing the identity of the country. Therefore, it is amazing how ignorant the country is about the origins of these musical genre. But it is understandable because in Spotify, black artists are in the lowlands. The reason is simple, when music took off in the 1930s, radio stations categorically refused to play black artists. In this way, The Beatles notoriously entered the rock ‘n’ roll scene emulating these founders, playing a repertoire full of early Black rock ‘n’ roll covers like little Richard. And Elvis Presley is one who covered songs by Black artists, like “That's Alright, Mama,” “Hound Dog,” and “Don't Be Cruel,” and rising to fame as the “King of Rock 'n' Roll,” when Black artists such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard didn't benefit nearly as much from the genre they essentially started. 

Cultural appreciation

Cultural appropriation can bring some benefits.

The fact of appropriating a style of music can reach more people with famous artist who covers lesser-know music. By example most people think Whitney Houston created “I will always love you” whereas it is Dolly Parton.

Cultural appropriation of different styles of music can help to create new styles of music like Reggae which is a mix of Jazz and R&B, or Pop which is a mix of R&B, Jazz, Folk, Rock ’n’ roll, Variété, Country and Soul.

Finally, if cultural appropriation is done with respect for different cultures, it can be a good thing

Conclusion

Jazz is a place where you can be yourself. Jazz is the musical equivalent of that. Jazz is a celebration of culture, and always pays homage to, and respects those who have paved the way. Jazz is, like America should be, a celebration of all cultures. In other words, people just get together to play the music, to grow together. It’s the word of Louis Armstrong.

To conclude, it is important to note the difference between appropriation and appreciation.  Where an artist making appreciation will credit or pay homage to the culture from which he will draw inspiration, an artist making appropriation will seek to exploit an element and announce himself as the creator or the origin of this element.

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