After Brasserie Lorraine in Bern, a restaurant in Zurich has now canceled a performance of white rasta musician. Reason: This is a cultural appropriation. In his new book, cultural journalist Jens Balzer explores this term on everyone’s lips. This brings calm to the discussion.
“Convenient! But do it right!” That’s the slogan of Jane’s article “Personalization Ethics,” to be published Thursday. In it, the Berlin cultural journalist puts forward an ethical approach. “Instead of uttering prohibitions, how about asking what we have gained from appropriation? We can’t do anything inappropriate anyway. This is the core of every culture, so let’s do it right! “
But what is this good and morally correct possession? In his book, Jens Balzer advocates taking a conscious attitude. He writes: “Good, reflexive, critical appropriation always takes into account and questions the power relations in which we live. It is therefore opposed to any kind of ideological uniformity.”
Examples of Elvis, Clapton and Eminem
The author follows the ramifications of the discourses in less than a hundred pages. Not argumentative, but methodical: “I wanted us to get out of the vortex of anger,” he says. It looks at the potential for cultural appropriation without ignoring its problems.
Balzer looks at the balance of power that has been revealed, for example, in the success of Elvis, Eric Clapton, and Eminem: they have become icons of what is actually black rock and roll, what is actually black blues and what is actually black hip shop.
Our longing for originality
Jens Balzer brings a new twist to the debate by revealing a yearning for authenticity – a problematic impulse for cultural appropriation. He said in an interview, “White musicians took over African American jazz at the beginning of the 20th century because they thought it was particularly unruly. Hippies wore Indian costumes because they expected Indians to be close to nature. So people wanted to consume an authenticity that they thought they had lost in their technological society.” .
Jens Balzer notes such simplifications not only in the cultural appropriation itself, but also in its critique. For example in the last debate: It was triggered by the cancellation of a reggae band Lawarme’s concert in the Bernese neighborhood bar.
“Reggae has nothing to do with indigenous cultures or authenticity, but is a postmodern blend of the most diverse musical traditions from Africa, the USA, and the Caribbean in the 1950s and 1960s,” says Balzer.
Promote constructive exchange
When the controversy spread to Germany at the end of July, the book was already in print. However, it comes at the exact right time. Because it distinguishes the debates that underlie the Berne party or the recent Zurich incident. It invites you to think about how to do it better.
“Instead of interrupting a concert with an energetic rage, you can play it to the end and then discuss it afterwards.” This is also what Jens Balzer wishes for the future: “We must learn to manage discourse without absolute facts. And whatever applies: Think first, then tweet. “
“Professional music expert. Creator. Student. Twitter aficionado. Unapologetic coffee trailblazer.”
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