Japanese unique culture

Before when speaking of Japan, I would immediately picture a technologically advanced nation. Japan is a world economic power with global brands like Toyota. ‘Toyotism’ is the word created for Toyota’s unique production system (Pieterse 2004). Nowadays, I admired more of its rich culture which I learned watching anime.

Globalisation helps the export of Japanese anime to the world. Its popularity can be seen in recent anime, Attack on Titan, which arouses heated discussion in Asia, even in Europe. This helps to spread universal values, like humanity and moral values.

Talking about animation, Miyazaki Hayao’s name will definitely appear. He is legendary anime film maker. Through Hayao’s animation, I discovered the uniqueness of Japanese culture, of its past and present. 

Bathhouse in Spirited Away (2001)

(image from http://hayao-miyazaki.tumblr.com/post/560134537/spirited-away)

Hayao’s animation display strong traditional Japanese culture.  Like in award-winning film Spirited Away, which told story of a girl who wandered into place for gods and spirits to relax, brings forward Japanese folktales about myths of Shinto (Yoshioka quoted in MacWilliams 2008). It also reveals traditions, like Japanese clothing and ‘onsen’, hot springs culture. The setting, like bathhouse featured in the film, let audiences to glimpse into Japanese's traditional village and appreciated its architecture. European style is seen, but that’s exactly what makes Japan unique, of its hybrid culture. Recalling history, Japan was occupied by America after defeated in the Second World War, and that’s when Western culture influenced Japan. Though Japan retained its traditions, some Western elements were incorporated, developing into special culture. Hayao once said his aim is to produce film that present ‘Japaneseness’ (Yoshioka quoted in MacWilliams 2008). I think he successfully did it, which revealed Japan cultural past and firmed Japanese cultural identity (Kimball 2009). 

Hot springs

(image from http://spiritedaway.wikia.com/wiki/The_Bathhouse?file=BathhouseCustomer.png)

Princess Mononoke (1997)
(image from http://ani.me/zine/home/article/2095/)

Hayao’s animation also looked into modernity issue, like the development of technology. Princess Mononoke showed battle between ironworkers and gods of the forest. The beautiful scenic, calm and relaxing life created by Hayao is a reminder of Japanese to appreciate nature. Japan has natural geographical location, located on an island surrounded by water. It is also a reminder to balance between technology and nature, so that human and nature co-exist.

References
Kimball, M 2009, 'Global culture and diversity', Margaret Kimball E-Portfolio, accessed 1 August 2013, <https://cunyonline.digication.com/mmkimball/CC_404_Global_Culture_and_Diversity>
Pieterse, J N 2004, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md
Yoshioka, S 2008, 'Heart of Japaneseness: History and Nostalgia in Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away’, quoted in MacWilliams, MW (ed.), Japanese visual culture: explorations in the world of manga and anime, M.E.Sharpe, England

Culture threat?

I love watching movies. And thanks to globalised world, I can now enjoy movies from around the world. Globalisation helps to break down barriers between nation states and increase the flow of information, labors, capital and goods (Rantanen 2005). The import of foreign films is an example of cultural flow brought by globalisation.

Whether we are aware or not, globalisation is changing our lifestyle, habits and values. I skyped my mum, who is also a movie lover, and we talked about the impact of globalisation.

Steffi: Can you briefly talk about how globalisation changed your watching habits?

My mum: In the old days, I watched black-and-white Cantonese old films featuring film stars like Chan Po-chu. At that time, movies were only screened in cinemas and were expensive. Later, cinemas became more popular and the import of coloured Western films offered more choices. Nowadays, I usually watch Hollywood films.

Young, Pregnant and Unmarried 1968 

(image by http://www.moviefanprincess.com/movieads3.html)

Steffi: How do you view the effect of globalisation?

My mum: I think ideas promoted in Western movies, like freedom to love, collided with our mind and thoughts. It let us to reflect on our rights to choose who we love. But at the same time, this clashed with our traditional Chinese belief that children should obey their parents of whom they arranged for their marriage. This posed a challenge to preserve our culture.

It is true that globalisation bring threat to core value of traditional culture (Srivastava, Warren & Moore 2013). There is also the fear of American imperialism, the hidden ideas in films which we are unconsciously receiving. But like Chinese culture which have over 5000 years of civilisation, with Confucian belief that deeply influence people, it is unlikely that one culture will easily be shaken. And looking from another angle, nations can actually benefit from increasing cultural exchange brought by globalsiation. One can adopt the strength of others’ culture and incorporated that into its own, make improvements and become a better nation. Like abandoning conservative beliefs. It is just important to find the balance between adapting others’ culture and preserving own culture. 

References

Rantanen, T 2005, 'Theorizing media globalization', The media and globalization, Sage, London

Srivastava, S, Warren, B, & Moore, C 2013, ‘The Flows and Scapes of Globalisation’, retrieved 19 July 2013, DeakinCloud

Hi everyone:)

My name is Steffi. I'm studying Media and Communication, majoring in journalism. This blog is open for ALC215. I will share my thoughts on globalisation. Hope you all enjoy reading.