fUSION: to bring together and consolidate a hybrid existence
FUSION has such horrible connotations. It's like spaghetti and meat sauce chow mein or sticky tuna fish sweet buns. Whether its East meets West or West meets East, either side becomes somehow flat, diluted… or just plain wrong. Things can, however, be looked at in a more positive way - It can be seen as getting the best of both worlds.
Now with the Internet and globalization, FUSION is the inevitable future for the world. Influence of the East in the West is most prominent in art and avant-garde (as well as in occasional trends in pop culture such as movies or tv/anime). Influence from Eastern philosophies help the West push the (language and knowledge) boundaries it has written out for itself. The East, however, seems to adopt Western influence in business and commercialism, media and pop culture. So-called ‘modern industrialization’ seems to be a Western construction that has been, and continues to be something pushed upon “non-developed” countries by the West.
Western influence seems to pour out of Asia. It is always amusing to see what I call appropriated and 'brilliantly confused' American culture. Things are getting so mixed up that sometimes one can no longer even try to make distinctions. It's like mixing a marble cake until everything turns grey.
Separation doesn’t really need to be noted, but areas I found signs of fusion and increasing openness here were in the foods (Chinese bakeries now serving pizza buns, donuts, croissants, muffins like NYC street stands), financial/commercial areas (highly stylized malls with more Gucci, Prada, Armani (high designer) than I’ve ever seen anywhere else), and certain areas of pop culture and fashion (mimicking American hiphop/graffiti styles etc - Hip hop, in my eyes, is the furthest thing from an Asian development).
Hong Kong is already a highly hybridized state, especially since it was considered a British colony since 1996. There still remains a strong British presence. Nearly every person who speaks English, speak with a British accent. There is definately a stronger European vibe than American. (I will speak about International Trade in a bit..)
Western landed establishments like taverns/bars (Chinese don't drink a lot especially in that kind of context), yuppie cafes (Starbucks and the like), Italian Eateries etc, remain occupied mostly with white customers.
As more Asians assimilate into the business market, and learn the business language (English), these establishments will increasingly become further adopted into the Asian society and culture. “Modern industrialization” was a Western construction, but has now been adopted as the global future.
Though I’ve always considered myself as a hyphenated identity (CBC – Chinese Born Canadian), I’ve been entirely socialized as a North American. Even amongst ‘typical’ CBC’s who seem to have a more hybrid tie to their heritage, I seemed to have been allowed to assimilate my surroundings to the fullest. It came to a point where I questioned my own personal knowledge of my heritage. I often rejected being constantly reminded of my visible difference, baffled at people’s ignorance. Even amongst friends I don’t know how much they would identify me as Chinese beyond mere appearance (though appearances matter immensely in this world). Perhaps it was a bit of shame that I was taught to feel growing up. The Asia I am discovering is an increasingly hybridized Asia, which maybe why I somehow feel strangely comfortable and at home here. For one, visible difference is no longer an issue… (I will write about the glories of being in a city constructed and designed for people like me in a later post.. – i.e. CLOTHES THAT FIT!)
I think I maybe perhaps more deeply Asian than I think.
This is all in hopes to achieve a more accurate (hybrid) relationship to myself.
blah blah bla..
-aw
email me: ashley.leee(a)gmail(dot)com
PS > unfortunately, i lost my camera memory card and cannot post pictures until 1. i get a new one and 2. i take more pictures... sucks.
Now with the Internet and globalization, FUSION is the inevitable future for the world. Influence of the East in the West is most prominent in art and avant-garde (as well as in occasional trends in pop culture such as movies or tv/anime). Influence from Eastern philosophies help the West push the (language and knowledge) boundaries it has written out for itself. The East, however, seems to adopt Western influence in business and commercialism, media and pop culture. So-called ‘modern industrialization’ seems to be a Western construction that has been, and continues to be something pushed upon “non-developed” countries by the West.
Western influence seems to pour out of Asia. It is always amusing to see what I call appropriated and 'brilliantly confused' American culture. Things are getting so mixed up that sometimes one can no longer even try to make distinctions. It's like mixing a marble cake until everything turns grey.
Separation doesn’t really need to be noted, but areas I found signs of fusion and increasing openness here were in the foods (Chinese bakeries now serving pizza buns, donuts, croissants, muffins like NYC street stands), financial/commercial areas (highly stylized malls with more Gucci, Prada, Armani (high designer) than I’ve ever seen anywhere else), and certain areas of pop culture and fashion (mimicking American hiphop/graffiti styles etc - Hip hop, in my eyes, is the furthest thing from an Asian development).
Hong Kong is already a highly hybridized state, especially since it was considered a British colony since 1996. There still remains a strong British presence. Nearly every person who speaks English, speak with a British accent. There is definately a stronger European vibe than American. (I will speak about International Trade in a bit..)
Western landed establishments like taverns/bars (Chinese don't drink a lot especially in that kind of context), yuppie cafes (Starbucks and the like), Italian Eateries etc, remain occupied mostly with white customers.
As more Asians assimilate into the business market, and learn the business language (English), these establishments will increasingly become further adopted into the Asian society and culture. “Modern industrialization” was a Western construction, but has now been adopted as the global future.
Though I’ve always considered myself as a hyphenated identity (CBC – Chinese Born Canadian), I’ve been entirely socialized as a North American. Even amongst ‘typical’ CBC’s who seem to have a more hybrid tie to their heritage, I seemed to have been allowed to assimilate my surroundings to the fullest. It came to a point where I questioned my own personal knowledge of my heritage. I often rejected being constantly reminded of my visible difference, baffled at people’s ignorance. Even amongst friends I don’t know how much they would identify me as Chinese beyond mere appearance (though appearances matter immensely in this world). Perhaps it was a bit of shame that I was taught to feel growing up. The Asia I am discovering is an increasingly hybridized Asia, which maybe why I somehow feel strangely comfortable and at home here. For one, visible difference is no longer an issue… (I will write about the glories of being in a city constructed and designed for people like me in a later post.. – i.e. CLOTHES THAT FIT!)
I think I maybe perhaps more deeply Asian than I think.
This is all in hopes to achieve a more accurate (hybrid) relationship to myself.
blah blah bla..
-aw
email me: ashley.leee(a)gmail(dot)com
PS > unfortunately, i lost my camera memory card and cannot post pictures until 1. i get a new one and 2. i take more pictures... sucks.
posted by elle est chiNoise at 5:10 AM
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