TenderLovingKiller®
Well-Known Member
This is not cultural appropriation. Appreciation of music defies boundaries. A white dude from the Midwest can give his take and as long as he isn’t presenting himself as something he’s not there is no reason to assume anything is invalid about his criticism.I think the biggest thing on an editorial level for VMP that I've struggled with is the sense of cultural appropriation of artists of color. unintentional or not, theres something that hasnt sat well with me about having some random white guy tell me this hip hop artist or lost 70s singer has value, or now has value because its deemed "essential" so many years later by a white person, and i say this full well knowing that im a cis white male. its a tough balancing act because theres a lot of wonderful artists I would have never have heard of if it wasnt for VMP, or pitchfork for that matter, but theres something that just feels inherently forced and fake about reading a lost jazz albums of the 70s article written by a 25 year old white dude from the midwest.
You can make the case for diversity and obviously people of different backgrounds are going to have different perspectives. If you think more of a voice should be given to different perspectives that is always a valid criticism.
But cultural appropriation it ain’t.
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