Analysis Of Robert Weller's Discovering Nature

Robert Weller 's book Discovering Nature: Globalization and Environmental Culture in China and Taiwan, introduced readers to new worlds on environmental study, through an anthropological viewpoint. Instead of a providing the reader with a purely historic or environmentalist viewpoint like many of the texts that we have read so far this semester, Weller 's viewpoint offers the readers insight into a more "people-centered" outlook. Weller divides his texts into seven chapters, although I believe that chapter one stood as more of an introduction rather than solo chapter, due to its nature and outlying of other chapters. Weller focuses part of his text on the ideas of "nature tourism" and the variant natures of globalization, and I will explore

This is a very good for the environment in theory, but consumer demands, made the practice almost impossible. Both Chinese and Taiwanese parks learned that one has to cater to the public, or they will not make any money. As a business, people seek to go to "nature" to escape their busy, daily lives. People think that they want "true nature", but what they really want is something that can be quiet, but also entertaining to friends and family. As Weller says, "people want their nature tamed (91)." In order to do this, nature cannot go untouched, rather is must become a "mixed-use product" (91), equal to something that someone can merely go to the store and get. Due to the majority of consumers being families, parks and natural places must become family-oriented, and appeal to not only the peace-seeking adults, but the fun-seeking children. On page 94, Weller prints a picture of the Eight Immortals, which should be an attraction by itself, surrounded by a pool-area and giant whale. Not only is this disturbing the nature, but it makes the nature seem out of place. It appears as if the nature is getting in the way of the amusement park. I

Weller stands firmly against the idea of the "top-down" globalization, which many find popular. I agree with Weller that globalization cannot be so black and white. Both China and Taiwan are covered in evidence of out outside influence, but the idea of "top-down" is just too broad to be placed on both of the these nations. For example, if top-down globalization was so impactful, then both nations would be heavily influenced by one nation or one ideal; but that is simply not the case. Taiwan derives a lot of ideals for economic and wildlife preservation from the United States, while China borrows from the ideas of the United Nations (99). There are also too many different lifestyles and cultures in each of these nations to be influenced by just one type. Weller emphasizes, "Cultural globalization is not just a matter of pouring water down a slope and watching it get wet. It is a multivocal argument among many people with different interest, different access to mechanisms of cultural production, and different amounts of power to impose their views (165)." Weller throughout his texts supports this argument, offering examples of local interests versus national ideals. When it came to people protesting various environmental issues, it was often local "gangsters" rather than big, organized crime that would impede; and often the locals dealt with these issues on their own rather than seeking outside help (113). The