Thoughtful Thursday: Deep Thoughts
Don't you hate it when you are all settled on not thinking for a time and then someone posts something that you just can't stop thinking about?
I do.
Recently, a post on Facebook started me thinking. The post was about cultural appropriation - you know, when people from one culture take over the cultural characteristics of another culture, and in doing so, negate the purpose and traditions behind that culture. I admit that I did not respond to the original post, specifically because I am not sure how I feel about all of this.
I am one of the privileged. I am a highly educated, American woman who has a good job and more than enough. I fit into all the categories of "privileged" in this world. I have instruments and objects from other cultures in my home. I don't adopt the ideas of other cultures, but I probably appropriate those ideas as others have before me. I would never state that I was playing my angklung the way that the persons of Indonesia would, but I can still play the angklung.
Is that arrogance on my part? I can afford to purchase an angklung, so therefore, I am able to make music with that instrument? Well, yes, I can. Am I being culturally insensitive because I use this instrument without knowing much about the culture it comes from? I think that may be where my difficulty comes in. Privilege makes me forget that there are other meanings to things.
I am now going to find out something about this instrument by starting where I always start - wikipedia. (I can hear all the professors collectively spitting out their coffees as they read that statement.) Students, wikipedia is a place to start, but it is not an academic source (have I redeemed myself). According to wikipedia, an angklung originated in West Java and Banten provinces in Indonesia and played an important role in ceremonies.
Can I actually play this instrument if I cannot understand its purpose in its origination? Is it disrespectful if I do play this instrument as part of my therapy practice if I do not understand that tradition and origination? Can I ever really be in a position to understand another tradition or culture?
My brain hurts after all this thinking.
If understanding a culture is a requirement for the use of that culture's music, instruments, and tools, then can we ever truly break out of the culture that we represent? Can I really sing Italian arias from the 1700's? I am not Italian, and I did not live in the situations or culture of the 1700's. Can I sing the music of the Beach Boys? I wasn't born when their music was shared with the world. Can any music other than my own be something that can be authentic in the music therapy session? What about my clients? Can they authentically engage in music that I generate? They may share my cultural heritage and experience, but they may not.
Circling around and around and around this topic makes me sad.
I do not think that there are clear answers to these questions. The more I think about them, the more questions arise. I end up just constantly thinking and never coming to any type of conclusion.
I will continue to do what I can do. I will not state that I understand the uses of various instruments or traditions, but I believe that music transcends cultural boundaries. I may not have a part of a specific culture, but I can still appreciate the traditions and experiences of that culture. I cannot truly understand the culture, but I can make an effort to learn about the culture. I can only present what I know, but I can strive to learn more at all times.
(By the way, if you are interested in learning a bit more about the angklung, check out the link here.)
No more thinking - I need to vacate this train of thought for a while.
I do.
Recently, a post on Facebook started me thinking. The post was about cultural appropriation - you know, when people from one culture take over the cultural characteristics of another culture, and in doing so, negate the purpose and traditions behind that culture. I admit that I did not respond to the original post, specifically because I am not sure how I feel about all of this.
I am one of the privileged. I am a highly educated, American woman who has a good job and more than enough. I fit into all the categories of "privileged" in this world. I have instruments and objects from other cultures in my home. I don't adopt the ideas of other cultures, but I probably appropriate those ideas as others have before me. I would never state that I was playing my angklung the way that the persons of Indonesia would, but I can still play the angklung.
Is that arrogance on my part? I can afford to purchase an angklung, so therefore, I am able to make music with that instrument? Well, yes, I can. Am I being culturally insensitive because I use this instrument without knowing much about the culture it comes from? I think that may be where my difficulty comes in. Privilege makes me forget that there are other meanings to things.
I am now going to find out something about this instrument by starting where I always start - wikipedia. (I can hear all the professors collectively spitting out their coffees as they read that statement.) Students, wikipedia is a place to start, but it is not an academic source (have I redeemed myself). According to wikipedia, an angklung originated in West Java and Banten provinces in Indonesia and played an important role in ceremonies.
Can I actually play this instrument if I cannot understand its purpose in its origination? Is it disrespectful if I do play this instrument as part of my therapy practice if I do not understand that tradition and origination? Can I ever really be in a position to understand another tradition or culture?
My brain hurts after all this thinking.
If understanding a culture is a requirement for the use of that culture's music, instruments, and tools, then can we ever truly break out of the culture that we represent? Can I really sing Italian arias from the 1700's? I am not Italian, and I did not live in the situations or culture of the 1700's. Can I sing the music of the Beach Boys? I wasn't born when their music was shared with the world. Can any music other than my own be something that can be authentic in the music therapy session? What about my clients? Can they authentically engage in music that I generate? They may share my cultural heritage and experience, but they may not.
Circling around and around and around this topic makes me sad.
I do not think that there are clear answers to these questions. The more I think about them, the more questions arise. I end up just constantly thinking and never coming to any type of conclusion.
I will continue to do what I can do. I will not state that I understand the uses of various instruments or traditions, but I believe that music transcends cultural boundaries. I may not have a part of a specific culture, but I can still appreciate the traditions and experiences of that culture. I cannot truly understand the culture, but I can make an effort to learn about the culture. I can only present what I know, but I can strive to learn more at all times.
(By the way, if you are interested in learning a bit more about the angklung, check out the link here.)
No more thinking - I need to vacate this train of thought for a while.
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