appropriation

At its most basic level, *appropriation comes from the Latin appropriare (“to make one’s own”) and refers to taking something for a specific use. In government and business, this often refers to formally allocating money—an “appropriation of funds.” However, in modern social discourse, the word is also strongly associated with cultural appropriation*: taking elements from a culture that isn’t your own (especially from a marginalized group) and using them for your own purposes. While this can sometimes be benign, it often happens without respect, understanding, credit, or consent—think of wearing a Native American headdress as a fashion statement—highlighting a lack of awareness about history and power dynamics.

*Appropriation* is a noun with two distinct but related meanings. In a legal or political context, it refers to the act of setting apart something—usually money—for a specific purpose. For instance, you might hear about Congress passing an “appropriations bill” to fund defense or education.

However, in sociology and everyday conversation, the term refers to the act of taking or adopting ideas, styles, or objects from others. This is where the concept of *cultural appropriation arises. While borrowing between cultures is natural, appropriation* in this context implies a power imbalance where a dominant culture takes elements from a marginalized culture without understanding or respecting their original context.

It is more than just inspiration; it is often about stripping an object of its cultural home for personal gain or aesthetic value. For example, a designer might appropriate traditional patterns from an Indigenous community without crediting the source. This is considered harmful because it devalues the original culture, perpetuates stereotypes, and benefits the taker while ignoring the creator.

In art and media, *appropriation* can also refer more neutrally to reusing or remixing existing images, texts, or styles (sometimes called “appropriation art”), often to comment on the original work, on authorship, or on culture itself.

It is important to distinguish this from cultural exchange, which relies on mutual respect and consent. Ultimately, whether referring to money or culture, *appropriation* is about the power to take something and assign it a new purpose—or treat it as your own.