Week 4 Lessons

• • Appropriation in art is the use of pre-existing objects or images with little or no transformation applied to them.
  • To appropriate an art does not mean to steal or to plagiarize. It is not owning a particular work but using the artwork in the artist’s new.
  • Most art forms can be appropriated, such as paintings, sculptures, music, dances, literary pieces, and even functional arts.
• Five Types of Appropriation

  1. Object Appropriation
  2. Content
  3. Style
  4. Motif Appropriation
  5. Subject Appropriation
• Occurs when the possession of a tangible work of art is transferred from members of one culture to another culture.

  Object Appropriation
• Occurs when an artist reuses an idea first expressed in the artwork of an artist from another culture.

  Content
• Occurs when an artist produces works with stylistic elements that are common with the works of another culture.

  Style
• Occurs when an artist is influenced by the art of a culture other than their own without creating works in the same style. Basic forms are appropriated

  Motif Appropriation
• Occurs when outsiders represent a subject matter that is intended by insiders to be secret.

  Subject Appropriation
• Pros of Appropriation

  1. Cultural Exchange
  2. Innovation
  3. Expression
• Appropriation can serve as a bridge for cultural exchange, allowing people from different backgrounds to learn from and appreciate one another's traditions. When done respectfully and with mutual consent, it promotes cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

  Cultural Exchange
• By integrating elements from different cultures, appropriation can spur innovation and creativity in art, music, fashion, and other forms of expression. This fusion of ideas often leads to the creation of new and exciting forms of artistic expression that transcend cultural boundaries.

  Innovation
• Appropriation provides artists with a means to explore and reinterpret cultural themes, narratives, and symbols in their work. It allows them to engage with their own cultural heritage or draw inspiration from other cultures, enabling rich and diverse artistic expression.

  Expression
• Cons of Appropriation

  1. Exploitation
  2. Misrepresentation
  3. Power Dynamics
• In many cases, appropriation involves the borrowing of cultural elements from marginalized or oppressed communities by those in positions of power or privilege. This can perpetuate systems of exploitation and commodification, where the cultural contributions of marginalized groups are exploited for commercial gain without adequate recognition or compensation.

  Exploitation
• Appropriation runs the risk of misrepresenting or oversimplifying complex cultural traditions and identities. When cultural elements are taken out of their original context or stripped of their cultural significance, they can be distorted or misunderstood, perpetuating stereotypes and reinforcing cultural misconceptions

  Misrepresentation
• Appropriation often occurs within unequal power dynamics, where dominant cultures appropriate from marginalized or minority cultures without proper acknowledgment or respect. This can further marginalize already disadvantaged communities, reinforcing systems of cultural imperialism and erasing the voices and agency of those whose cultural heritage is being appropriated

  Power Dynamics