Cultural Appropriation vs Cultural Appreciation

Develop ways to effect change in your work and processes

It may seem difficult to understand the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. Ultimately, it is a difference in intent and transaction; voyeurism vs cooperation.

On this two-week course from Livity, you’ll learn how to recognise cultural appropriation and how to develop cultural appreciation in your work instead.

Discover the key differences between appropriation and appreciation

When organisations don’t have a diverse range of perspectives and therefore don’t put the right amount of effort, forethought, or understanding into their work, it can lead to offensive and damaging displays of cultural appropriation.

This course will guide you through a brief history of appropriation, from Alexander the Great in 356BC to Victoria’s Secret 2012 show.

Then, you’ll look at a variety of personal stories of success and failure involving appropriation and its effect on specific individuals and communities.

Dive into the nuance of cultural appreciation

It’s important to be wary of anyone that tries to reduce a culture down to single words or phrases. Similarly, we should be wary of allowing a single aspect of a culture we don’t fully understand to ‘inspire’ our work.

You’ll explore the various facets of cultural appreciation through case studies and examples. You’ll then explore the work that individuals and communities are currently doing to encourage appreciation over appropriation, and discuss where your own opinion sits within a broader context.

Learn how to avoid appropriation and focus on appreciation

At the end of this course, you’ll examine steps that you can take to use your understanding to effect change in your work and processes. And based on the examples throughout this course, you’ll look at what organisations can do to progress.

This course is designed for anyone wanting to contribute to and foster diversity in their processes, specifically within creative industries.

You may find it especially useful if you’re looking to hire a diverse team, whether you’re the founder of a creative start-up, part of a HR team, or in a senior leadership position at a creative agency.

If you would like build on your knowledge, you can take these courses, from the same provider:

• Groupthink: Understanding the Need for a Diverse Workplace
• Cultivating Diversity through Research and Insights

• What is cultural appropriation and is it even a bad thing?
• Introduction to the course
• Part One: Historical examples of appropriation, appreciation or diffusion?
• Part Two: Historical examples of appropriation, appreciation and diffusion
• Wrapping up Week 1
• Defining cultural appropriation and its affect on society
• Welcome to Week 2
• Defining our terms
• Cultural appropriation's impact on arguments and business
• How data-driven approaches can lead to cultural appropriation
• Appreciation vs consumption
• Wrapping up Week 2
• How to avoid appropriating cultures in creative media
• Welcome to Week 3
• What can you do to increase understanding and diversity?
• Discussion task
• Exploring other cultures and getting involved
• End of the course