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Calling Out Culture Vultures: Nonwhite Interpretations of Cultural Appropriation in the Era of Colorblindness

Green, Aaryn L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535371632312056

Abstract Details

2018, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Sociology.
Colorblind theory argues that racism has not subsided but has taken on a new form which appears nonracial and is hard to detect. Music videos are one form of popular culture that utilizes cross-racial or cultural images which appear to be racially inclusive, but when closely analyzed are firmly rooted in traditional stereotypes and take cultural expressions out of their proper sociohistorical contexts. This process is called cultural appropriation. Too often, researchers have determined what modes of appropriation are or are not harmful to various groups without any input from those groups. In this study I provide a space for racial groups whose creations or expressions are habitually appropriated to tell us which modes of appropriation they consider to be harmful. I use a dual qualitative method—music video content analysis and focus group interviews with 61 participants—to investigate representations of nonwhite cultures and how audiences of color interpret the use of their cultures within popular music videos. Most generally, I ask: how do audiences interpret and discuss cultural representations within popular culture media? More specifically I ask: how do audiences of color come to understand and discuss the cultural appropriation of their own culture and other nonwhite cultures within popular culture? Overall, I argue that the cross-racial/cultural representations which comprise American pop culture are often culturally appropriative, they stereotype, homogenize, and exploit communities of color, and serve to maintain the existing power and racial hierarchy which places the interests and needs of whites over those of people of color. Ultimately I apply critical race and colorblind theories to theories of cultural appropriation to nuance the concept of cultural appropriation, give credence to using pop culture as a site for racial research, and highlight the importance of amplifying the voices of marginalized groups in order to unpack concepts of group identity, power, exploitation, and white domination.
Erynn Casanova, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Annulla Linders, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Jennifer Malat, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
171 p.
Sociology
Race; Cultural Appropriation; Popular Culture; Critical Race Theory; Music

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Green, A. L. (2018). Calling Out Culture Vultures: Nonwhite Interpretations of Cultural Appropriation in the Era of Colorblindness [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535371632312056

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Green, Aaryn. Calling Out Culture Vultures: Nonwhite Interpretations of Cultural Appropriation in the Era of Colorblindness. 2018. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535371632312056.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Green, Aaryn. "Calling Out Culture Vultures: Nonwhite Interpretations of Cultural Appropriation in the Era of Colorblindness." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1535371632312056

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.