How do you know if something you’re doing, or wearing, is cultural appropriation? What is cultural appropriation? And is it bad? These seem like questions that would have straight-forward answers. But they don’t. 

That’s because cultural appropriation is full of nuance, and it’s this nuance that we’re unpacking. In this episode, we're joined by Melissa Chan, discussing the history of C.A., its points of contention in pop culture, and how it comes up during travel. 

What should we, as travelers, keep in mind to avoid participating in cultural appropriation? 

Guest: Melissa Chan
PhD Candidate, University of Southern California
USC-Mellon Digital Humanities Fellow 2017-2019
East Asian Languages and Cultures

Resources: 

• What's Wrong With Cultural Appropriation?
• PBS Film: Appropriation vs. Appreciation
• “But I didn’t mean it!” Why it’s so hard to prioritize impacts over intents.
• Lily Wunders on Alpaca My Bags: No, Where Are You Really From?
• Martinique Lewis on Alpaca My Bags: The Black Travel Movement

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CREDITS
Written and Hosted by: Erin Hynes
Producer: Kattie Laur
Music from Motion Array
Logo by Nicole Hall