VIRTUAL: Prague Heritages

Abstract

Humans have long borrowed motifs and techniques from other cultures and regions, incorporating them into their own stories and cultural monuments. In regions that became centers of trade and contained a confluence of cultures, such as Venice, Alexandria, or New York City, this mixing of cultures has become a local cultural marker in and of itself. While in the past, this sharing of traditions, techniques, motifs, and beliefs took time, today, we can access images and stories of other cultures at the tap of a button, allowing us to draw inspiration from places we’ve never been and people we’ve never met. As designers, we are constantly on the lookout for inspiration. Yet, when we draw this inspiration from cultures and people that are foreign to us, we risk appropriating and demeaning sacred cultural traditions or marginalized peoples. With an increasing number of marginalized populations gaining a voice and speaking up when they perceive their cultural traditions as being appropriated, designers are being asked to question where the line sits between “inspiration” and “appropriation”. This talk will discuss the difference between inspiration and appropriation, while examining current case studies and conversations around the topic. It will allow participants to question their own beliefs, asking: In an increasingly globalized world, is it possible or even desired for cultures to develop in isolation? And, how can we develop as global citizens, while also being aware of the risks of appropriation?