Eastern or Western Culture?

[Morfos]

Which culture (including their art and buildings) do you think is better Eastern or Western? These areas so happen to be the most advanced areas. [By East I mean far East, and you know what I mean by West]

Western Countries:

Europe
Canada
America
Russia
Australia

Eastern Countries:

Japan
Korea
China
Vietnam
Singapore

 

[SeleucusNicator]

As a Westerner, I am clearly biased towards my own culture. Not only is its art, architecture, music, etc. closer to my tastes (especially since you included Russia in the West), but Western Culture has also developed concepts such as secular, constitutional government, capitalism, applied technology, industrialization, etc. that have developed nowhere else in the world.

 

[Benderino]

Look at my sig...

 

[Ohkrana]

I don't think either culture is better than the other.

The east or exotic culture if you like I beleive has a great deal to offer the west (and already has provided a great deal to the west over the course of history).

I voted the I like them both the same option.

[disclaimer the below is mentioned purely as humour - so lets not get precious]

Good to see australia listed even though all we had to offer was the chiko roll, pie floater and spotted dick [yes it is an outback dish - no kidding].

 

[The Last Conformist]

Since when is 'Europe' a country?

I voted Western, cos most varieties of East Asian art I'm familiar with aren't to my tastes, while a higher proportion of Western is. Of course, my familiarity with things East Asian is much lacking compared to that with Western culture.

As regards political ideologies and systems, I think Western civilization holds the singular honour of having invented both the best ones and the worst ones.

 

[ComradeDavo]

Being a 'westerner' I am more intrigued by Eastern culture, probably because I don't see it in every day life like i do with western culture (I live in Bath which has alot of History, example being first King of England crowned her, and also of course the 'Roman Baths' which bring the tourists in droves).

Ultimutely, I like both the same!

 

[Azadre]

Umm, right now, the west is tipping the scales, but Nicator, it doesn't mean it has always been that way. It's a cycle: west, east, west, east, west, east.

 

[Syterion]

First of all, I wouldn't include Russia in the Western side.

Eastern Culture I very much like, it is more diversified. Western Culture these days seems to be deteriorating. Also, when was the last time America made a contribution to culture? I live in the States, so far all I see in their culture is hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecues. Maybe also the sport of football. The only good thing in their culture, to me, is their large amount of Universities of high quality.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

Originally posted by Azadre
Umm, right now, the west is tipping the scales, but Nicator, it doesn't mean it has always been that way. It's a cycle: west, east, west, east, west, east.

I see no such cyclical pattern.

What I see is a few thousand years of largely independent and separate kingdoms scattered all over Eurasia, connected only by international trade, plagues, and the occasional barbarian invasion.

Then, a few hundred years ago, I see the West exploding into the Americas, into Africa, and into the fringes of Asia, subjugating every culture in their way and becoming the most powerful nations in the world, spreading their ideas, genes, and weapons.

In fact, even the Eastern nations that you will likely claim can challenge the west have adopted Western systems and western practices; some of them have even adopted Western languages.

 

[Maj]

I don't really know much about "Eastern" culture and having been raised in the "West" I'm blind to its cultural markers so ... no comment

 

[Benderino]

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

Eastern Culture I very much like, it is more diversified. Western Culture these days seems to be deteriorating. Also, when was the last time America made a contribution to culture? I live in the States, so far all I see in their culture is hamburgers, hot dogs, and barbecues. Maybe also the sport of football. The only good thing in their culture, to me, is their large amount of Universities of high quality.

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).

 

[Hitro]

I personally prefer Western culture. That doesn't make it "better" but it is without any doubt my favourite.

 

[Archer 007]

Western Culture and Art are my favoite. I have a deep respect for the East also, though.

 

[Zarn]

Eastern Culture by far. The Western culture is no longer what it use to be and is now something the West should be ashamed of.

 

[Goober]

Being a "Westerner", i am obviously biased towards Western Culture. But, I am also intrigued by the "Eastern" culture, so I voted that I like them both the same. Comparing cultures is hard, is not impossible, since they are so different, in many regards. I am interested, for the "Eastern" culture, why did you only choose oriental countries, and not Indonesia, the Phillipines, etc.? Ohh, and Thailand, the old French Indonesia countries?

 

[Syterion]

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).

The sports are fine(baseball sucks though, IMO). Diversity isn't a cultural thing, I think. Democracy isn't as well. Art? There hasn't been a good American Artist in 30 years. Georgia O Keefe was pretty good, I think. Tom Clancy's books are way overrated, most of the plots are similar, and he spends way too long describing various weaponry. Hollywood spews out too much crap to count. I don't like plays, except a few like Les Miz. I mentioned the education system(though Affirmative Action needs to be need-based). And the physical characteristics aren't cultural as well. The cities that you mentioned can be considered, I guess, but of those I've only been to NY, Boston, and California. And U.S. is one of the most polluted countries, so don't go mentioning the countryside.

So really, America's culture isn't as great as you think. Still a nice place to live, though.

 

[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 if diversity isn't a cultural thing, then nothing is. Our diversity brings cultures from all over the work, integrated into our society. That is our strongest point, our diversity of ideas, and this you have taken for granted.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I don't know where you get off calling the US countryside unmentionable due to pollution.

Go to Mexico, India, China, or any third-world country, THEN come back and see if you think the US countryside is "polluted."

 

[Archer 007]

Originally posted by Zarn
Eastern Culture by far. The Western culture is no longer what it use to be and is now something the West should be ashamed of.

Our modern culture is stupid, I agree, but our older culture is second to none.

 

[Syterion]

I don't know where you get off calling the US countryside unmentionable due to pollution.

Go to Mexico, India, China, or any third-world country, THEN come back and see if you think the US countryside is "polluted."

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.