Why Are East Asian Cultures Dominating the West???

So at Emily's BBQ on Sunday, Dickson mentioned this article he was "writing" on Asian pop culture and why it's so East Asian centric. Also, what does it all mean. We were all talking about it for awhile, but didn't seem to get anywhere.

However, this morning, while lying in bed, I couldn't help thinking about it and these were my thoughts (written in an email). Just thought I'd share and stir up some opinions. Gabe???? :)

The reason for the Chinese culture in America: Chinese were the"first" Asian group to establish themselves in America. They came over to work on the railroads, etc. They were poor laborers. Becauseof this (and I'm speculating here, because I'm not an Asian Am major)they set up these ethnic enclaves for themselves (like in SF). They were poor. They were uneducated (for the most part). Besides work,the main part of their life which remained was cheap food, because of their situation, and martial arts, for recreation purposes. So nowthere are these HUGE centers or congregations of Chinese people. White people like visiting "unusual" places. Go there, eat cheapfood, see cool athletics. Hey, it's a party. Chinese people say, "hey, Americans like cheap Chinese food. We can make business." So they go out and sell cheap Chinese food like craaazy. Americans go and learn "cool" and different martial arts, and Chinese people say, "hey, Americans like to TRY to fight and move like us. Our differences are finally benefitting us. We can make business!" So they go out and set up martial arts practices, and Bobby and Jane do something interesting over the summer and after school. Larry and Olivia may think their son is the shit with his soccer game, but wait 'til they check out Bobby and Jane's new moves! They are not just doing something interesting and active, they are also "multicultural!" -- what every well-rounded, educated, and cultured person should be....

Okay, then we move on to the Japanese. The Japanese came to the US later. There wasn't much culture available or widespread, because the Japanese were attempting like mad to assimilate into American culture. Like in the novel Farewell to Manzanar (where the young JapaneseAmerican girl relates her experiences of pre, during, and postinternment camps during WWII), the main character doesn't even know what Asian people look like. She lives in a White neighborhood. Sheis scared of the "Chinaman" and even screams when she sees a White girl with slanty eyes in class. She is totally clueless, because she is so assimilated and "White washed."

Then the war starts, everyone is made VERY AWARE of the differences between Japanese and American culture. There's fighting, then we end it with the atomic bomb. Boo hoo. Hiroshima is in ruins. Let's go over there and make business!! So America goes over there and rebuilds Japan. There are HUGE advances in research, development, and technical information. The US is the dominant power in the world, in every way (right? -- even with cars, electronics, etc.). However, now that the US has updated Japan's infrastructure, the Japanese go nuts. "Hey, new machines! COOL!!!!" or (SUGOI!!!!!). So the Japanese go crazy and start using their newly provided technology. They make cars, computers, electronics, etc. China is producing McDonald'stoys, because they are still seen as cheap labor. They're just food and kung fu. But Japan is now kicking everyone's ass in the electronics and technology market. America's like "shit, shit, shit"and tries to mimic. We try to regain the market by developing similar products. It doesn't work. So we sent people to Japan for research. Better, but still not effective. Finally, educated Japanese infiltrate the job market in the USA and bring their skills and products here. Guess what, it's a success. Japanese say, "hey, Americans are upset and jealous about our cool technology that they helped us create with their money and resources (though we don't remember the bombing which destroyed part of the country, just the money we invested that blew up in our faces). We can make business!" And Japanese technology and pop culture invades America with a passion. We want to be more technically advanced like "them." This includes buying systems and games that have music and images, etc. This includes buying cars, etc. This starts the Japanese domination of the Asian American market. It's not just food on the weekends or sport recreation after school a few times a week. This is a car you drive EVERY DAY. This is a computer you use almost EVERY SECOND of the day. This is a video game system that ENTERTAINS your kids while you're at work (since mothers are quickly leaving the "stay-at-home"system and going out to get their own careers) and brings the neighborhood kids together. It's clean (originally) and fun for the whole family.

Japanese are no longer a threat to safety, but nice and polite people who are now purveyors of entertainment, function, and transportation. Chinese are still uneducated laborers, but they have good, cheap food, and can kick some major ass. (Yes, Hong Kong, etc, is also a major center of commerce, but it's tied more to European roots and is more about money trading, etc. Not really user friendly or fad-ish).

So what have other Asian countries brought to the lime light? Not much. Recently there have been little attempts here and there, some with more success than others (Japanese and Indian films, pho, boba,etc), but nothing has proven capable of overthrowing the Japanese influence (except maybe boba -- which is taiwanese?- but this is sold everywhere -- Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean/Japanese/etc. restaurants, so people can't tell its origin and think it's just "Asian"). It was created by us. We set ourselves up for it. We allowed it to happen. We ate it up with big heaping spoonfuls.

So what does this say about us/them? The East Asian influence is so strong, because we brought it ourselves. We encouraged it. We wanted the labor. We wanted the technology. For the latter, we felt slighted when Japan surpassed us in the field. Though we attempted to "integrate to dominate" (MY phrase!! Can's use without citing my utter brillance and contribution!!) we failed, and only succeeded in flooding the market with Japanese products and fads.

Asian culture has come to stay. And Asians are making BANK. Do you think Americans (or the "they") really want to introduce or encourage MORE innovation (even if it was out there -- which I'm not convinced it is -- by non-EAsian countries) from the remaining cultures? You can bet your patootie not! We don't want to "lose face" any more than we have with our remaining industries. All other countries are now viewed as cheap labor. Yes, they have cultures. Yes, they have interesting food. By all means, bring some over so we can dine on it when the mood arises. Surely, import fabrics and furnishings that "eclectic" people or the sophisticates can use in their homes. The average American will look and try, but will, in the end, revert to cottons and Mickey D's. We are assured of that. Bring your movies and entertain the masses. Flying people and sword fights are beautiful. People will watch them, but ultimately, Americans will tire of reading subtitles. Americans will yearn for the guns, and bombs, tanks, and military intrigue of American filmmaking. We have faith that Americans will remain American. There were mistakes in the past, and some of us believe we can still fix the problem. We can still regain control of lost markets.

Regardless, though East Asian American "culture" and products dominate the Asian market in America, the truth is, A LOT of that consumption (maybe video games aside) is being done by Asian Americans here in the good 'ol USA. Asians are buying their own products. American companies are still making money. And Asian Americans are here making money and returning/visiting home, bringing with them American fads and values. Asian pop is popular. But you have to admit, new Asian American music sounds A LOT like American pop. ALL Asian pop does. That's why it transcends so well into the American marketplace. My mom doesn't even recognize Thai pop for Thai music. It's Thai people singing like Whites. And being sold by the very droves here and abroad. It's Thai language, it's Thai singers, but it's ultimately American sounds.

The Japanese may have a stronghold on the electronic and technology front, but they are here, making business, and eating at McDonald's.They are also bringing it home. Japan has KFC, McDonald's, Pizza Hut,etc. Japan has American-style music, and movies, fads, and LeonardoDi Caprio on billboards. You still don't see Jet Li on billboards here. And Kabuki is still not a chain compared to what we have going. We send our "culture" there, other people visit (like Europeans), and all of this is propagated to other countries and cultures until it dominates the world. I think McDonald's does dominate the world. Along with Coke and Pepsi, etc.

You wonder why other non East Asian cultures are not as represented in America. But ask yourself, are we as represented there? Though India has Bollywood, it does not boast as many McDonald's per city block asother countires. It's music and movies, though trying to be as "big" and "flashy" and "star-struck" as Hollywood and American films, are essentially Indian. The sounds are the same. They are unmistakablyIndian. My students hear Chinese and Japanese pop, and they think it's American. They don't realize the language isn't English. It sounds American. They think it's a song they haven't heard before,and they aren't getting the words for whatever reason. Play them an Indian song. They'll know the difference. They will definitely know the difference.

Japan is really the country dominating the Asian market in America. It's like that because (whether intentionally or no) we allowed it tohappen. Yet we are invading that country unlike any other as well. They eat at our chain restaurants, have a freaking Disneyland for Pete's sake. Is it a trade? I dunno. What do you think?