Shōgun, the FX series set in feudal Japan, knocked it out of the park at the Emmys last week, winning 18 trophies, including categories like directing, acting, and costume design. It was nothing short of a triumph.

The success of Shōgun is a rebuke to those who have tried to stymie and muzzle artistic output in the name of cultural appropriation. Given all the flashpoints over artistic or cultural expression in the last four years, such as removing classic books in public libraries, or almost removing dwarves from the upcoming remake of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, all in the name of the debate over cultural appropriation seems almost quaint in 2024.