Question

How culture spreads and changes through diffusion, appropriation and acculturation

Answer 1

Answer:

Cultural diffusion vs Cultural appropriation vs Acculturation

Explanation:

When one culture influences another culture it is called cultural diffusion. When a cultural diffusion takes place and it is considered/recognised as insulting/mocking/disrespectful, then it is called cultural appropriation. When two cultures come into prolonged contact and the dominant one prevails suppressing the other culture, then this cultural change is called acculturation.

Say, when one culture of one country, C₁ influences another culture of another country, C₂ then the culture of the C₁ is said to have spreaded and the culture of C₂ is said to have changed through diffusion. This is called cultural diffusion. In cultural diffusion, generally change in some traits of a particular cultural belief, idea or notion takes place, the entire culture does not change. Example, now due to coronavirus the entire world is adopting the gesture namaste of India to great somebody.

Cultural appropriation is considered to be harmful as it distorts the original meaning of the cultural trait or elements. Example, originally nightie is a nightgown for a woman, but presently in countries like India, Bangladesh,etc it has become a national dress to many women and they are wearing nearly every time of the day and night and even go out in this dress.

In acculturation, individuals of a different culture try to adjust/acquire/adopt themselves to a new and prevailing culture by accepting and practicing it. Example, all Indian men before the invasion of the Britishers used to wear dhoti or pajama, but gradually they started to wear trousers and now nearly all Indians irrespective of being poor or rich or of any religion or region even after so many years of independence still continuing to wear them.