Cultural Symbiosis
The National Geographic defines Symbiosis as: “a term describing any relationship or interaction between two dissimilar organisms.” Despitethis typically being used in the context of the animal kingdom, it is also a way to define and analyse the ways in which different people react to the cultures of others. Similarly, to animals, it is very evident that certain cultures are more dominant than others. In the context of the arts, Efforts to bring minorities to visibility through pop culture and are often seen as ‘trashy’ or ‘populist’, of no value to the contemporary art cannon: Not real art. These ideas and concepts, despite being ridiculed, are often whitewashed, diluted and repackaged into something that is ‘acceptable’ for the masses. Is this not what parasites do? Infiltrate an existing organism only to steal/appropriate resources and then move on? Are these relationships between cultures always harmful? Are they always benevolent?
