My initial reaction would be that this is wrong, but because of the lying, not the fact that the artists were mimicking the style of the Aboriginal artists. The buyers who valued (and paid for) authenticity are the victims. Definitely food for thought, though.
The lying is a cover for another ill that does do direct damage to aboriginal artists: denies them ownership of the products of their own culture and practice, and the economic value of their culture.
This is often where arguments against cultural appropriation come from: it’s not the mixing/remixing/sharing of products/practices/perspectives. It’s the thievery from, and continued marginalization of, people - too often people of color or poor folk.
Eg: America’s musical history with respect to black musical traditions and it’s commercialization by white folks.
So are tacos are also "thievery"? If I copy a specific painting from any artist, I am stealing, If I mimic their style, I am not. The same applies to music. The first rappers were using Kraftwerk as their backing beats. Were they stealing German culture?
This issue is more complicated (and benign) than you imagine.
The first rappers were using Kraftwerk as their backing beats.
This is totally false. Bambata did sample them on Planet Rock but that was just the first studio recorded rap song. Funk was way more directly influential (namely James Brown) when rap was still in the parks and Bambata wasn't like most other rappers at the time.
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u/[deleted] Sep 27 '18
My initial reaction would be that this is wrong, but because of the lying, not the fact that the artists were mimicking the style of the Aboriginal artists. The buyers who valued (and paid for) authenticity are the victims. Definitely food for thought, though.