BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME;VALUE=TEXT:Cultural Politics Seminar: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (In Person) PRODID:-//Harvard events data//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:event_1876966_0 SUMMARY:Cultural Politics Seminar: Interdisciplinary Perspectives (In Person) DESCRIPTION:

"The Case for Cultural Appropriation"

Speaker:

Martin Puchner, Byron and Anita Wien Professor of Drama and of English and Comparative Literature, Department of English, Harvard University.

Contact:

Charles Gaillard
cgaillard@fas.harvard.edu

Chair:

Panagiotis Roilos, Faculty Associate. George Seferis Professor of Modern Greek Studies, Department of the Classics; Professor of Comparative Literature, Department of Comparative Literature, Harvard University.

Abstract:

Worries about cultural appropriation have become dominant in the past decade, shaping cultural policies intended to protect minority cultures from exploitation. But is the idea of appropriation — which assumes that culture is the property of individuals or groups — the right tool? I will argue that it is not. While well-intentioned, the theory of cultural appropriation disregards the fundamental role of exchange in how cultures develop and thrive. Because the theory of appropriation is fundamentally at odds with how culture works, it ends up doing more harm than good. I will propose an alternative way of avoiding exploitation, one more in keeping with the history of culture.

LOCATION:CGIS Knafel, 1737 Cambridge Street, Bowie-Vernon Room (K262) STATUS:CONFIRMED DTSTART:20241107T230000Z DTEND:20241108T003000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR