Homogenised perceptions, popular culture & peons

[narcasse]

There’s an interesting point today that’s come up under the discussion of tea of all things here in useless_facts today. Namely the generalisation of culture or at least using phrases like ‘Asian culture’ or ‘European culture’ anyway. Granted, on occasion I’ve been known to use the phrase ‘Western culture’ to distinguish a generic grouping of things like music, literature and to a latter degree, art rather than specifically listing all the classical music movements, the range of literary schools and so on that have emerged in on the European continent but it’s always struck me as funny how so many people seem to be readily willing to dismiss anything that falls under the auspices of western development in favour of citing eastern or rather what they perceive as eastern betterment on the same issue. Of course what most of the peons out there seem to class as Eastern/Oriental/Asian (for you in North America) seems to lead down the road to Japanese popular culture or subculture movements that are close enough to the surface to earn the title anyway. These are the people who cite ‘visual kai’ or those ‘guro’ things and whatnot as objectifying the supposed depth of the East. Of course I’m not saying that such things are invalid but they are pretty much on the same level as the actual ‘goth’ movement in more western spheres and… well, I can’t quite think of anything that really matches up against girls with fake tans and platform shoes.

Subculture then balances out wherever it may be and the seclusion of one particular movement in one geographical area doesn’t make it any more valid than any other. Just because it comes from Japan doesn’t make it ‘l33t’ to put it simply. Do I hate Japan because it’s become an icon of those popular culture references that dingbats elsewhere make reference to in an attempt to appear sophisticated? No, not really. I’m rather fond of plenty of things Japanese; mostly tea-related but that’s an aside really. There’s nothing wrong with it.
I’m less a fan of the new ‘modern’ Burmese music that’s being churned out these days but then I’m old fashioned and much prefer the classical sort that my father’s generation tend to pull faces at. This isn’t because of some sort of absurd snobbery but simply because I’m far fonder of the sound of a Burmese harp than hearing “Yesterday” sung in Burmese. Some of it may also be due to a difference in musical training too; I wouldn’t be able to play anything by ear but I can sight-read it.

But back to the topic at hand, it seems almost fashionable these days to dismiss anything with touch of the Caucasian about it. You mustn’t express a joy at Wagner or Rousseau or Constable (there you go, obligatory British artist in there) because some ill-read fool who is ridiculously unobservant will tell you that you’re reaching for something that you can’t possibly have an interest in… all because they’re only interested in ‘exotic’ popular culture iconography and thus you must be too. I suppose then what I’m really saying is that while we all must view the world through the filter of our own perception, it’s rather shameful if you choose to also tar it with your own brush. It’s particularly juvenile to dismiss something simply because you’ve not been previously aware of it and it goes against the grain of your safe little box of perceptions. Open-mindedness is a virtue; arguing like a moron isn’t.
I’m not saying that you need to dismiss what you like about popular culture, just don’t attempt to shove it down disinterested parties’ throats.


Actually, now that I think about it, I’m ranting about people who lack subtlety again really. Ho hum. Twenty-fifth verse; same as the first...