Culture: A fine line between the beauty of appreciation and the ugliness of disrespect
Exploring different cultures is arguably one of the most pleasurable things to do. But how do we know if we are doing it respectfully?

You step foot into a newly opened Japanese restaurant. You are greeted by friendly smiles, polite nods, and waiters saying irasshaimase—or welcome in Japanese. The scent of fried food seeps into your nose, and a warm fuzzy feeling spreads all over you. Buzzing with anticipation, you order shrimp tempura—a Japanese fried dish—for the first time. You dip it into the tentsuyu sauce and take a greedy bite. Satisfaction spreads all over your body. 

This heavenly feeling you may ask, is the joy of appreciating other cultures.

Culture is one of the pillars of humanity. It is the beautiful composite of all the history, cuisine, and arts cultivated by those before us. From our social habits to our beliefs, our cultures shape who we are. It is the doorway to truly experience the wisdom, artistic expression and love of a community.

Now, you are fascinated by other cultures. Who doesn’t love beautiful things? Chances are, you were inspired by it. That magical bite of tempura reminded you of a dish from your own culture, and you can’t wait to combine them and create a completely new dish. To share this ecstatic feeling, you will post the recipe on TikTok.

“This is a perfect plan,” you thought on your way home. But an alarm rings in your head. The term ‘cultural appropriation’ crosses through your mind. Hesitation rises. Is it wrong to add a creative twist to others’ culture? How do you balance the fine line between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation? 

A checklist to avoid cultural appropriation

1. Ask yourself, “Am I coming from a place of genuine interest to appreciate the original value and tradition of the culture?”

When you try a new cultural practice, make sure you aren’t doing so from a judgemental point of view.

In many cases, Westerners are praised for trying certain cultural traditions, while people from that culture are made fun of for practicing those same traditions. For example, people from Hong Kong have received racist insults for eating roasted goose, a local dish, but when Westerners try it, they are deemed as ‘cool,’ ‘brave,’ and ‘open-minded.’

It is crucial to ensure that we are respecting the culture itself, instead of putting the idea of foreigners having that cultural experience on a pedestal.

2. Educate yourself on the cultural experience that you are interested in.

Researching the cultural practice, such as its history, meaning, and traditional practice can help avoid misinterpretation. To truly appreciate a culture also means taking the time and effort to learn its history and meaning.

In this age where everything is available online; it is important to fact-check and do research on different content. The media might be able to show a glimpse of cultural context, but something as rich and deep as culture requires effort to truly understand it. Sorry to break it to you but learning about a culture requires more than watching a TikTok video.

3. Give credit to where the cultural practice originated from, and share your ideas with accurate context.

While it is exciting to present your vision, it is crucial to share where your inspiration comes from while expressing your creativity. This small step can make certain that the culture is being represented accurately and that you are respecting the culture’s origin.

Why should you care?

It is a privilege that we get to be in an international place like the University of Toronto, where we are exposed to various cultures. While we benefit from learning from other cultures, it is key that we preserve the culture’s originality and spirit.

It is incredibly disrespectful and foolish to undermine, mock, or disregard other cultures just because they are different than our own. Culture bridges humanity. The first step to creating a peaceful, loving, and ever-growing community is to respect other cultures.

Just do it!

It may be a lot of work, but you should still explore a lot of cultures. Being open-minded can expand our vision and knowledge in ways beyond our imagination. It could lead us to many places—both figuratively and literally!

So, what are you waiting for? Go try that Greek cuisine you have been thinking about, read that book about Indigenous culture you were recommended, or even take that summer abroad course that you have been meaning to apply!