What I’m Reading: Articles About Cultural Appropriation

College of DuPage

Last summer news broke that the Museum of Fine Arts Boston was facing heat for its “Kimono Wednesdays” attraction. The exhibit allowed patrons of the museum to try on a replica of the kimono seen in Monet’s “La Japonaise” while posing for selfies with the famous painting.

Although the intent behind “Kimono Wednesdays” was to increase engagement and patron enjoyment, a small group of people protested the event, complaining of racist stereotyping and cultural appropriation. Since then, numerous articles have appeared in The Boston Globe and other publications analyzing what is appropriate and what is appropriation when it comes to cultural and educational institutions.

I have used those articles as a platform for discussion in classes I teach about the arts, morals and ethics, and cultural diversity. The comment threads on the articles also offer insight into society’s views on the issue. While some comments are borderline inappropriate, they are often extreme to the point that even the least-engaged students will perk up and add to the conversation. The articles not only raise questions concerning the nature of art and cultural appropriation; they also shed light on the nature of humanity as represented by online communities.