CODE SWITCHING

From a linguistics term that refers to mixing languages and speech patterns in conversations. Code-switching broadly refers to the use of different language and/or behavior in different cultural spaces and contexts. Specifically, this often occurs by a member of a marginalized group who, because of an oppressive dominant culture, presents differently in the presence and context of that culture from how they present with those who share their identity. (38)

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COLOR-BLIND CASTING

Selecting actors without taking ethnicity and skin color into account. The theatrical practice of casting actors from different racial or ethnic backgrounds in roles haphazardly, regardless of the very obvious implications this may have on the story being told.

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COLOR-CONSCIOUS CASTING

Taking the profound implications of skin color, including skin tone, into account of the story being told while selecting actors.

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COLORISM

A powerful collection of racist policies that lead to inequities between light skinned people and dark skinned people supported by racist ideas about light and dark people and their proximity to whiteness

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COLOR ANTIRACISM

A powerful collection of antiracist policies that lead to equity between lighter-skinned people and darker-skinned people that is supported by antiracist ideas that erase the hierarchy between lighter- and darker-skinned people.

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CULTURAL APPROPRIATION

Theft of a culture’s elements – including symbols, art, language, customs, etc. – for one’s own use, commodification, or profit often without understanding, acknowledgement, or respect for the elements’ value in the original culture. Results from the assumption of a dominant (i.e. white) culture’s right to take other cultural elements. (39)

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CULTURAL CONSULTANT

A member of the creative team who is able to advocate for cultural awareness and sensitivity with a deep understanding of the attitudes, histories, and characteristics of a specific culture. A job with a high amount of emotional labor, this position often provides strategies, insights, ideas, and perspective through personal experiences.

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CULTURAL DIVERSITY

The idea that every person can make a unique and positive contribution to the larger society because of, rather than in spite of, their differences (1)

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Citations

1. Cultural Diversity: Definition & Meaning | Purdue Global

38. How Code-Switching Explains The World : Code Switch

39. Cultural Appropriation | Colours of Resistance Archive

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