Into the Modern: The Spread of Middle Eastern and Asian Cultures into Western Communities

This week, I chose to explore the blogosphere looking for stories connecting Western Europe with cultures from the Middle East and Asia. What I found were several articles that talked about different areas of culture, but all of which described the spread of Asian cultures into Europe. Some, like the presence of Vietnamese restaurants in Paris, remind us of the connections these countries once shared in colonial times. Indeed, Paris’ occupation of Vietnam in the mid- to late-19th century contributed greatly to Vietnamese culture, from their food to their economics. We see in Edwards’ blog that the cultural mixing continues as Edwards, a business traveler, takes comfort in the 13th arrondissement and its restaurant offerings. Other areas of Asian influence in Europe have taken form in a different, and extremely creative, way. In London, two art exhibits have recently opened that feature Middle Eastern artists and “the emergence of a global altermodernity.” The exhibits usher in this new form of art with style. It is said that in order to see the entire display would take about twenty-four hours due to the complexity and number of interesting pieces. Shocking works of art are not just about a stationary sculpture; one of the pieces, for example, features local musicians that play politically themed songs on a giant accordion. Both the art exhibits in London and the restaurants in Paris remind us that the effects of globalization are not one-way, although they are certainly held in a more negative light in areas of the world that experience Westernization. What we come to realize is perhaps the countries that do the majority of the influencing can pick and choose what they take from others: in Paris, they take the restaurants and the authentic food, yet they do not recognize the importance of a building in which a controversial political leader once lived. In London, art exhibits make a huge impression. But what does it take to awaken Europeans to the idea of the Middle East? Modernity, a change, and controversy that is displayed directly before their eyes. Below, I have pasted copies of my comments on each of the blogs. The first blog I explore is "Finding Hanoi in Paris" by Erin G. Edwards. The second is Pam Kent’s "In London, Two Exhibits, Each With a Message." Both posts are part of the Globespotters blog of the International Herald Tribune.

"Finding Hanoi in Paris"
Comment

I thoroughly enjoyed your post and share your appreciation for the presence of Asian cultures in Western contexts. It is interesting that you mention the presence of a large Asian community within the Parisian atmosphere. Although your article centers on the Vietnamese culture represented, you also mention that the 13th arrondissement is typically referred to as Chinatown. The grouping together of these two cultures, which are very distinct in their own way, demonstrates a certain disregard by Western societies for the intricacies of Asian culture. It seems that here in the United States as well that there are communities that come together to share their food, their clothing and their music but that become amalgamated with other Asian civilizations. For example, Chinatown in Los Angeles also features one of the better Filipino restaurants in the area. The two cultures are completely different, yet what they have to offer is grouped into one category by Americans – they are Asian countries, not separately the Philippines and China. From what you mentioned about the previous residence of Ho Chi Minh, it causes me to wonder if the French do something similar: do you feel that Europeans pick and choose parts of other cultures that they want to experience and overlook the rest? Ho Chi Minh’s former home, which should be at the very least recognized by a plaque of some sort, remains hidden in the depths of Chinatown. What drives Parisians to want to erase this part of history from their city? It could be that Parisians and Europeans in general are hesitant to acknowledge the presence of someone historically remembered as being the ultimate opposing force to their democratic and capitalistic lifestyle. However, it could also be the fear of their own past: Western cultures fear their contribution to the evil that has taken place in history. We, as victors in previous conflicts, erase evidence of our negative influence, and pit our past selves directly against those whose ideas seem contradictory to our own. As I mentioned before, it seems as if we Westerners make selections as far as what we choose to enjoy from other cultures without actually embracing the culture as a whole.


"In London, Two Exhibitions, Each With a Message"
Comment

I appreciate your post on these exhibits and desperately wish I could get to London to visit them myself. From what you have described in your post, it seems that these works of art are shocking and revolutionary. Furthermore, their presence in the European community is essential to another message: the Middle East has a voice in the international community, and they want us to hear it. You mention in your article the emergence of a new era of art, the era of Altermodernity. The presence of this new era is crucial to understanding the development of international culture over the past few decades. You quote a press release which describes the transition of the global art movements as changing from 20th century Western focused modernism to post-modernism shaped by multiculturalism and finally altermodernism that is “expressed in the language of global culture.” In such a short period of time, it appears that the focus of art and culture is gravitating towards the implementation of global influences to reflect the modern struggles and temperaments of a given community. It is my opinion that in this time of transition in the international community, art is reflective of the cultural effects of political policies that increase relations between countries.

You also mentioned in your post that many of these artists are now currently working in Europe and the United States. In light of the touchy political climate between the United States and the Middle East, how do you feel these artists can make a difference in perhaps changing the attitudes that many Americans have towards their cultures? It would seem, from the perspective of the United States, that many Americans lack a rounded understanding of Middle Eastern cultures and are given only images of war, terrorism, and fear. It is my hope that exhibits like this one can change this perception and help cultures to understand one another better instead of taking from each other only limited amounts of information.

Rooting for the Under[slum]dog: Slumdog Millionaire Makes a Splash in the International Film Industry

On February 22 at 5 pm Pacific Time, the self-proclaimed “biggest movie event of the year” will take over television screens across the country. The 81st Academy Awards, one of the world’s most prominent film award ceremonies, has not only maintained a constant buzz around the United States over the past few months, but has also gained plenty of press coverage worldwide. And so it should.

Over the past few years, the Academy Awards has paid particular attention to the international community. From award categories such as Best Foreign Language Film to British director nominations, Oscar winners and their country of origin play an essential role in the awards ceremony. One particularly special film this year that has aroused interest in prominent film circles worldwide is the unexpected Slumdog Millionaire. What is it about this independent film that has made such an impact on the international community?

Slumdog, a film directed by Britain’s Danny Boyle and centered in the Indian city of Mumbai, single-handedly captures the spirit of multiculturalism. The film itself is created from the minds of several different traditions. Danny Boyle, famous for films such as Trainspotting and 28 Days Later, is frequently recognized in his home country of Britain. The fact that Boyle chose to direct a film about the struggles of a subculture of a foreign country demonstrates his own appreciation of other cultures. In an interview with Cinematical, Boyle talked about his experience in India and how it changed his own perceptions of himself. “All the world is all the world at the same time. It's all inclusive -- the rich, the poor -- they're all living on top of one another. Most of our cities are growing, and we're going to have to learn to do that as well -- to share and somehow find harmony all living together. And they have that, really. You have to admire that. They may not have some of the infrastructure that we do, but they don't need it in order to get along,” he says.

The Indian culture that Boyle came to know and appreciate is reflected throughout the film. Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal Malik, a young man who spent his youth in the slums of India struggling to make an honest living while at the same time being pulled down into the underground struggle of survival. A twist of forbidden romance is tied into this story as he meets Latika who also strives for survival in the crime-ridden slums. Their tale captures the essence of an Indian subculture that is not often reflected in local film, let alone in the international film industry. While some prominent critics declare the film to feed off of “poverty porn” that is designed to arouse its audience than to enlighten them about the plight of its main characters, others appreciate a film that shows more than dancers in elaborate costumes dancing and singing through tales of epic romance.

The India that is portrayed in the film is not that of a completely traditional culture, however; it is clear that Slumdog Millionaire is a film created in the 2000s. The plot of the film itself is based on Jamal’s participation in the Indian version of America’s hit show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” – a definite sign that Western media has reached its Eastern counterparts and spread into their cultures. The nature of this TV show also has particular significance: it offers a chance for anyone, regardless of their background, to win instant fame and fortune. This dream is one that Western cultures, Americans in particular, have come to cherish, and one that is reflected in other aspects of American life including the lottery, the stock market, and the constant string of infomercials offering immediate debt solutions. While the character of Jamal in Slumdog Millionaire is not one that simply scrounges off the wealth of others, his involvement in “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” after years of struggling for any opportunity to get out of the slums is the story of the underdog that has also permeated Western cultures. Jamal represents the typically idolized Western character that goes from rags to riches by relying on the strength of his moral center – while at the same time prevailing in a seemingly impossible love battle. Slumdog’s audience-pleasing plot is one that demonstrates the influence of the West on Eastern culture.

The success of the film itself demonstrates Eastern culture’s effect on the international film industry. Slumdog Millionaire has already won 60 awards through various institutions in America and abroad. Some of these achievements include Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, the British Independent Film Award for Best British Independent Film, and BAFTA Film Awards for Best Film, Best Cinematography, and Best Director, among many others. Slumdog has achieved acknowledgment in prominent filmmaker circles worldwide through international film festivals and global audiences. People from many different cultures have come to appreciate it. Critics from different backgrounds and with distinct styles and tastes have all come to realize the brilliance of this film – an achievement for a British filmmaker and an Indian cultural tale.

Some argue that the film’s recognition at the Academy Awards this Sunday is the most significant of Slumdog’s achievements. In one of the most prestigious and widely recognized film awards ceremonies in the world, an international independent film has attained 10 impressive nominations with a significant possibility of winning the most coveted award of Best Motion Picture of the Year. With awards yet to be won, Slumdog Millionaire has displayed a level of prominence that is significant to American culture and film industry itself. Such a film, an underdog itself, transcends cultural boundaries and brings British filmmaking to American audiences and places Indian society at the forefront of American popular culture. In essence, the reality of Slumdog Millionaire’s story mirrors its own plot: the unlikely hero, originating from humble beginnings, rises from the depths to conquer the limits of cultural understanding to bring hope and a greater sense of unity to the global community.

A Foundation for Creation: Building Research on Substantial Resources in Modern Media

With the internet available at the click of a mouse, viewers are exposed to endless amounts of information from all corners of the globe. This growing interconnectedness through modern media has evolved and changed the ways in which countries relate to each other by forming societal bonds through the sharing of popular culture. In constructing a blog to discuss this modern phenomenon, I sought first to find the most appropriate and useful resources on the internet. Rather than relying heavily on journals and academic writing, internet resources provide up-to-date and easily accessible information from around the globe. This quest for the most effective resources began with various searches on Meta-Engines Dogpile and Metacrawler which turned up websites for organizations dealing with global popular culture including International Food Information and the International Music Network. The search continued through several directories including the Open Directory Project, Arts and Letters Daily, and Artslynx. The three directories provide ample resources, most notably the Journal of Popular Culture, which gathers scholarly articles on a regular basis that deal with popular culture in a global context as well as country-specific cases. The directories were also particularly useful in providing precise topic searches. Included in this linkroll are websites that deal specifically with different aspects of popular culture, from film to radio, dance to tobacco use. A deeper look into these websites uncovered links to other related and vital sites such as the International Food Council Foundation, which provides information on customs, regulations, food news across the globe.
While the research proved fairly successful in ascertaining links to valuable websites, it also turned up many websites whose aspirations were larger than its capabilities. One particular challenge when writing about and investigating popular culture is that the subject itself is opinionated and easily accessible to everyone. Therefore, many websites failed to be efficient and effective in their delivery of information. In order to choose the best sources possible, the Webby Awards criteria were applied to each website. These criteria evaluate the content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity, and the overall experience of the websites. Thus, readers can be assured that the websites chosen for my research on this topic are of the highest standard and provide information that is relevant, accurate, and precise, and it is my hope that this blog will be equally as effective in the online community.