Author(s) :

Zixiao Zhang.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

This article comparatively examines the dynamics of cultural hybridization and cultural appropriation through two contemporary case studies: American Dirt (2020) by Jeanine Cummins and the theatrical production Counting and Cracking (2019) by S. Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack. While American Dirt generated controversy for its portrayal of Mexican migrants by a non-Mexican author and was widely criticized as cultural appropriation, Counting and Cracking exemplifies cultural hybridity through its community-rooted and multilingual representation of the Sri Lankan diaspora. Drawing on theories of transculturation, cultural appropriation, and hybridity, this article argues that the distinction between hybridization and appropriation is shaped by historical power asymmetries and institutional frameworks. It concludes that equitable cultural exchange depends on reciprocity, collaborative authorship, and structural accountability within cultural industries.