Short Definition
The process in which parts of a culture are taken out of context and used by people outside of that culture often without acknowledgement of their origin/history.
Relevance
Technologies often commodify marginalized cultures without consent, distorting their meaning for profit. Complex issues include defining clear boundaries for cultural ownership and the ethical use of cultural knowledge in globalized tech industries, especially as digital content spreads rapidly.
Further Reading
Costanza-Chock, S. (2020). Design Practices: “Nothing about Us without Us.” In S. Costanza-Chock, Design justice: Community-led practices to build the worlds we need. The MIT Press. https://designjustice.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/cfohnud7/release/4