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Chinese vs western culture
Chinese vs western culture
Development of Chinese popular music
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Cultures have many things in common. Most things that cultures have in common are necessary to survive, such as fire and language. But there are always even more than the things necessary. Some things include music, luck superstitions, and athletic sports.
In the Chinese culture, music is usually traditional. There are instruments made of many materials, usually stone and wood, in addition to silk, bamboo, clay, and many other materials. The purpose of music in Chinese culture is not to amuse but cleanse one?s thoughts. In American culture, music has many genres, such as rock, pop, and rap. Common instruments include guitar, bass guitar, and drums. There are many others in different categories of bands, such as in a marching band there are different instruments. These may include trumpet, cornet, clarinet, flute, and the instruments listed above as well. In African culture, the most common music is spiritual or gospel. Some other musical genres in African music is hip-hop, rap, jazz, or funk. Piano is a common instrument in gospel. In jazz, saxophone is widespread. All three of these cultures have music.
Luck superstitions are common in all cultures. In Chinese culture, superstitions deal with a variety of things. It is considered unlucky to greet anyone in their bedroom so that is why everyone, even the sick, should get dressed and sit in the living room. It is also considered unlucky to use knives or scissors on New Year's Day as this may cut off fortune. These are common superstitions, also called taboos. In American culture, superstitions are just as random and far-fetched as Chinese taboos. Some believe if you catch a snail on Halloween night and lock it into a flat dish, in the morning you will see the first letter of your sweetheart written in the snail's slime. Some believe that to put your shoes on the bed will cause a death in the family. It is common to hear that when a black cat crosses your path, you will have nine years bad luck. It is also to hear that to break a mirror will give you seven years bad luck. A four-leafed clover is considered good luck. African superstitions are also very common in the culture. It is believed that to look through the trees at the moon will bring bad luck. Some believe that a child?s right hand should not be washed for a month after birth.
Li, J. (2009). Forging the future between two different worlds: recent Chinese immigrant adolescents tell their cross-cultural experiences. Journal of Adolescent Research, 24(4), 477-504.
As an illustration, the common superstition “break a mirror and you get seven years of bad luck” originated from Ancient Greece. In first century AD, it was very common for people to see “Mirror Seers” (Wolchover 1), who were fortune tellers that analyzed the reflection of the client. At this time, it was believed that the health of a person changed in a cycle of seven years. If your reflection were to be distorted, by perhaps a crack or break of the mirror, you were believed to gain seven years of ill-health and bad luck. Much like this superstition yet less well known, it is believed by many that spilling salt is bad luck, and if one does, they should throw a pinch of it over their shoulders. The reasoning for this is that “historically, salt has been highly valued and considered to be a purifying substance, capable of driving away evil. The Romans paid their soldiers in salt – hence the word "salary". It has long been useful as a preservative, in medicine, and is also used in magic, ritual, and superstition to purify, bless things, and drive away evil. Taking a pinch of the spilled salt and throwing it over your left shoulder was thought to drive away the evil spirits that lurked there, waiting to cause harm and misfortune.” (Sanguinarius 4). These two are just a few common examples of the
Superstitions have influenced the lives of human beings perhaps since the beginning of mankind. For millennia, people have clung to beliefs and practices surrounding preternatural activities. Even after science has produced evidence to explain what was once considered supernatural, the superstitious traditions have continued. During the Middle Ages, many new superstitious rituals were developed and some can still be seen in use today. However, the trivial superstitious rituals of today, such as hanging a horse shoe on a door or knocking on wood to bring good fortune, did not begin so simply.
People during the Elizabethan era placed most of their luck on certain objects, or performed certain actions in hope that they will be endowed with good luck or protection. The main reason why people during the Elizabethan era took superstitions as an integral part of life was because most people during that time displayed ignorance and also lived in fear because of their minimal knowledge about anything more than the physical world around them (Alchin, “Elizabethan Superstitions”). This included unseen external forces such as the supernatural, nature, or God. Some superstitions that were a part of Elizabethan England still exist in today’s culture in America. One example is when a person sneezes,
Everywhere in the world superstitions live, even every homeland on the planet has its own localized superstitions. Some of the most widespread superstitions have to manage with cats, alcoholic beverage, and death, strolling under ladders, shattering a reflector, pacing on sidewalk chinks, skulls, the number 13, composing in red, bats flying around you, and following someone with a broom, etc.
Through week 9 of Cultural Anthropology, our subject involved health and illness. I feel this topic is one of the most important throughout the entire book because it pertains to literally everyone. Health and illness is brought into examination through a variety of questions throughout this chapter. For instance, Guest presents the question of how does culture shape our ideas of health and illness? Furthermore, while reading through Guest’s chapter, I came to a better understanding of how health and illness does not just involve one individual. Cultural has a tremendous role in the outcome of individual’s health, illness, and wellbeing.
Anthropology, the study of the development of various societies and cultures, has helped humans understand the differences amongst groups of people. Cultural anthropology, in particular, focuses on the cultural variations that have developed throughout human history. Anthropologists are responsible for studying and examining the behaviors of humankind, researching how humans interact and how they develop. Most anthropologists accomplish this by partaking in field study which enables them to experience the life of another group of people. In essence, the role of an anthropologist is to help others understand other people’s cultural norms, thus making society universal. Although the intentions of most anthropologist are good in principle, their
It seems like most superstition is bad luck, does it not? This makes excellent sense too, for it is very possible that superstitions were created influence the younger generation away from wrong-doings. Nevertheless, there are superstitions that are about bringing good luck to a person. Perhaps the most popular being the lucky horseshoe. There are several origins about how horseshoes came to be luck, but they all agree on a couple things; Iron and warding off goblins.
Superstitions are a fascinating and thrilling part of life. Various people believe that superstitions are ignorant and foolish, but my family knows for a fact that they are genuine beliefs. How do we know this? My family, the Winchester’s, and myself, Alice, have recently endured countless hardships that were caused by the simple mistake of not knocking on wood when bad luck was looming in the air.
Comparison of American and Chinese Cultures Cultural differences are apparent from one group of people to another. Culture is based on many things that are passed on from one generation to the next. Most of the time, people take for granted their language, beliefs, and values. When it comes to the cultural differences of people, there is no right or wrong. People should be aware of others culture and respect the differences that exist between them.
Culture can be summed up as the behaviors, attitudes, customs, and beliefs combined in a society at a given time and place. Culture joins people by establishing a common ground. There are many common elements that result in the formation of cultural subgroups such as religion, family traditions, and the arts. The two most important cultural elements that have influenced my own social group (for better or for worse) would be communication styles and roles within the family.
A lot of people really see these as being quite true. These beliefs can take their affects on the ones who truly believe in them. However, not all of these affects are negative. Nevertheless, how do these superstitions affect the person who holds on to them, if they even do so? Are there certain things that make people more or less susceptible to believing in these little fables? There are so many different kinds of people out in the world. Are there any groups or cultures that are more heavily influenced by these beliefs? There are so many different questions one could ask when they try to take a deeper look into all of these superstitions.
Superstitions exist everywhere in the world. Every country on the planet has its own local superstitions. Each country also has its own variations on common superstitions. Some of the most common superstitions have to do with cats, alcohol, and death.
Superstitions, what are they and where did they come from? Are they true are they false or is there some sort of reasoning behind them? Or are they simply just a whole lot of mumbo jumbo. I mean ….. awww man (meeoow) there goes a black cat man talk about bad luck it just took off with any luck that I had, (gosh darn – click fingers well lets see if its true…Mrs Maslen whadda ya reckon am I gonna get an A for this or what? C’mon c’mon you can tell me. Damn you cat (shake fist meeooow). Where did that superstition come from? For heavens sake how pathetic is it! Anyways for most people these are simply old wives tales and silly misconstrued stories, happenings and events. But for others these are real, they believe every word of these.
We have all seen or practiced a superstition. Crossing our fingers for good luck or avoiding the path of a black cat. Some are as old as the written word. They have woven themselves into the fabric of everyday society. Probably the most superstious group in our society is the athlete.