Cultural Apropriation: a roundtable

Abstract

A roundtable discussion is presented on cultural appropriation, in which artists Salome Asega, Ajay Kurian, and Jacolby Satterwhite, scholars Homi K. Bhabha and Joan Kee; Artforum editor Michelle Kuo; and writer, artist, and activist Gregg Bordowitz participated. They examine these urgent and omnipresent politics of representation, appropriation, and power. In pop culture, appropriation never becomes controversial until the performer who's doing it becomes popular or successful, according to Jacolby. He's been watching Iggy Azalea's career since 2007, and at first her fan base was very diverse, and no one had a problem with her when she was underground--in fact, it was edgy to like her. And then once she had a number-one hit, he saw the exact moment when her growing power brought about this vilification.