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Frankly I’m quite pissed off about this subject….It really started from history class and the subject of urbanization and how a huge wave of immigrants flooded the U.S. that time. Oh course there was a lot of tension between the variest culture just randomly coming in already to a semi established culture so natural there will be some differences. For me, coming Chinese decent background the topic of the Chinese immigrant wave was naturally more interesting to me. I guess because I always felt that Eastern culture as been overlooked in the American k-12 system. Hearing that funny enough that immigrants from China and Japan were overly proud to be themselves so they didn’t change too much about themselves. They didn’t change there traditions, views of religions, and just the Eastern culutre mindset. I felt that because of this, this is what makes why still to this day Chinese American citizens at least try to keep in touch with there culturally history with traditionally celebrations, rituals…. BUT meanwhile before and during this is happening (and maybe a little bit after) Europeans has flooded there cultures and ideas to China and a little bit of Japan. Visually speaking , this time in overall culture was overly beautiful. The blend of guided over vibrant styles of European upper-class clashing with the aesthetics with the more spiritual,  simple principles of Buddhist and Taoist infused in the art. Those two styles actually bung out the strength and the true beauty of each. But I wish that beautiful meshing was the same with the people. Not to talk down with the Europeans of the times but truly their motives were very superficial and selfish. If even the spiritual motive; the spread of Christianity in theory is good with the principles of people of good person for Christ yet underneath that motive there was still a mind of set being better and thinking that other views on god were just dumb and not fit. Personally I don’t think Christ would approve of this. I always felt that he was put on Earth to purely to only help and let the people come to him and not reverse.

This I felt the forced infusing of European idea in such a quick period of time was beginning to unravel the foundations of Chinese culture. I think the main problem that the only reason this happen was not to just a pure idea to just exchange ideas and technologies but it was too much emphasis on business. Yet, for China they felt that they never really need Europeans which will lead to so many events in history that will lead to the fall of ancient China and the ideas with it. Surely some were just very backwards and inhumane but culturally(art,math, society…) they were very advance and this grow will stop because of this. Which will usher them into the “still” age which is basically just time period when nothing came in or out of China except for existing trades.

Then in mid 20th cent. Mao came in and changed EVERYTHING! For the good and bad. Economically speaking he did wonders and create and money giant in result. But a lot of people never learned what ever happen to the traditions, culture that was lost during this revolution for China. Actually much of it fleeted to Taiwan. I mean from that during this time if you or your family was skilled in a traditional skills of art they will IMMEDIATELY physically take it away and destroy and evidences of you and your family ever having it. And if you were ever caught practicing your talent again they will most likely kill you. Imagine your family is skilled in papercuting and you can be killed just because you can make a piece of art with paper and scissors. The government thought destroying and evidences of the old with usher into a period of modernism (which it did) but haven’t anyone noticed that some of the strongest countries as set there new ideas and ways of thinking on the “old” foundations. I really wish I could see what would or could of happened if Mao thought of that first. Actually he is quite a hypocrite! For example: traditionally there was always a family or so that was extremely skilled in writing with brushes and they wrote for the whole village but of course they were prosecuted for their still but for Mao he had that skill and proudly used it. Also during his ruling he lived and worked in the Forbidden Palace, the symbol of old China. YES, I am so glad that he didn’t destroy that icon but still …hypocrite!!

But after all this craziness in China’s culture this chilled out and some cultural things were restored and actually were placed in highest honor in museums , being placed in the “rare and endangered ” list. But things were never the same. Actually from this a lot of cultural “stuff” was lost forever and can ever be recovered..just only be thought about and how it played a role in society. But what it is left over should be and still being celebrated but in reality the younger generation have this mindset of it being “uncool” since now China has been flooded (again) with Western cultures and ideas so they are starting to think the old ways are outdated. BUTBUTBUT!!!! this one of the thing that piss me off is that the exploiting it!

Now to subject that I relate to and is totally disgusted about! So since Chinese New Year is just around the corner and of course with any “huge” (I use the term loosely because were in the U.S.) celebration there is always a lot of work that is need to put into it…and of our traditions or chores that are need to be done to create and festive end result. Kind of like Christmas; the best Western holiday ever but surely it has it’s downs like being broke out of your mind, stresses, of course just the emotional weight of the whole ordeal but from your input will bring great output. But you know there is always that person that just sits there every Christmas that never has and Christmas joy and doesn’t give any thought when getting gifts and ever worst they don’t even try to get gifts for other but they are just ok (not feeling guilty) when they receive gifts from others.  SAME with the experience I had for Chinese New Year and few people that I know that do the same. I vividly remember saying something along the lines of ” I’m so hyped to finish decorating and cleaning for Chinese New Year!” and they gave me the look of disgust and wonder that “why do you do this shit?” I just wanted to tell them that “Don’t give me that face when you are just happy receive lucky money for everyone!!! >:(” Surely I do you them but don’t ever ever ever give me that face….I think I’m just overly immersed in the idea of traditions and being proud of your own culture and not letting it fade away.

Don’t worry, I’ not those crazy people that will shoot you for not being Chinese…hahahaha frankly I’m just proud. But at the same time I’m still overly interested in Western culture. I just feel that blending of both my traditional background with almost alien Western cultures. Just take a look at the picture above…I think that is a look representation of my idea. It’s very prominent that it is Chinese New Year with the flowers,lanterns…yet it is clashed with the  (Western) Colonial style placement (the wreath) , the green ribbon,and the Colonial style exterior. I feel instead of just focusing on one I think the meshing of both will create something more interesting and thought provoking and promotes “outside” the box thinking. Sadly no one where I live do Chinese New Year like us but still….