Re: Mass availability and globalization

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Posted by Ilithiya on July 23, 2003 at 16:13:39:

In reply to: Mass availability and globalization posted by Anne Beltestad on July 23, 2003 at 11:08:05:

: As an American this sounds all too familiar. Not to say that it's
specifically
: American cultural imperialism (though the two often go hand in
hand) but rather
: corporate globalization, the tendency to mass produce, mass
consume, standardize,
: homogenize, until all meaning is gone, all difference is gone,
we're just working and
: buying and selling and tuned in to the flashing lights of the TV,
on and on until we
: die an empty shell.
: And this is absolutely, positively, what I stand against and what
I DO NOT want henna
: to become. That kind of "achievement" means nothing but death for
real, living art.

American "culture" isn't culture. Culture has traditions.
Americanization is a soul-sucking lifestyle; a lot of people don't
get it because they're so caught up in it, and it takes a lot of
exposure to honest culture until they see this for what it is.

I am deathly afraid of cross-cultural experiences, and that is
because I was raised all-American, with my only cultural contact
being a pseudo-Bavarian tourist trap (Yes, for those of you in
Washington, I lived in Leavenworth... lol) I break out into cold
sweats at the prospect of going to a real Chinese restaurant. Don't
get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with Americanization, but I
missed out on a lot, and there's a lot more people who'll miss out
too.

Contact with and learning about different cultures and traditions is
wonderful. Ripping off those traditions and robbing them of all
their meaning is one of the worst things that we can do - that's why
so many people in foreign countries think of us as "those stupid
Americans".

My vote is firmly with the anti-commercialization of henna. We can
refuse to be "those stupid white girls (and guys)", but we also
don't have to be Aunti Bibis either. Learn and share and teach, but
never EVER commercialize.

<gets down off soapbox> :)

Illy

Follow Ups

Re: Mass availability and globalization Anne Beltestad 09:06:19 7/25/2003 (0)
it's all about respect n/t Willowhawk 16:17:22 7/23/2003 (0)

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: : As an American this sounds all too familiar. Not to say that it's : specifically : : American cultural imperialism (though the two often go hand in : hand) but rather : : corporate globalization, the tendency to mass produce, mass : consume, standardize, : : homogenize, until all meaning is gone, all difference is gone, : we're just working and : : buying and selling and tuned in to the flashing lights of the TV, : on and on until we : : die an empty shell. : : And this is absolutely, positively, what I stand against and what : I DO NOT want henna : : to become. That kind of "achievement" means nothing but death for : real, living art. : : : American "culture" isn't culture. Culture has traditions. : Americanization is a soul-sucking lifestyle; a lot of people don't : get it because they're so caught up in it, and it takes a lot of : exposure to honest culture until they see this for what it is. : : I am deathly afraid of cross-cultural experiences, and that is : because I was raised all-American, with my only cultural contact : being a pseudo-Bavarian tourist trap (Yes, for those of you in : Washington, I lived in Leavenworth... lol) I break out into cold : sweats at the prospect of going to a real Chinese restaurant. Don't : get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with Americanization, but I : missed out on a lot, and there's a lot more people who'll miss out : too. : : Contact with and learning about different cultures and traditions is : wonderful. Ripping off those traditions and robbing them of all : their meaning is one of the worst things that we can do - that's why : so many people in foreign countries think of us as "those stupid : Americans". : : My vote is firmly with the anti-commercialization of henna. We can : refuse to be "those stupid white girls (and guys)", but we also : don't have to be Aunti Bibis either. Learn and share and teach, but : never EVER commercialize. : : <gets down off soapbox> :) : : Illy
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