I find the whole history of Japan a interesting study in how a traditionalist culture makes use of western technology to their needs and manages to modernize while keeping a unique way of doing things.
Than managing to tick off the USA only to become a ally a decade later.
Well my name is Onmyodo, which is "The way of Yin and Yang" it was a Japanese occult cosmology that few except for the initiated understood. More can be read here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onmy%C5%8Dd%C5%8D
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Hello my name is Onmyodo. I post on Minecraft Forums, have a nice day!
I think Japan is the only thing you can actually call a cultural super power in the modern world. It has a strong cultural infleunce throughout the world with anime alone, and has a fading one of electronics, and a growing one in music. Not to mention the big-name company Sony is there, which has a position in Electronics, Television, Music, and the production of Music and Films.
Arguably, the cultural influence of Japan is considerably minor given it's only relevant to nerds, who are a minority in the perspective of pop-culture. It might even be looked at as a sect of the nerd society, making it even smaller in the grand scheme of pop culture.
To also further the point, the only major Japanese animation studio on the big list of big names is Studio Ghibli or Toho, which in themselves own maybe 5% of the highest grossing lists in specialized fields.
The only Asian artist I've known to make the Billboard Hot 100 was Psy. I won't even bother with this week's trends.
Japanese cultural influence is considerably over-stated. If anything: because while discussing culture on the internet we all run into nerds and a significant sub-group of the nerd are going to "Weaboos". But they're not hardly representative of nerd-dom, let alone pop-culture (because let's face it, we're all skinny white kids/young adults detached from what's actually massively huge and effects popular style. We're even imaged as irrelevantly wearing fedoras and many of us try to wear them unironically failing to realize we are not Frank Sinatra). So are they culturally big or influential? No, they're not even big enough on the charts enough to be an international craze; and even then they're drawing heavily from American culture and style. Anime is heavily borrowed from Classical Disney art styles.
American culture is the dominate culture, or the most pervasive. As it has been since we stopped writing political pamphlets in the 19th century and Jazz became a thing in the roaring twenties.
The Japanese also aren't alone in their economic strength (which is their only claim to international recognition and fame, tbh). Even then though, they're still largely beaten by the US and China by UN listings, and comparative to Deutschland on the same list. Otherwise, in-so-far as the IMF, World Bank, and the CIA factbook is concerned they're out-tanked by the Chinese, US, and the EU as a whole body. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal))
Their whole economic strength is at considerable threat though given the Earthquake dealt them a bad hand and now their debt is I think 200% higher than the GDP, which is extremely unhealthy and could probably knock them down below Germany if they can't get that under control. And if we're claiming economic strength to be a factor in cultural influence then I shall sing for all us Panzerlied, and know what I'm on about.
True, however, western country's standings have always been of mixed opinion throughout the world, where as Japans biggest tensions are mostly restrained to the shores of the Far East. I'm sure this has a huge influence on things.
True, however, western country's standings have always been of mixed opinion throughout the world, where as Japans biggest tensions are mostly restrained to the shores of the Far East. I'm sure this has a huge influence on things.
People would still complain about and it seek the dominate culture dead because of it imposing on the "traditional way". If Anime was big in Pakistan the Taliban would want it dead.
It's what happens when a culture over flows its border and becomes the definition and standard of being civilized. But Western domination is very prevalent, it IS popular culture. And at the head is America.
And I think a lot of it isn't the culture per-say as it is the Politics and economics stepping on local politics and economies. I don't think anyone's going to really banish Coca-Cola or JayZ, except in the very conservative areas which would only be effective in those areas. But they're going to continue to whine so long as they feel there's unnecessary political intervention in their system from America or the West, of there's too much foreign involvement stepping on local resources and they're not benefiting.
Thus, America is a cultural super-power. And whether or not they're highly perceived is hardly a factor that they are dominate, or even the best. But the fact it is so far-reaching and prevelant in so many countries makes that a side-effect.
Japanese culture is much smaller, and the "weaboo" perception is looked at by the Japanese pop-culture as the American pop-culture looks at nerds. If maybe with more shame.
"There is shockingly little anime on television, and most of it is unapologetically meant for children. The only adults who really get into it (referred to as otaku) are usually perceived by the media as overweight, unwashed weirdos who are probably child molesters"
So, what do you think about Japan's annexation of Korea and war crimes on China during WWII?
Incidents some of which have been described as the equivalent of an Asian Holocaust.
So, what do you think about Japan's annexation of Korea and war crimes on China during WWII?
Incidents some of which have been described as the equivalent of an Asian Holocaust.
The lack of heads taken to make up for the lives they took is disturbing. At least the USSR tried the U731 doctors.
The noble US decided to ignore it all for research notes.
Than managing to tick off the USA only to become a ally a decade later.
I mean, check how European these guys look:
And Sony's film influence is considerably minor. The top ten most influential and wealthiest producers are all Western by nature. As well, Sony is the foreign studio in the Big Eight where all the rest of the major players are American, and the vast majority in New York.
It ain't "Tokyo, Tokyo", sweetie.
To also further the point, the only major Japanese animation studio on the big list of big names is Studio Ghibli or Toho, which in themselves own maybe 5% of the highest grossing lists in specialized fields.
(As listed here.
The only Asian artist I've known to make the Billboard Hot 100 was Psy. I won't even bother with this week's trends.
Japanese cultural influence is considerably over-stated. If anything: because while discussing culture on the internet we all run into nerds and a significant sub-group of the nerd are going to "Weaboos". But they're not hardly representative of nerd-dom, let alone pop-culture (because let's face it, we're all skinny white kids/young adults detached from what's actually massively huge and effects popular style. We're even imaged as irrelevantly wearing fedoras and many of us try to wear them unironically failing to realize we are not Frank Sinatra). So are they culturally big or influential? No, they're not even big enough on the charts enough to be an international craze; and even then they're drawing heavily from American culture and style. Anime is heavily borrowed from Classical Disney art styles.
American culture is the dominate culture, or the most pervasive. As it has been since we stopped writing political pamphlets in the 19th century and Jazz became a thing in the roaring twenties.
The Japanese also aren't alone in their economic strength (which is their only claim to international recognition and fame, tbh). Even then though, they're still largely beaten by the US and China by UN listings, and comparative to Deutschland on the same list. Otherwise, in-so-far as the IMF, World Bank, and the CIA factbook is concerned they're out-tanked by the Chinese, US, and the EU as a whole body. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal))
Their whole economic strength is at considerable threat though given the Earthquake dealt them a bad hand and now their debt is I think 200% higher than the GDP, which is extremely unhealthy and could probably knock them down below Germany if they can't get that under control. And if we're claiming economic strength to be a factor in cultural influence then I shall sing for all us Panzerlied, and know what I'm on about.
My DeviantArt, so sexy
True, however, western country's standings have always been of mixed opinion throughout the world, where as Japans biggest tensions are mostly restrained to the shores of the Far East. I'm sure this has a huge influence on things.
People would still complain about and it seek the dominate culture dead because of it imposing on the "traditional way". If Anime was big in Pakistan the Taliban would want it dead.
It's what happens when a culture over flows its border and becomes the definition and standard of being civilized. But Western domination is very prevalent, it IS popular culture. And at the head is America.
And I think a lot of it isn't the culture per-say as it is the Politics and economics stepping on local politics and economies. I don't think anyone's going to really banish Coca-Cola or JayZ, except in the very conservative areas which would only be effective in those areas. But they're going to continue to whine so long as they feel there's unnecessary political intervention in their system from America or the West, of there's too much foreign involvement stepping on local resources and they're not benefiting.
Thus, America is a cultural super-power. And whether or not they're highly perceived is hardly a factor that they are dominate, or even the best. But the fact it is so far-reaching and prevelant in so many countries makes that a side-effect.
Japanese culture is much smaller, and the "weaboo" perception is looked at by the Japanese pop-culture as the American pop-culture looks at nerds. If maybe with more shame.
My DeviantArt, so sexy
"There is shockingly little anime on television, and most of it is unapologetically meant for children. The only adults who really get into it (referred to as otaku) are usually perceived by the media as overweight, unwashed weirdos who are probably child molesters"
From Cracked.
I wanted to be one of the cool kids.
Incidents some of which have been described as the equivalent of an Asian Holocaust.
The lack of heads taken to make up for the lives they took is disturbing. At least the USSR tried the U731 doctors.
The noble US decided to ignore it all for research notes.
My DeviantArt, so sexy