Week 10 - Melanie Esparza

The essay New Age Commodification and Appropriation of Spirituality speaks about a number of dilemmas that have arisen as New Age spirituality has come into being. With the invention of the internet along with several information-sharing platforms, it is easier than ever to learn things you might have otherwise never known about. With that, there is an opportunity to learn about cultures other than your own, and if done incorrectly, you can end up appropriating or commodifying another group’s culture or traditions. This is largely because there is a notable lack of culture or tradition in the West. Moreover, a lot of the traditions and cultures that do exist are not the kind that we want to perpetuate. This creates a dilemma for those who want to learn and change but cannot do so within their own culture. I have personally struggled with this issue because I have only had myself to learn from up until this class. However, I think the best way forward is to proceed with caution and always remain respectful of all cultures and traditions. Accept criticism and learn from it.

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