Appropriation USA - Photography Terms & Glossary

Glossary Of Art Terms [1]

Appropriation Appropriation in art refers to the practice of borrowing, copying, or recontextualizing pre-existing images, objects, or cultural elements within a new artistic context. Artists who engage in appropriation often draw from a diverse range of sources, including mass media, advertising, historical artworks, and everyday objects, to create works that comment on issues of authorship, originality, identity, and cultural meaning.
Through appropriation, artists may challenge conventional notions of artistic creation, question the boundaries between high and low culture, or critique prevailing ideologies and power structures. While appropriation can raise questions about intellectual property rights and cultural appropriation, it also serves as a potent tool for exploring the complexities of cultural exchange, intertextuality, and the fluidity of meaning in contemporary art.