Race, Economics, Disparities and the Co-Opting of Culture - Never to be Finished

There have been many documented instances of Western Civilization co-opting elements from the cultures which it has come in contact with over time. Indeed, one might argue that the entire concept of Western Civilization itself is one of co-optionization. For, after all, Western Civilization was based upon decidedly non-Western societies -- first the Greeks, then the Romans. Over time the central geographic regions of Western Civilization has also shifted from the afore-mentioned societies to Europe, Britain, and then the Americas in the form of the United States.

When one truly talks about Western Civilization, however, one is stating in a less-than-inflammatory way that he or she will be discussing the accomplishments of the Caucasian Race, sometimes simply stated as the "white race." For if we are to truly look at Western Civilization and its ideals, as well as the history from whence it has come, it is intrinsically linked to the White race. Undoubtedly the regions of Europe, and later the United States of America, held onto racial views of superiority as an explanation for the accomplishments of their societies and civilizations.

Still, all of these high-minded and macro-views of Race, civilization, and co-option will never be as affective in illustrating how societies work, how co-option is done, and how it affects the people involved as does a specific example in a micro level with which people might be able to relate.

One of these examples came to me unexpectedly. I was attending a Drum-Line performance at Collins Hill High School in Gwinett County, Georgia. I was attending with my girlfriend in order to see her sister perform. Altogether the performance was very good, the talent of the performers was very high, and I commend the accomplishments of the Drumline and its instructors and applaud all of the hard work they obviously put into the show. I do not wish to diminish their work in anyway, and the following should not be taken as an attempt to do this.

The name of the show was Beat Box 2004. It was an arrangement of a Leonard Bernstein Piece that had been, in the words of the instructor, "sauced up." This "saucing up" was done in the form of "hip-hopping" the show -- the performers were dressed in a style attempting to be hip-hop, they were instructed to move around like performers at a hip-hop show, and at one point in the show some of the performers got on mics and began "beat boxing."

While a good show, the absurdity of the image being presented to me hit hime. Now, many people have seen white suburban kids, or even suburban kids of any race, crede or color, attempt to act "ghetto" and many of us have laughed at these attempts. Many of these kids simply have no reference point when it comes to the actual conditions which brought about the culture they are attempting to emulate.

posted by Pacer 3/07/2004