approximations on the aesthetics of othering.

There are plenty of examples of cultural appropriation, whether it is in the field of music, fashion, decontextualization of traditional tools, in the name of equality and rebellion to the status quo, a stand-in for “I am not racist, I have a ______ friend”, but this misinterpreted—or rather naive—form of integration through acceptance of diversity often falls into the category of exploitative forms of consumption of the other. These forms of consumption reinforce the norm. In this respect diversity becomes a commodity, one that is as gratifying as it is profitable, one that adds flavor to the mix but to a certain delimited quota (as in TV-shows, film, advertising and other forms of mass media), a commodity that is acceptable in supermarkets, restaurants and food stands, but not in public life.