Coachella Means Cultural Appropriation Time!

Coachella, a trademark event for music and art advocates. A variety of musicians and artists are featured at this event. This year, big names like A$ap Rocky and Calvin Harris will be making their appearances, leaving their marks with amazing performances. Obviously, pop culture icons like Kendall Jenner and Vanessa Hudgens have been spotted at this pivotal festival years before, and their style gets applauded as the perfect “bohemian chic”. The coachella vibe has always tended to have a bohemian feel. The problem with this “vibe” is that it often results in cultural appropriation.

What is cultural appropriation?

Cultural appropriation is simply defined as someone adopting aspects of a culture that is not their own. Coachella would be a huge example and excuse to do so. Guests will sport cultural related attire. For example, they will glam up a Native American headdress and not realize (and sometimes not care) it’s offense towards others.

Not always do people realize that they are appropriating culture. They simply believe that they look cute with this new trend.

This hipster’s paradise is home of cultural appropriation. From henna tattoos to bindis. People will take bits and pieces from any cultures they please and make it a festival trend. But tribal prints and chopsticks in your hair don’t make you look festival ready, it makes you look ignorant.

Many people use the excuse that they are not appropriating but they are appreciating. The fault in this is that they don’t acknowledge the struggle people of color face. Especially when aspects of their culture get teased, but later become a trend. Not only is it disrespectful but it is offensive.

Although, not everyone that attends coachella appropriates culture. It is overall a fantastic event with great entertainment. The cultural appropriation is still a common offense, and year after year it seems to get worse. If you plan on making an appearance at coachella this year, remember you don’t need to sport offensive fashions to look amazing and have a good time.