Read the excerpt from an art history dissertation below. Based on the contextual clues, type the most accurate verb into the blank that captures the author's critical stance on how European artists utilized indigenous artifacts.
Answer:During the early twentieth century, avant-garde artists frequently sought to revitalize their stagnant aesthetic traditions by looking beyond Western Europe. However, contemporary cultural critics argue that these artists did not merely draw respectful inspiration from African and Oceanic art; rather, they sought to 【appropriate】 these cultural artifacts, systematically stripping them of their original ritualistic significance and commodifying their aesthetic forms for elite Parisian galleries.
Answer
The blank is best filled by words like 'appropriate', 'co-opt', or 'expropriate', which denote taking something for one's own use while often removing its original context.
The correct verb must capture the author's critical tone and align with the actions described: taking an artifact, erasing its cultural meaning, and repurposing it for commercial gain. In academic discourse, 'appropriate' (as a verb) or 'co-opt' precisely means to take something for one's own use, often without permission or respect for its original context. This perfectly contrasts with the phrase 'respectful inspiration'.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Using structural contrasts and descriptive clauses to deduce the precise meaning and tone of a missing academic term.