Book Title: Appropriation, Racism, and Art: Constructing American Identities

Subtitle: A Humanities Textbook: Lower Division

Author: Theodore Gracyk

Book Description: An introductory examination of cultural appropriation in the fine arts and popular arts of the United States, with reference to historical, literary, and other cultural developments. The primary focus is the use of cultural appropriation to communicate ideas about racial identity in ways that have served the interests of the dominant culture. Areas of specific concern are voice appropriation, content appropriation, style appropriation, and motif appropriation. The emphasis is on historically significant examples in the visual arts, literature, theater, and music. As expressive communication, the arts are central to cultural identity. Cultural appropriation is wrong when it undermines America's diversity of cultural identities. Generations of American artists have used cultural appropriation as a tool of racial privilege. Despite this history of harmful and wrongful appropriation, cultural appropriation also provides a tactic of response and self-empowerment for non-dominant groups. Appropriation is frequently used by non-dominant groups and subcultures as a tool of active resistance against stereotyping and discrimination.