Culture
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
The word culture comes from the Latin word "colere" which means to inhabit, to cultivate or to honour. Culture refers to human activity in general. Culture could also mean a certain group of people's tastes in art and manners.
Singapore is so influenced by other countries, especially the United States of America and England. These two countries have spread pop culture to the rest of the world. Pop culture began last century with the rise of rock 'n' roll, The Beatles, mini-skirts, big hair, and all things groovy. Since then youths all over the world have looked to other countries for fashion ideas, music and all things hip. Teenagers around the world today dress alike, think alike, and feel the need to carry the same things, for example, teenagers all feel the need for a pair of jeans, an mp3 player, as well as many other material things.
Before the western influence in Asia became so powerful, Asians would usually scrimp and save for everything they wanted to buy. Today, banks have different schemes for customers to pay for things without money touching their fingers at all, and people find this extremely easy to do with the numerous credit cards and debit cards, under various names, like UOB's "Lady's card". This allows people all around the world to spend without really knowing how much they are actually spending, and how much money they have left, because all transactions are done electronically. That is also an example of the spread of technology around the world.
People not only spend much more now, but also prefer to splash ot on foreign brands, such as Nike, FCUK and Guess. Guess and Nike coming from America, and FCUK, which is actually French Connection UK, coming from the United Kingdom. These brands have become a status symbol. For example, everyone who wants to show that they exercise, or want to look like they do, would wear clothing from international labels like Nike, Adidas, Reebok and Fila. Not only do these brands sell sportswear, they also sell the equipment needed for the sports, be it shoes, or rackets, or bags. Also, once people have accuired products from these international labels, it seems as if they are able to afford something other people do not have.
Shopping, and brands are just one small part of the phenomenon that has taken over the globe. People are working hard not just for their families anymore, but now, the money earned helps to pay for peoples' want for material possessions.
Not only has the western world influenced people in the way they dress, think and act, it has also influenced the world on how people should look, and beauty has come to be defined as slim and fit young women and men who have no extra fat on their bodies, who always seem to have a radiant glow about them. Even though people know that everyone is different and no one can ever be perfect, they still strive for the "perfect" body which, to many people around the world, is what they see in advertisments. For example, this advertisement from the American brand Guess.
Western countries have not only influenced what teenagers do, but also what people around the world eat. Now, fast food outlets such as McDonald's and KFC can be found in almost every country. This is a product of America's spreading influence around the world. Ten years ago, McDonald's was not known in China at all, and yet today, it is one of the most popular food chains in the country.
Besides food, there is also sport. Games which orginated in Europe and especially England have made their way to Singapore. For example, tennis. Tennis came from England, and was originally a sport which only the rich and royalty could play. Tennis has now become a sport quite widely played in Singapore, however not as widely as basketball or badminton. I believe the arrival of tennis in Singapore was because of the British colonial masters who came to colonise Singapore. The sport then spread to the Singaporean public, first with the rich playing it, and only recently has tennis become a game where everyone can play and not just the well-to-do.
Western influence can be seen in the houses people live in, the clothes people wear, the stationary they use, the technology they use, where people work and play, and almost everything else.
I'll talk about Asian influence on the rest of the world another time.
- Wendy
