China´s Nouveau Riche, Modernization, and Victorian Era

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Recommended: Chinese culture during the nineteenth century

China hasn’t operated with an aristocratic social group since the Han Dynasty (Global Security). The equality that was encouraged during the communist regime blocked the development of an elitist culture within China. However, communism is being glossed over in favor of capitalism, Chinese aristocrats, powered by the recent boom of the economy, are on the rise. China lacks a long established aristocratic culture due to it’s communist past, and as a result, its nouveau riche look elsewhere for examples of elitist culture. Compared to China’s nouveau riche, who are not from traditionally wealthy families, long established European elitist cultures, or the “old money”, are prestigious. These upper classes, such as the Victorian high class of the 1800s are seen as prestigious because of their strict social conduct and total control of society and politics (Bayley). The acceptance of China’s nouveau riche among these long established elite “old rich” cultures requires emulation of the cultural and social norms. “The realities of the Victorian age are seen to be with significant historical resonance to China’s modernization process” (Li). The Victorian era holds the perfect stanford of taste for Chinese aristocrats. For Chinese nouveau riche women, emulation of 19th century Victorian Era elitist culture is the ultimate show of status, through patterns of consumerism, appreciation of Western art, and focus on classic etiquette. “Newly wealthy Chinese women forked over 16,000 dollars to be taught high etiquette” (New York Times). The women attending these courses feel the need “to demonstrate that they don’t just own the money, but also [possess] the cultural refinement that comes with such wealth” (New York Times). To achieve this cultu... ... middle of paper ... ...titute. Worldwatch Institute, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. Pickford, James. "Rich Collectors from China Switch Spending Power to Western Art." Financial Times. The Financial Times Ltd., 29 Nov. 2013. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. Pike, John. "Military." Chinese History. GlobalSecurity.org, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2013. S, Bayley. Victorian Values: An Introduction. N.p.: n.p., 2008. Print. Scheetz, Trevor K. A Modern Investigation of Status Consumption. Rep. Case Western Reserve University, n.d. Web. Shaw, Bernard. Pygmalion. New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print. Svinos, George, and Nick Debnam. Attitudes to Luxury Brands (TNS Survey). N.d. Raw data. Monash University, Shanghai, China. Thomson, Ian. "Spectacle and Artifice." Common Places » Spectacle and Artifice: Victorian Advertisement and Its Impact on The Importance of Being Earnest. Common Places, 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2013.

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