Asian Geographic 2017

{ EDITOR’S NOTE}

“Culture is the arts elevated to a set of beliefs”

Thomas Wolfe

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Culture defies any concrete definition – much like a play by Brecht,
labouring in the pursuit of an identity, with multiple manifestations,
interpretations and adaptations. This issue is an inquiry into these
manifold complexities, articulated in art, music, film, religion, ritual,
heritage and custom, belief and morality.
Within contemporary society, there is a tension between upholding
tradition and embracing modernity. This tug-of-war is felt on the Mongolian
steppe, where nomadic heritage is under threat of dying out owing to
urbanisation (p66). The Hae-Nyeo divers of Jeju Island face a similar
challenge, where the younger generation of women has migrated towards
more lucrative opportunities (p76). New cultures rise, and old ones fade
away – a trend that has ignited debate amongst Taiwan’s minority aboriginal
tribes (p84).
Contemporary culture is rarely without its share of controversy: Sounds
are rising from the underground as punk finds its voice, and it is often one of
dissent (p48). Disagreement with the status quo is often unwelcome, and in
some parts of the region, it is punishable. In the Middle East, ISIS and their
ilk advocate the destruction of ancient heritage sites in the name of anti-
idolatry (p38), but artists and NGOs are working to ensure that they are not
consigned to tragic nostalgia.
China’s film industry has set its sights on eclipsing Hollywood (p28) and,
like any ambitious adolescent, it’s not without its challenges. In Malaysia,
a small Islamic organisation is propagating polygamy as a way of life,
merging business and religion (p56). From East to West, cultural stereotypes
are being challenged, from South Korean military men dancing in the DMZ,
to women wushu warriors in Afghanistan (p12).
The region is undergoing a process of redefinition, expressed in new art
forms, cultural revisions and reinventions. We are entering a dynamic new
age of cultural evolution, and revolution, in Asia.

© Zigor Aldama

ALEX W. CAMPBELL

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