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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