Beaconsfield Together January and February 2024

ISSUE 18
THE YOUNG
Celebrating Culture
in the Modern Day
Globalization has sped up cultural
interchange in contemporary times,
but it has also sparked worries about
the commercialization and superficial
acceptance of traditional features. The
development of the internet and mass
media has made it easier for cultural
practices to spread, often without the
proper context or regard. This has
negatively impacted people from a variety
of different cultures, sometimes raising
concerns regarding cultural appropriation.
Cultural appropriation is the act of individuals of
one culture adopting or absorbing aspects of
another, frequently without acknowledging or
respecting the value of such aspects. It often
happens when a dominant culture that wields
more social, economic, or political influence
appropriates practices, symbols, or artifacts
from a minority or marginalized culture.This
perpetuates power disparities and runs the
risk of undermining the cultural integrity of the
appropriated practices, symbols, or artifacts.
There are an immense number of ways to
appreciate any and every type of culture;
regardless of who you are, or where you are,
there are ways to incorporate the appreciation
of cultures of people from all walks of life, for
example: the exploration of cuisine; trying and
enjoying dishes from different cultures,
appreciating the unique flavours, ingredients and
cooking techniques they use. Another is through
educating oneself about the cultural significance
of clothing and customs. One example is bindis,
which have spiritual and cultural significance as
a traditional Hindu forehead ornament. This
emphasizes how crucial it is to respect and
comprehend the cultural context of practices
and symbols to prevent damage from being
perpetuated through appropriation.
It is important to be able to connect with your
community while also participating in/attending
cultural festivals, showing interest in oppressed
and marginalized people, and normalizing people
outwardly expressing love for their own culture
and the culture of others. As a welcoming,
diverse community, should we not be aware of
the differences of how to show appreciation for
culture rather than trying to appropriate it? After
all, all cultures are beautiful in their own ways.
Huda Janjua
Huda is a student at Amersham School
Sixth Form. She is keen to use her writing to
promote equality and tackle social injustices.
Disclaimer
Please note: the opinions and findings expressed in this article are
solely those of the author and should not be assumed to be those of
Amersham and Chalfont Together or its affiliates.
10 Beaconsfield Giving Together our is future part of the Community freedom of Together speech