Appropriative

Appropriative describes something that takes something else for its own use, often without permission, acknowledgment, or understanding of the original source. It implies a transfer of value or meaning, where the taker may benefit from the original creation or resource in a way that potentially dispossesses or diminishes the original creator or owner. This can apply to tangible objects, artistic expressions, cultural practices, scientific knowledge, and even abstract concepts. The term carries connotations of power imbalances, exploitation, and the ethical complexities of cultural exchange and ownership. It can also involve the adoption of language, symbolism, or techniques from other cultures or subcultures.

Appropriative meaning with examples

• The artist was criticized for his appropriative use of Native American imagery, failing to acknowledge the cultural significance or give proper credit. His work, though visually striking, was seen as insensitive and disrespectful to the heritage of the source.
• The company's marketing campaign used an appropriative strategy, lifting slogans and imagery from a local grassroots movement without seeking permission or understanding their cause. It faced immediate backlash from the community for its perceived exploitation.
• Scholars debated the ethics of scientific research that conducted appropriative use of Indigenous knowledge regarding traditional medicinal practices, arguing whether it served the communities.
• Critics labeled the band's sound 'appropriative' due to their direct mimicking of a previously well-known artists' unique style of playing, with an overwhelming absence of originality and creativity of their own.
• The novelist's appropriative handling of historical events and characterizations was heavily criticized for misrepresenting and distorting the past, sacrificing accuracy to build a narrative that benefited his own purposes.