Embracing Western Ways while cleaving to the traditional

found an article on the western world expanding to the Chinese culture and some response to that. this article was very interesting in a few aspects, some of the youth's embrace to western culture and also the numbers generated by the statistics.


http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-01/21/content_411100.htm

since the reform China's youths have embraced the culture of the west. 'They eat at any of the 600 McDonald's, or 1000 KFC's in China. the flock to the NBA League and Italian soccer matches and would rather watch Hollywood rather than domestically produced films.

This is quite a change from the once secretive society to become a land of consumerism.

Zhang Yan, a junior student at the School of International Studies at Renmin university of China 'People my age are attracted to western trends and products because they are so advanced and innovative.'

I can understand the attractive quality of the advanced technology of the west such as Apple products that would draw the attention of the young. My own experience of going to Hong Kong is very much saturated with western influenced culture and fashion where brands such as Nike and Adidas have clearly won the attention of the young rather than Chinese orientated brands because of the higher quality and obvious brand recognition. where as the attraction of Chinese oriented brands is the cheap cost.

As stated in the article: 'anyone who fails to converse convincingly about international sports stars is considered a hick; the same applies to unfortunates that wear domestic rather than Adidas or Nike brand sports shoes' 

This is the effects of Globalisation, where every country in the world knows a hand full of brands and know the quality so stubbornly stick to the brands. The youth of China have clearly embraced the western ways however this has almost come at the expense of their own heritage. The fact that China is still trying to catch up in the fashion world means that the world around the youths is rapidly changing and it can get hard to lose yourself in the process.

In the Tianjin survey of 2000, 50 percent of students and young people in other occupations agreed with the statement, "Chinese and Western cultures both have weaknesses, and should develop in tandem as they learn from each other." Nearly 30 percent of respondents thought that, "World culture will eventually merge."

World cultures are very important to keep traditional but it cannot be helped to be influenced by another country and their culture.

This article has taught me that in my project i need to carefully balance the two different societies so that i can clearly represent both cultures but as a integration and not an invasion. Note to self: keep this in mind!