Eastern or Western Culture?

[KaNick]

Originally posted by Benderino


Come come:

Our history, ALL of our sports (you forgot baseball and basketball), our diversity, our democracy, our art, our literature (Tom Clancy and the like, for example, and a million others), our movies (Hollywood), our plays (have you even heard of Broadway?), our education system (universities), New York, Chicago, California, Boston, Texas, the Midwest, our deserts, our mountains, our beaches, New Orleans, our beautiful forests and Illinois' prairies. There really is too much to name, and you're not being open minded enough (or taking it all for granted).

Bravo, coundn't of put it better myself

Originally posted by Benderino
No, it still is. IT may be polluted, but have you ever been out to the Rockies? Or the Smokies? It's gorgeous. Don't overlook that. Arizona, South Dakota--everywhere, there is natural beauty. You don't have to like plays to acknowledge that they are an integral part of American culture. Same thing with Baseball (which I don't care much for anyway, but it is truly American culture as well). Cemocracy has formed our nation in many ways. It influences our culture in ways you couldn't even imagine. Again, do not overlook this. There are millions of modern American writers, journalists, and authors that produce outstanding novels, articles, novellas, etc. I just named one (of whom, I haven't even read Clancy's work). Not everything out of Hollywood is crap. The best movies (maybe many bad ones too) in the world are produced there: Gladiator, Braveheart, The Usual Suspects, Zoolander, Star Wars, Master and Commander, Black Hawk Down, Shindler's List...the list goes on and on.

And the knockout punch.

 

[Benderino]

Originally posted by Syterion


I think most countries are way, way overpolluted, the countries you mentioned especially.

And I still don't think physical features of the land are a cultural benefit. It is just there. Nobody did anything to make it better.

The diversity I can understand.

I forgot one more, and it's probably one of the most important: MUSIC! Not everything nowadays is rap. There are scores of good albums coming out each year (some of which are rap, like the latest OutKast CD. In the last 50 years, America has dominated the world in terms of music. Rock'n roll, hip hop, rap, country, soul, jazz, gospel, blues, techno, boy band, Britney, alternative, funk, classic, folk, you name it. American music and CDs are being purchased all around the globe, and its popularity persists to this day. You cannot discount the music industry when speaking of American culture.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

Which culture (including their art and buildings) do you think is better Eastern or Western?

Eastern is a big label to apply to all the different cultures in Asia. Generally speaking, they have impeccable taste when it comes to art. Particularly the Japanese.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Syterion
First of all, I wouldn't include Russia in the Western side.

When East is China, Indo-China, India, etc...then Russia is definitely western. I think Russia ought to be seen in perspective. Just because England, Germany and France are different from Russia, doesn't mean that Russia is a branch of Sino-Indian culture. Russia is a branch of western civilization - indo-european, Graeco-Roman, christian, white, etc, etc... I'd like to hear what your perspective of Western/Eastern is...

 

[Syterion]

Who said I thought Russia was Eastern? I think Russian culture is its own entity, different from both generalizations of Eastern and Western Culture.

I forgot one more, and it's probably one of the most important: MUSIC! Not everything nowadays is rap. There are scores of good albums coming out each year (some of which are rap, like the latest OutKast CD. In the last 50 years, America has dominated the world in terms of music. Rock'n roll, hip hop, rap, country, soul, jazz, gospel, blues, techno, boy band, Britney, alternative, funk, classic, folk, you name it. American music and CDs are being purchased all around the globe, and its popularity persists to this day. You cannot discount the music industry when speaking of American culture.

OK, music is a good example, but just for the record, I think the best British music outclasses the best American stuff.

 

[Benderino]

You mean like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones? They are really good, but you're still outdone by all the great American groups that are innumerable.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

Let's try not to drift off topic. A democratic govt is not a "cultural" issue. Neither is having the Rocky Mountains or the Grand Canyon I think we all agree that Western governments are superior, if you measure superiority by the ability to beat the crap out of everybody else.

As for actual culture, I voted neither. I don't like either Eastern or Western culture, but what's in between. Countries like India, Nepal, and Turkey are culturally superior imho. Indian and Arabic music, for example, is more refined than either Eastern or Western [although, with my cultural prejudices, I still prefer a healthy dose of Eric Clapton ].

 

[Silverflame]

Eastern by far. This poll is nothing but bias. Everybody from the western side of the world will obviously vote western because they're biased. Anyone connected with the Eastern cultures, like me, will obviously vote Eastern because we're biased.

Since CFC is full of Europeans, it is obvious that there are more votes for Westerns.

 

[cgannon64]

I can't really say one is better. Naturally I am familiar with Western culture, but the tidbits of Eastern culture I see and know are pretty cool.

I'd have to really study it and immerse myself in it to decide, but I think in the end people will see its not really better or worse, just different.

[Dontcha Love Diplomatic Happy Posts? ]

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Syterion
Who said I thought Russia was Eastern? I think Russian culture is its own entity, different from both generalizations of Eastern and Western Culture.

OK...as long as that's clear.

BTW, I don't think Scotland is Western either. It's its own entity...the westernization of the last few centuries hasn't changed that IMO

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Silverflame
Eastern by far. This poll is nothing but bias. Everybody from the western side of the world will obviously vote western because they're biased. Anyone connected with the Eastern cultures, like me, will obviously vote Eastern because we're biased.

Since CFC is full of Europeans, it is obvious that there are more votes for Westerns.

I don't think it always works like that ... but the "bias" argument is used to cop out loads of failing poll options on CFC. I worry about the trend

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

BTW, I don't think Scotland is Western either. It's its own entity...the westernization of the last few centuries hasn't changed that IMO

Scotland is Celtic... whereas Spain is Latin and Russia is Slavic. The three basic divisions in European culture. But then, where do the Greeks, the Norwegians, or the Austrians fit in? Not to mention England and France [Norman?].

 

[Norseone]

Originally posted by Pontiuth Pilate
BTW, I don't think Scotland is Western either. It's its own entity...the westernization of the last few centuries hasn't changed that IMO

Scotland is Celtic... whereas Spain is Latin and Russia is Slavic. The three basic divisions in European culture. But then, where do the Greeks, the Norwegians, or the Austrians fit in? Not to mention England and France [Norman?].

id call Norway, Austria, Germany, France, and England Germaic....

 

[Achinz]

There is much to admire in both. I'd just like to vote for Eastern because there's too much Western-centricism here (to be expected in an English language forum). People still tend to use "Asian" to imply some sort of homogeneous entity particularly in a cultural context. Just as "European" is too sweeping when it comes to the diversity of the cultures within Europe, so a generalised "Asian" does not reflect the wealth and diversity that ranges from Indian to Thai to Indonesian to Chinese to Japanese.

 

[Pangur Bán]

Originally posted by Pontiuth Pilate


Scotland is Celtic... whereas Spain is Latin and Russia is Slavic. The three basic divisions in European culture. But then, where do the Greeks, the Norwegians, or the Austrians fit in? Not to mention England and France [Norman?].

Scotland and Ireland aren't linguistically Celtic anymore. Germans/Austrians, Dutch/Flemishmen, Scandinavians and Englishmen are linguistically Germanic. France is linguistically Latin.

But you seem to be discussing culture...not language...and there is so much room for disagreement here, we'd probably best not start But if Russia's not culturally Western, then I see little reason to call Scottish culture western either.

 

[Syterion]

As for actual culture, I voted neither. I don't like either Eastern or Western culture, but what's in between. Countries like India, Nepal, and Turkey are culturally superior imho. Indian and Arabic music, for example, is more refined than either Eastern or Western [although, with my cultural prejudices, I still prefer a healthy dose of Eric Clapton ].

Pontiuth speaks the truth. Indian culture is the greatest.

 

[Pontiuth Pilate]

On the other hand, everything else about India generally sucks. The caste system, for instance, which I class as a governmental issue which pervades culture instead of being part of it. And most Middle Eastern countries with the possible exception of Turkey are experiencing tremendous issues... plus the coffee is overrated.

 

[Syterion]

Caste system no longer exists, remember? And in India we drink Chi, which I guess westerners call "Tea"

The only things I dislike about India is the overpopulation, tense relationship with Pakistan, and multiple dialects, since I only speak one dialect. Of course, I have a bias, being Indian.

 

[The Last Conformist]

Originally posted by calgacus


When East is China, Indo-China, India, etc...then Russia is definitely western. I think Russia ought to be seen in perspective. Just because England, Germany and France are different from Russia, doesn't mean that Russia is a branch of Sino-Indian culture. Russia is a branch of western civilization - indo-european, Graeco-Roman, christian, white, etc, etc... I'd like to hear what your perspective of Western/Eastern is...

Indo-European doesn't really belong here, does it? I mean, Hungary is is not Indo-European, while most of India is, yet the fromer is definitively Western, while the later certainly isn't.

 

[amadeus]

American art, American culture, America the Beautiful.