Artists and other creative people in Western societies have long taken or adapted styles and traditions from other societies, often displaying and incorporating them without context or treating them as "exotic" novelties. When this happens today in modern art, music, fashion, and other fields, some critics accuse artists of appropriating other people's culture, especially if they have borrowed or used traditions specific to a particular minority group.Those who support such cultural borrowing argue that art has always been a medium of exchange, influence, and fusion and that the practice is more cultural appreciation than cultural appropriation. Placing restrictions on inspiration, they contend, may stifle artistic expression. Opponents of cultural borrowing argue that artists are often ignorant of the context and significance of different styles and traditions, and that appropriating them can distort or misrepresent their meaning. What might seem like innocent borrowing, they contend, can perpetuate stereotypes and echo past injustices. Should artists be allowed to borrow from cultures besides their own?Audio only.

Originally released by Open to Debate, 2023. Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on June 06, 2024.