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“ Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs” Thomas Wolfe
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Culture defies any concrete definition – much like a play by Brecht, labouring in the pursuit of an identity, with multiple manifestations, interpretations and adaptations. This issue is an inquiry into these manifold complexities, articulated in art, music, film, religion, ritual, heritage and custom, belief and morality.
Within contemporary society, there is a tension between upholding tradition and embracing modernity. This tug-of-war is felt on the Mongolian steppe, where nomadic heritage is under threat of dying out owing to urbanisation( p66). The Hae-Nyeo divers of Jeju Island face a similar challenge, where the younger generation of women has migrated towards more lucrative opportunities( p76). New cultures rise, and old ones fade away – a trend that has ignited debate amongst Taiwan’ s minority aboriginal tribes( p84).
Contemporary culture is rarely without its share of controversy: Sounds are rising from the underground as punk finds its voice, and it is often one of dissent( p48). Disagreement with the status quo is often unwelcome, and in some parts of the region, it is punishable. In the Middle East, ISIS and their ilk advocate the destruction of ancient heritage sites in the name of antiidolatry( p38), but artists and NGOs are working to ensure that they are not consigned to tragic nostalgia.
China’ s film industry has set its sights on eclipsing Hollywood( p28) and, like any ambitious adolescent, it’ s not without its challenges. In Malaysia, a small Islamic organisation is propagating polygamy as a way of life, merging business and religion( p56). From East to West, cultural stereotypes are being challenged, from South Korean military men dancing in the DMZ, to women wushu warriors in Afghanistan( p12).
The region is undergoing a process of redefinition, expressed in new art forms, cultural revisions and reinventions. We are entering a dynamic new age of cultural evolution, and revolution, in Asia. attractions
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Other Asian Geographic Magazines Pte Ltd publications & events:
ASIA SURF EXPO
ADEX CHINA 2017 BEIJING OCEAN WEEK
ALEX W. CAMPBELL