Abstract

This study examines cultural appropriation frameworks through a comparative analysis of visual arts, performing 
arts, music, and literature across diverse regional contexts. It interrogates the complex relationship between 
cultural hybridity and appropriation, emphasizing how power asymmetries, historical inequalities, and globalized 
cultural flows shape artistic production and interpretation. By situating appropriation within colonial and 
postcolonial dynamics, the study highlights how dominant cultures often extract, commodify, and recontextualize 
elements from marginalized communities without adequate recognition or reciprocity. The paper further evaluates 
how different art forms negotiate authorship, authenticity, and representation, revealing that appropriation is not a 
fixed category but a spectrum influenced by intent, context, and impact. Through interdisciplinary and 
comparative methodologies, the study underscores the importance of ethical engagement, community 
collaboration, and culturally sensitive frameworks in mitigating harm. It also identifies key limitations in existing 
models, including overreliance on binary power structures and insufficient attention to co-creative and digital 
practices. Ultimately, the study proposes a more nuanced, reflexive framework that balances creative exchange 
with accountability, contributing to ongoing debates on cultural ownership, equity, and the future of global 
cultural production.