Western Fascinations with Asian Cultures

[Fenn]

I enjoy learning about Asian cultures, although I've never taken any classes or visited. There is something about the culture, traditions, and especially the feelings evoked by the art of these Eastern nations that draws me. But why? Why are so many people attracted to both Asian aethetics and ideas, both historic and modern?

If anyone has formal study or experience in this topic your response would be much appreciated!

[Evil_Cake]

why should we know why you think its cool

[Kodos]

Fetishization of the Other. The East Asian cultures are Other in the West but, unlike the Near East cultures, we are not busy bombing them into the stone age so it's chic to like them.

[Rio]

Mostly, the initial fascination is of the exotic; different culture, fashion, beliefs, and so on. From there, you just gravitate towards the things that you like and further delve yourself into their way to life.

[Fenn]

why should we know why you think its cool

I wasn't just referring to me, though I worded it that way. It was more why are Westerners in general.

Fetishization of the Other. The East Asian cultures are Other in the West but, unlike the Near East cultures, we are not busy bombing them into the stone age so it's chic to like them.

Google was invented so the general populace can understand people like you

So many people take this interest because it is fashionable to like things that are different?

Mostly, the initial fascination is of the exotic; different culture, fashion, beliefs, and so on. From there, you just gravitate towards the things that you like and further delve yourself into their way to life.

This sounds like a very accurate idea. Makes sense.

[Kodos]

Partly that. The fetishization of the Other is a bit harder to explain than that. But in a nutshell, yes. It has always been chic, to an extent, to have a fascination with bowdlerized versions of other cultures. Weaboos are an extreme example, but you see forms of it even in the mainstream - look at garbage like Eat, Love, Pray, for example. Or the brief Yoga fad.

[LVUER]

But I don't think there are many Easterners that fascinated by Western cultures... or am I wrong?

[butternut]

there was a time when they were, not strictly East, i'm talking about South Asia

[Rio]

But I don't think there are many Easterners that fascinated by Western cultures... or am I wrong?

I think there are those in the East who are fascinated with the West. I mean, there's like so many influences from Hollywood, music, food, and so on.

[Fenn]

Partly that. The fetishization of the Other is a bit harder to explain than that. But in a nutshell, yes. It has always been chic, to an extent, to have a fascination with bowdlerized versions of other cultures. Weaboos are an extreme example, but you see forms of it even in the mainstream - look at garbage like Eat, Love, Pray, for example. Or the brief Yoga fad.

Bowdlerized means to remove or omit unpleasant parts, if I looked this up right?

I don't think this is always the case, of course. But some people certainly do. I, however, could care less about what others are into. I was trying to figure out what elements of Eastern cultures causes some of us to be drawn? Traditional music from some Asian cultures (I apologize for my ignorance in not knowing specific genres or instruments), for example, has always been relaxing and enchanting to me.