The truth is, I do not know what it exactly is!
When I read MM Lee's speech that was featured in The Straits Times on 25 October, I see for myself a clearer picture of "A Singaporean's mindset". The two articles titled "Only an A-Team will do" and "Cultural Barriers harder to break in Asia" talk about MM Lee's take on the leadership in Singapore and how it is difficult for Singapore to export talents, due to our different culture compared to the dominating countries like the United States.
Upon this comment, I understand why media globalization is deemed unsuccessful in the global market. Here, MM Lee speaks about the idea of culture. But yet, we also know that culture is a contributing factor to the media trade. From MM Lee's observation, I infer that the diversity of culture in Asia has indeed hindered the trading of mass media. Cultures are too diverse that every country stays within it's own culture. Especially for Singapore, where we lead multi-racial lives, I would say people decide to stick within their races to maintain peace (considering us being a high context culture).
"Cultural barriers do not come down easily in Asia, and for this reason, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew believes talent will not flow smoothly across borders any time soon. To illustrate, MM Lee shared his long-time observations of China and India, saying: 'You can take a Chinese or an Indian, bring them to America and, as a minority in the American milieu, he will begin to absorb the American ethos.'But you bring a few Americans to China or India and you think you can spread this ethos into India and China, you're dead wrong.' "
"MM Lee said that the Chinese will never become non-Chinese, and neither will the Indians be non-Indians. The same goes for the Malays, Thais or other groups. But put small groups of them in America, scatter them, and they become like the Americans, he observed."Undeniably, we asians are more easily influenced than influential. This boils down to the very reason why the Americans dominate the media market. America remains as the dominant influence in the mass media as we can see all the exported forms of media present in almost everywhere in the world. Our minds are thus shaped to demand for the American culture.
One example of the American influence would be the movie "High School Musical". High School Musical, being aired previously in Disney channel(an American channel), is now a major motion picture because of its demand worldwide! TV channels like Kids Central in Singapore even mimicked the concept by producing a musical serial "School House Rocks" to attract the audience.
Also, America's influence to the world is so powerful that even within it's society alone, does racial elitism occur- where the whites are considered as superior because of what the media portrays.
Here is something I leave with you- what the media as taught these children about "beauty":
7 comments:
is it because american culture is generally low-context and more vocal, and that asian culture is high and thus quieter; hence, the notion that we are more receptive and they are more influential?
I would not credit the western media influence entirely on how it is more "low-context & more vocal".
in my opinion , to understand this entire "media influence" issue , we have to break it down into several related sub-topics.
first , it is a well known fact that asian cultures are more "closed" as compared to the americans. Many things deemed "ok" by the west isn't really "ok" here by most standards. I believe examples arent necessary here. Now this mindset is due to the taboos that comes with our culture! In this case , the west "provides" an alternative avenue ;saying we could break off from our goodie-2-shoes habits to a more liberal lifestyle- and still be accepted for it , or even regarded as the "cool" ones in our society. Remember how everyone is in the pursuit of "individuality"? Being wild , uninhibited or even reckless in a tame asian society thus seemed "special". Wrapping up this point , im really saying , its not the westerner's fault when blind and misguided asians are lapping up their bs like major caviar .
Secondly , I believe the demand for "low-content & vocal" items are pretty low here in singapore. If you think about it , stupidass-bimbotic shows like "meet the spartans" , "white chicks" and the "american pie"(i digg this one tho) series never Ever got to the top in our post office listings. Whereas , "more asian examples" like "Ong Bak" , "money no enough 1&2" and even "Leap years" (i think) did hit the top placings in our box offices!!! This goes to show that we singaporean asians do not appreciate shows that don't suit our tastes, western or not. as far as i'm concerned here , Asians DIGGS sensationalism (oprah) . but who doesn't?
The western media definitely got an edge in terms of "knowing what people want". This comes with experience and technology know how.When these two traits are fused ,we asians lap it up cuz it is simply "nice" and not because it is "western". Many western movies/ shows we appreciate doesnt extentuate how westerners are superior to us at all, like "Wonder girls" & "Titanic" for example? think about it.
And about the video you posed about the dolls , i wouldnt blame the "white" media entirely . I blame the black people classifying themselves so. Look at the Blacks at the peak of superstardom , Akon , Tupac , 50-cent , the Game , Pdiddy , Lilwayne , snoopdogg, bone-thugs. FInd anything in common? yeah , GANGSTA , thats one word that never leave far from their lips. They love to portray themselves as pimps , having all the booze and bitches , talking about guns all day all long? Even then, the video is flawed - people always want to have what they never had! Eg-> Whites diggs sun-tanning to get Asian-like bronze skins cuz they're naturally WHITE. Asians digg SK-II cuz we (most) are naturally darker than the whites. SO naturally having said all that, the black toddler would think being white is nice!
In my opinion ,when more hollywood-asian collaborations are released in time to come , i believe we will in fact develop a sense of belonging as an asian community and get off the backs of them westerners ,blaming their media influence for our lackings.
I would love to say that media influence is just a scapegoat for our reactions to the west.The trend today is one in which the media (asian or not) generally give more emphasis to western shows , reviews and entertainment circles- Therefore the view that westerners are superior to asians is just a public inference. What specific examples can you find in which western media outrightly claim its superiority over asians?
If such a thing is to be found , don't you think it would be widely publicised by now?
I'd have to add in the fact that asians also disses westerners as much as they diss us anyways. "Huang Fei Hong" is one fineee , classic example, in one of his movies.
And Josh , how exactly do you measure the "high-ness" or "quietness" of any particular culture? (lol)
-Hend'
with my ears :D
Wow. the video clip at the end is really interesting. There is no denying that the media is capable of shaping how people think, especially if the people are looking for something to believe in. About Asians being more easily influenced, I think it's not attributed to character or personality, but rather the fact that America is the "superpower" not just in the military, but in the media industry as well. Therefore, because we are so exposed to their culture through mediums such as the internet, television etc. , we inadvertently become influenced. The Americans, on the other hand, are not as exposed to Asian cultures and therefore because their way of life is mostly all they know(not to generalize), they tend to retain that wherever they go.
After watching the video, I feel sad. These children, without any hestitation, all of them pointed to the black doll and say that its a 'bad doll'. And when asked why it is a 'bad doll', they reply with, 'Because they are black.'
I wonder how they will grow up to be... low self-esteem? low confidence? sigh.
This reflected how powerful media can be. damn it.
yijing
The idea of classifying people and placing them in definitive groupings has been around for hundreds of years. The idea of classifying people is not merely based on their looks. As far back as 400 BC, ancient Greeks were classifying people based on purely cultural differences like language, religion, and customs. Hierarchies in society were more likely to be based on social standing than on appearance. The idea of classifying peoples based on their appearances did not come about until much later in history. In 1680 AD, the idea of classification by appearance slowly began to infuse into the society as lawmakers in the early colonies of North America began to use “white” as a classification of themselves rather than “Englishmen” or “Christians. It outlines one of the first hierarchies based on skin color, placing “whites” on top and other “races” underneath. Superiority based on skin color soon became a widespread idea.
Modern scientific studies argue that race has no real basis in biological systems. Since people are different in appearance, scientists have looked towards genetic studies to help them discover the secret to race. Genetic studies have revealed, however, that 90% of human variation occurs within a said “race” and just 10% of human variation occurs between “races” themselves. In other words, people from different “races” are only slightly more different from each other than they are from people in their own “race.” Most scientists will agree that society’s idea of race based on phenotypic characteristics like skin, hair, and face. Genetically, humans are incredibly alike—appearances on the outside are most likely due to purely environmental effects.
Since we are incredibly genetically similar, why do human like to classify themselves? I think one of the reasons is because of identity. Most people want to identify with a group, be it racial, social or professional, it gives a sense of belonging. This sense of belonging provides a community and protection for them which is very important for survival especially in the past.
The founding of the races in Singapore is deeply rooted in the political history and origins of the Island state. The separate ethnic identities that had developed in Singapore is largely influenced under the British rule. The ethnic identities of the Chinese, Malays and Indians were therefore derived from and fed by their association with increasing political awareness in their homelands. Race has become the dominant mode of social classification in Singapore. This social classification has created identities for the people and this labeling has become a norm to them. Identity comes from the deep sense of rootedness which is both psychological and cultural in origin. It gives the people a sense of self pride and security.
Since there is an increase of foreign talents migrating to Singapore over the years, the government has adopted the CMIO model (Chinese, Malay, Indian & Others). This ‘Others’ classification is introduced so as to create an identity for those foreigners who are not in the ‘Chinese’, ‘Malay’ and ‘Indian’ category.
Though we are categorized in our own race, we are genetically similar. I felt that we should not be categorized by our skin colour, instead we should view as the same. In conclusion, I will like to share that classification of race is originated by the way people perceive themselves. There is no history of records of races in the past, but only slowly exists in the society in 1680. There is no difference among us and all of us should have equal rights.
Singapore has not experienced any racial riots since 1964. Racial Harmony Day is celebrated on the 21st July to commemorate the 1964 Race Riots. I am proud of Singapore's success as a racially harmonious nation and its society built on a rich diversity of culture and heritage.
A very proud Singaporean
Alfred
http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/283
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/12/06/race
I don't think it's such a bad thing if we're an accepting nation in general. That's what gives rise to the multi-everything Singapore! Still, yes, it is important to still remember and acknowlege that we are Asians, we love eating roti prata and hokkien mee, we tend to say lah, lor after every sentence and so on. We've adopted so many practices of the West and we're loving it, but i think there's something very wrong when we accept some things regarded as norms there like granting marriages of homosexuals and then using the excuse 'Oh this is called modernisation/Americanism (or whatever you call it)'.
The video of the children really saddens me. It shows how easily we classify things and people around us including ourselves without realising how we have degraded ourselves or others.
As the world continues to create groups and classes that we try so hard to fit in, it's really difficult to 'just be ourselves'. It's simply a cliche to me now.
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