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Culture as Technology

I met with a Professor here in China who explained to me, "Westerner's imagine technology as the most advanced thing on the planet; but the most important technology is Culture."

It was a feeling or thought I have experienced but never clearly articulated.  Here on Free Black Space we often make references to the undeniable standard of living many have access to in America; and how that standard shapes our consciousness, fuels our desires, and propels our sense of opposition or endearment.  Common examples are: running water, mass transportation, air conditioner's, some portions of public education, cars, and the general first world lifestyle we enjoy. 

As Americans our  international travel often clarifies how good we have it, with exception of Europe.  And as a sidetrack, the same argument can be made for some of China's cities.    The country is evolving at an extra-ordinary rate; but the heart of his comment was not about technology in the Western sense.

The fusion between a destroyed culture and the interaction with the Western World is part of globalism.  If culture is sophisticated technology, the heart of colonialism is the destabilization of that culture's value as technology.  As technology culture interfaces with the world and assist the members of the culture in processing their experiences and making sense of their life.  The heart of colonialism is the attack on culture and the replacement of that culture with a "science" as technology that seems obviously superior in its ability to manipulate and manage the world.  Some will disagree and say capitalism.  Though I will not argue or discuss that here, China's weird capitalist, communist designation is truly an example of Chinese culture as compared to an economic system.  In fact, one of the clearest examples of Western domination is the way in which "the rest of us" are sorted into pre-established categories.  As though innovation must be verified and reconciled with the ideas of the masters.  To suggest that China defies this is a Western thought too, for China's does not defy-; but instead reconciles its cultural technology with the ideas it borrows from outside.  Meditation and study are required.

Technology is too often used as substitute for modernization and can even be considered westernization.  Often in China, people imagine the modernization of Chinese society as its westernization.  Recently someone told me of bleaching creams here to make the already often white/light skinned Chinese lighter.  I could also add, often when I view my student's wechats I am surprised by how many have as a cover picture a slim European or American model.  It may be that China will become a completely Westernized country, but I doubt it.

Many of things that are difficult to understand about China are Chinese culture and the way it differs from the West.  If it's hard to explain or requires considerable study to find the differences, we are back to my friend's original point.  Culture is technology, but not so easily duplicated as the schema of a computer.  Chinese culture is example of this.  The notion that China is a copycat nation attempts to override this truth. Even if it is true, the chess board of global commerce has been configured for them to get away with it.  The idea is worthy of study.  There are no troops posed to invade the country that I know of.  As Westerner's we believe so much in the West, that I often here that China's upgrade of its own citizens towards the first world has been engineered by the West itself.  It is made up of people, history, traditions, in dynamic flux around some center or root.  The truth is, we take for granted the ways in which the Western world has disrupted the roots of so many.  Our inability to imagine a rootedness that engages Western technology and development without worshipping and being completely transformed is a direct result of years of colonization.  Colonization has limited our imagination.

But if we imagine Chinese culture as copycat, one should start to imagine what there is that is Chinese that you can copy?  I'd be interested in the list.  Chinese culture is sophisticated technology that is difficult to copycat or imitate.  Though some may think the statement is idealistic, the continuity of Chinese culture makes the statement obvious.

One of the most common complaints I have heard about Chinese culture's engagement with Africa is imported workers(as compared to employee Africans) in isolated compounds.  I have yet to do the true research, but given my limited understanding of Chinese culture-the approach seems predictable.  Many Chinese have not engaged foreigners.  There is both weakness and strength in the position.  Chinese culture is thick and the Chinese even in all their fascination with the West, are clear about their need to engage along the lines of their culture.  One should also add, one of China's most important natural resources is people.  Employing over a billion people is a difficult task.  Providing jobs for them in another country funded by Chinese money is only one approach.

The point made here is one I make continually when discussing China:  in order to assess China a more sophisticated study of their culture is demanded.  One could also add, China, like much of the modern world, has had to learn something about Western culture to survive.  It is a guarantee, that as people become more clear about how China relates to their survival, the engagement of the culture will increase.  This is already occurring. 

At the least China is an opportunity to engage in sophisticated alternatives to the West.  And when one contemplates Chinese culture, they will be sure to contemplate their own from a different vantage.  Their conditions are unique and so are those of the West.  And so are those of the rest of us.

Imagine Chinese culture or all cultures as complicated intricate technologies. 

Free Black Space



This post first appeared on Free Black Space, please read the originial post: here

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Culture as Technology

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