Don Blaheta teaches computer science at
Longwood University,
in Farmville, Virginia.
He's still finding his way around but hopes to get involved in local
theatre and singing communities as well as carrying on
(in his
copious free time) his old habits of
knitting, reading, and attending some of the many cultural offerings of the
college and the town.
It’s always nice to read different opinions and experiences here.
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This was a really sharp and necessary take. I think you hit the nail on the head when you described acting and translation as applied empathy—crafts that are literally about reaching across difference rather than being confined by it. It’s frustrating how quickly a useful concept like cultural appropriation can get flattened into rigid, essentialist rules that actually erase agency from the very people it’s meant to protect. Your examples—from Pat Boone to Amanda Gorman’s translator—really show how messy the real-world dynamics are, and why nuance matters. It reminds me of how in other industries, like
Mobile pool construction service, success comes from a combination of honoring traditions, using the right tools, and adapting thoughtfully to new contexts—not from gatekeeping who’s “allowed” to build or create. Thanks for putting this in such clear terms!
This community is awesome. I like how supportive people are.
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This is such a sharp and well-argued take. I really appreciate how you highlight the difference between addressing genuine cultural appropriation versus stretching the concept into something counterproductive and even harmful. Denying an artist’s own choice of translator, for example, feels like stripping away their agency in the name of “protection,” which is deeply ironic.
Your point about acting and translation being forms of empathy really resonated with me—it’s about connection, not demographic checkboxes. It reminds me a bit of how tools like
Mail Monitor
work: they don’t replace human judgment but instead provide context and clarity to ensure the real message comes through. Art should be allowed that same space for interpretation, without unnecessary gatekeeping.
Keep up the great work. Looking forward to more posts like this.
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