What does “Westernized” mean, exactly?
I don’t think the term ‘Westernized’ is actually a valid label for most of what’s going on in societies all over the globe today.
I was doing a couple of rounds on iKnow when the following example sentence popped up:
今日の日本の若者は欧米化している。
Translation:
“Young people in Japan today are Westernized.”
The voice sounded like it was a grumpy, older man. It got me to thinking, though – What’s “Westernized”?
I think people use it to mean that culture from the West has invaded a non-Western land, but what is “culture from the West”, exactly? Is it McDonalds? Hip Hop? iPods?
See, those things aren’t necessarily “Western” (or more specifically American), more than they are “post-modern”. They just happened to be made in the post-modern West. Continuing with Japan as a comparison model, what has come from this non-Western nation? Sony Walkmans? Anime? TV-capable cell phones?
Things that are accused of causing “Westernization”, specifically attitudes, fashion, and entertainment, aren’t actually a product of the “West”, from my point of view. They’re products of an increasingly connected global society. Yet the “imports” into many traditionally Confucian societies* are perceived considerably more negative than the “exports”.
I don’t really have time to dig down deep into my thoughts and analyze this at the moment, but what I’m feeling in my gut is that this isn’t a battle between Western and Eastern cultures, but between two sets of more universal groups: (1) Older and younger generations, and (2) nationalist and internationalist (or maybe even just “non-nationalist”) identities. The older generations are more likely to be nationalist, but not necessarily always, as are the younger generations more likely to be internationalist, but not always.
I’m tired right now, so I think I’ll have to leave this at that, but what I want to get into if I have the time later is the contrast between Western and Eastern complaints regarding post-modern culture, and where the blame is typically laid.
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*Note: I use “traditionally Confucian societies” as an example because that’s where my personal experience is.
That’s an interesting point, I never really thought about when people say “westernized.” I also think that westernize is basically a post modern life style that a lot of younger generations embrace (myself included).
I mean, if people say that using all these products from the west make people westernized, then why shouldn’t people that use Japanese electronics be called “easternized”?
Also, when people say westernized maybe they are talking about certain traits that aren’t/weren’t apparent in Japan or embraced as much such as individualism…
I don’t know really, but it’s just my two cents.
Ben
November 15, 2008 at 4:52 am
When I hear westernized from a Japanese man in his mid-to-late years, I don’t think of McDonald’s or iPods, I think more of individualism, job hopping(転職), expressing opinions, and ignoring the old culture. The work place is changing, albeit slowly, but it is changing and shaking up an entire generations view of how things should be. I suppose consumerism could be considered in there, but I agree with you that it is just a result of modern society, as well as the emergence of marketing as an industry and international trade.
Perhaps westernization is just an old term that has outlived its use? In the 19th century and early 20th century, westernization probably referred to the major changes required from going from traditional societies to modern industrial societies. Perhaps a better term is Anglo-saxonization. After all, the French and Italians have the same gripes about how their traditional cultures are being replaced by anglo-saxon globalism and values.
Bryan
November 15, 2008 at 9:40 am
Ben: That’s what I was thinking of with the Sony Walkman. It redefined the way we think about listening to music. You could argue that it’s “Easternization”.
Bryan: You bring up good points. The things you’ve mentioned regarding social perceptions and attitudes, those aren’t necessarily Western either. Think about 1950s America – It was a traditional society where the man goes to work, the woman wears an apron while working at home, and the kids don’t speak until they’re spoken to. Where did Individualism and freedom of expression come from? It’s not that it’s a Western trait, but a post-modern one. The reason it may have caught on late in Asia was that the continent was in turmoil in the decades after the end of WWII.
Alex
November 15, 2008 at 9:50 am
Let me dumb it down for you a bit. Acting Westernized is when a non-white acts like a white,dumb,insolent and stupid American or European. The term is clearly defined all over the world is uncouth and uneducated and stinky.
Japanese young people have learned from white people how to be retarded and ignorant of their own culture and people.
Tony
November 17, 2008 at 12:21 pm
It’s easy to just blurt that out without any logical explanation for the opinion, but it’s much more difficult to prove that “the culture of Caucasians has ruined Asia.” There’s a lot more evidence that shows this is not the case, and that countries like Japan and Korea have actually made policies that strive for globalization to strengthen their own nations. The ideas of globalization and nationalism are not polar opposites, but actually compliment each other.
Actually, the drive to modernize and emerge on an international stage was a decision that both Japan and Korea actively sought, and they’ve both succeeded. The population made a conscious decision to adopt an outward-look on society.
What’s an example of a country that didn’t embrace modernity? North Korea. Japan could easily have become a state like North Korea after the end of WWII. In fact, national-socialism had a considerable following in the years that followed the end of the war. But socialist support lost out, Japan internationalized, and they had their own pieces of culture to contribute to the melting pot of international culture. Now we’ve got anime, portable audio, and TV capable phones from Japan, and mobile design and advanced LCD technology from South Korea, most of which have become standard consumer products in many countries around the world. At the same time, we have American politicians demanding Japanese-style accountability and apologies from major corporations who mishandled their businesses.
Alex
November 17, 2008 at 12:39 pm
An interesting discussion… I agree with your point that Westernisation doesn’t necessarily equate with consumer products and ‘Western’ ideas like consumerism, democracy and capitalism. Especially in Japan and Korea, I’d say that today’s definition of ‘Westernisation’ deals with threats to the last vestiges of elements of Eastern societies, like familial values and conforming to societal norms. In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, ‘industrialisation’ and ‘modernisation’ (economical and political) may have been synonymous to ‘Westernisation’ but I think these defintions would be obsolete in two countries which have openly embraced these concepts.
I think that Japan and Korea are examples of countries which have blended indigenous cultures with imported Western concepts brilliantly, without fearing the former being overridden by the latter, allowing new fusion products like corporate clans (keiretsu’s and jaebeol’s) and a thirst for smaller and smaller electronic products. This may be changing more recently, however, with the imported culture taking prestige, especially amongst the younger generation, creating apprehension within the older generations.
That was long, sorry!
Nahmo
November 17, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Your analysis is flawed. Everything that has ruined asia is because of the white man! Everything!
Tony
November 17, 2008 at 11:03 pm
“Think about 1950s America – It was a traditional society where the man goes to work, the woman wears an apron while working at home, and the kids don’t speak until they’re spoken to. Where did Individualism and freedom of expression come from? It’s not that it’s a Western trait, but a post-modern one.”
Really, really interesting point that I can’t believe I haven’t thought of before! “Westernized” is always an ambiguous one, we definitely need more descriptive terms. If the Japanese person is referring to someone being more individualistic then post-modernist is right – if they just mean that they are ignoring older Japanese traditions then perhaps non-traditional might be more helpful.
Danielle
November 18, 2008 at 2:31 am
Thanks for commenting Danielle!
I know of your blog (through Deas), and I wanted to be a part of the blog matsuri you’re hosting this month, but I’m hesitant to pour out my extremely long and incoherent narrative on the way Japan has changed the way I think. I think it’s an interesting topic, though, and I look forward to reading everyone’s entries soon!
Alex
November 18, 2008 at 8:43 am
Globalization!? Are you kidding? You are wrong on every account you listed Alex. Sure, Japan sought to be recognized on an international level, but never did they create policies for globalization. If anything Japan has been one of the most resistant when it comes to globalization.
Japan and Korea do not have an outward-look on society. In fact, they are the most xenophobic and culturally biased countries in the world. Modernization has more to do with the economic model of the times. That’s it!
Tony
November 20, 2008 at 12:29 am
Are your comments merely based on an opinion of your own perception of reality, or do you have evidence to support your stance? Because there’s a lot more evidence that runs counter to your argument. Personal experience is based on an inward perception of the environment, so you’ve got to bring more quantitative research to back up any other qualitative claims.
Please go read some of Gi-wook Shin’s research papers and come back and tell me Korea and Japan don’t seek globalization policies. (Appropriation of globalization to strengthen the nation)
I do understand the importance of blood ties as a source of “ethnic nationalism” in both Japan and Korea, and I understand it not only in theory but in practice as the culture I identify with exhibits similar traits – I am Jewish because my mother is Jewish. (It’s Halakha) But jus sanguinis does not imply outright xenophobia. You’re confusing pride in nation with hatred of foreigness, and that’s not the case. The largest body of foreign students in the U.S. are Koreans. Why would Koreans send their students overseas if they thought Korean universities were superior? Why would SNU be actively recruiting foreign academics to increase its standing as an internationalized institution? Wouldn’t the foreign ideas pollute the nation’s brightest students?
Listen, I know which angle you’re coming at this from, despite all of my rhetorical questions leading up to this. You’ve been exposed to some negatives that you’ve internalized and now you have this skewed opinion of the way Asia works. When I read your comments I feel like I’m reading a page out of The Chrysanthemum and the Sword.
Alex
November 20, 2008 at 1:07 am
WOW! This is a really interesting discussion! I can’t wait to read what happens next.
I also agree that Westernization is about more than Mickey D’s and Mickey Mouse. But, the globalization of values and ideas these “mickeys” are wrapped around. The New World Order is well underway. I don’t think NWO is a strictly Western operation however. But I do think it requires the mind and hearts of the vast majority of the people in order to succeed. And, one can see how favorable the “East” has been towards Disney and Mickey d, and MTV and Starbucks and the west towards those technological gizmos and anime you mentioned. Once everyone is convinced that humanity has similar goals and aspirations, and traditions, customs and culture are only tools of division, then it’s just a matter of installing the one government to rule them all. (Sounds like LOTR doesn’t it? sorry)
Sorry, I’m a conspiracy theorist at heart. But, the Council on Foreign Relations is real. And they have an agenda that I don’t think is in the best interest of The East or the West. So forget about Westernization. It’s a brave new world.
BTW, I’ve never read The Chrysanthemum and the sword…Alex, do you recommend it?
Locohama
December 1, 2008 at 1:57 pm
I recommend it if you want to see a stereotypical and outdated view of Japan.
If you want to read about the nitty-gritty truth regarding problems in Japanese society and how the nation was developed, consider Alex Kerr’s Dogs and Demons: Tales from the Dark Side of Japan. But take it with a grain of salt, and consider it criticism aimed at improving Japan instead of merely pointing out its faults.
Alex
December 1, 2008 at 2:32 pm