Importance of family & home to this culture group. Look at traditional & community values, issues of assimilation, socioeconomic success, gender, prejudice and art.
2,250 words (approx. 9 pages), 10 sources, 1999, $ 79.95
From the Paper "In traditional Chinese society, great emphasis is placed on the incorporation of philosophical principles in everyday life. One of the greatest Chinese philosophers was Confucius. Since Confucius advocated respect for family and parents, filial piety has become a central feature of Chinese culture. Children are expected to put the interests of the family above their own aspirations. Thus, various aspects of Chinese culture are preserved in the home, particularly in households which contain older, extended-family members or first-generation immigrants.
Chinese American families often celebrate traditional Chinese holidays such as Chinese New Year and the moon festival. Custom dictates the celebration of such holidays with firecrackers, although in some communities the purchase of such fireworks is illegal. Another Chinese New Year custom is to send..."
Abstract "Shawn Wong, in his novel American Knees, explores some of the problems faced by a young Chinese-American as he attempts to work, live and love in the United States. As the book begins, Raymond Ding is being divorced by his wife Darleen, a situation which cuts him off not only from her but from the relative cultural stability his association with her family has previously provided him.
From the Paper "Shawn Wong, in his novel American Knees, explores some of the problems faced by a young Chinese-American as he attempts to work, live and love in the United States. As the book begins, Raymond Ding is being divorced by his wife Darleen, a situation which cuts him off not only from her but from the relative cultural stability his association with her family has previously provided him. Although the book certainly attempts to examine important racial and gender issues, Wong's inconsistency as a writer and his lack of control over his material limit the effectiveness of this important examination.
At times, the book's comic tone produces an almost farcical reality, as in the opening scene which focuses on the divorce and is intended to establish a foundation for what is to follow (11-14). At other times, the discussions about serious issues seem..."
From the Paper "Introduction
This research will analyze the effect that the yakuza, Japan's organized crime syndicate, has on the Japanese economy and on the life of the people of Japan. The effect of the yakuza will be illustrated with an exploration of the yakuza's infiltration of many legitimate businesses and how this specifically affects the Japanese economy. Further, there is short examination of the effect the yakuza have had in efforts by/ the Japanese government to reform the economy in the face of the worst recession in Japan's history since the end of World
War II. What is the Yakuza?
The yakuza is Japan's organized crime syndicate. Although the yakuza has old roots in Japan, the yakuza did not prosper until after World War II."
Abstract This paper examines Maxine Hong Kingston's short story " No Name Woman" finding that the tale is a profound exploration of traditional Chinese culture, the differences between Chinese culture and American culture, and a stern condemnation of the traditional roles of women in a Chinese society. The author discusses how te story is told through the eyes of three very diverse narrators, who all serve to convey a very different impression of the events.
From the Paper "In No Name Woman, Maxine Hong Kingston uses differences and similarities in the three separate narratives to explore the mores of traditional Chinese culture, the differences between Chinese culture and American culture, and ultimately to condemn the traditional roles of women in a Chinese society. Clearly, the disparate narratives of the mother, aunt, and narrator all reveal a very different viewpoint on Chinese culture. The mother is clearly supportive of the aunt's final fate, and symbolizes the traditional view of women in society. In contrast, the aunt's narrative allows the reader to understand the effect of a traditional view at a personal, individual level. The narrator's struggle to make sense of the story through her Americanized perspective also helps to reveal a great deal about traditional Chinese culture. Further, the juxtaposition of the narrators? exploration of the story and the narratives of the mother and aunt allows for a revelation of the differences between American and Chinese culture. The aunt and mother's traditional viewpoints allow us to better explore and understand the Americanized view of the daughter, and vice versa. The grim acceptance and disapproval of the mother's traditional views creates very little sympathy for the traditional view of women in Chinese culture."
Tags: maxine, hong, kingston, chinese, narrator, culture, story
From the Paper "This paper will be concerned with the Kabuki theater of Japan. It will discuss the virtuosity and techniques of the Kabuki actor, as well as the use of body language as it pertains to Japanese concepts of space. The origins of the Kabuki in Japan can be traced to the city of Kyoto in the early 17th century, A.D. Although the Kabuki is performed exclusively by men today, it was originally founded by a woman named Izumo no Okuni. Okuni led a group of women, most of whom were prostitutes, in the performance of narrative dances for the public. In this way, dance was used not just for its own sake but for the purpose of telling a story to the audience. Specifically, the gestures and body language of the dancers were used to tell the story while at the same time expressing the emotions of the characters. This was an important innovation in ... "
This paper analyzes the Chinese novel Lao She's "Rickshaw" as a portrait of social misery in Peking of 1920s and discusses the book's impact on culture.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 6 sources, 1994, $ 39.95
From the Paper "Lao She was perhaps the best-known writer in China behind Lin Yutang, and he captured the spirit of the age of revolution and of change in China. His novel Rickshaw is his most enduring legacy, and yet it would also become an annoyance to the angry students of the Cultural Revolution and would lead to attacks on Lao She, both verbal and physical, in the 1960s. Translator Jean M. James says of Lao that he was, like Charles Dickens, a social novelist and a chronicler of Peking as Dickens was of London:
The terrible life of the poor depicted in Rickshaw is hard to believe, but sociological studies conducted in Peking in the twenties describe the same conditions and worse.
An examination of the novel and the culture that produced it shows how Lao She developed his social commentary and some of the ... "
Abstract Compares the political cultures of the two countries. Problems of scarce resources, extensive poverty and inequality, and a weak position in the international economic system. Weak economices. Lack of opportunity for the majority of the population. Class stratification in urban Brazil. Threat of rural land reform. Caste system of India.
From the Paper "COMPARATIVE POLITICS OF BRAZIL AND INDIA
INTRODUCTION
Scarce resources, extensive poverty and inequality, and a relatively weak position in the international economic system, shapes the politics and government of all less-developed states.
In reviewing the political cultures of Brazil and India, it would appear that the issue of scarce resources as regards these states is more involved with the inability to get at and distribute the resources that exist in these countries. This is in both cases due to the extensive poverty and inequality that exist in these two countries.
In both countries, this situation is the result of traditional political and social cultures, and the fact that their economies are relatively weak in comparison with the more dominant ..."
Abstract The concept of lifetime employment is a striking example of the Japanese habit of developing new, but tradition-based, customs to suit the needs of the moment and discarding them when they no longer serve a purpose. Although the idea of a promise of permanent employment strikes foreigners as either an excellent example of social justice or a ludicrous imposition on businesses, it is poorly understood in the West. The paper shows that the idea is of recent origin and was a practical means of facilitating the various surges of industrialization and industrial change in Japan throughout the twentieth century. In Japanese fashion, however, the concept had roots in the past and was developed as a complement to a whole set of Japanese concepts (such as the emphasis on group membership and family) that enabled its rapid rise to the status of a widely accepted facet of the social order. The paper shows, however, that since the downward slide of the nation's economy began in the early 1990s this "custom"--which only applied to a portion of Japanese workers--has come under attack and is gradually being dismantled since it now works counter to the interests of those who instituted it and to the interests of the nation as a whole.
From the Paper "Lifetime employment arose at a time when Japan was making a rapid transition to industrialization and companies based their ideas (and their appeal to prospective employees) on traditional notions, such as family and the uchi group--two entities from which the individual is never expelled. Lifetime employment for white-collar workers continued to be a drawing card as companies competed fiercely for the best potential workers in each upsurge of activity in the nation's industries. The idea of permanent employment eventually became a standard benefit of many jobs which was further encouraged by the nature of organized labor in Japan. Unlike almost every other place in the world Japan's unions are organized on the basis of employment within a firm rather than across firms by job specialization."
Abstract This position paper addresses some of the critical events which occurred, key decisions taken and personalities involved in the Korean War (1950-1953). The paper covers the United States' decision to intervene in the conflict between North and South Korea, the main 'characters' in the conflict and the outcome.
Paper Headings:
Background and Causes of the Conflict
Causes of the War
Decision to Intervene
Scoundrels and Heroes
Kim Il Sung
Louis Johnson
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Macarthur
Truman and Acheson
Brutality
Good or Bad - Final Results
From the Paper "The United States did not use nuclear weapons in the Korean War; however, Eisenhower warned the Chinese and North Koreans in the spring of 1953 that they might be used in order to induce them to conclude the armistice talks which finally resulted in a truce on July 27, 1953. Truman misspoke at a press conference on November 30, 1950 when he indicated that consideration had been given to the employment of nuclear weapons and "the military commander in the field will take charge of [their use], as he always has" (Goulden 396). The United States did make large-scale conventional air raids on populated areas in North Korea in 1951-1953 to accelerate the armistice talks and to disrupt enemy communications and transport."
Abstract The writer looks at the characteristics of Koreans who have immigrated to America, first giving a history of the waves of immigration and their level of integration. The paper studies statistics of Koreans in California schools followed by a discussion of the difficulties faced by Korean Americans who are attempting to assimilate into American society. The paper concludes with interviews with Korean Americans.
From the Paper "Korean society is an extremely polite society that emphasizes respect and privacy. For example, it is proper for a young person to give a seat to an elderly person, but on a crowded bus, the elderly person will sometimes take the burden that the young person is holding and carry it in their lap (Kim, 2000). Another example is that it is not proper to pour one's own drink (Kim, 2000) and one should always hold things (whether giving or receiving, pouring or holding the glass) with both hands (Kim, 2000; Interview). One does not necessarily look people in the eye when spoken to, especially when being reprimanded (Interview). These and other customs point to a society that is characterized by its politeness, privacy and respect."
Tags: assimilation, immigration, characteristics, Asian, California
Abstract This paper explains that there are many factors which must be considered by a company when moving personnel to foreign countries: Language and culture issues, work ethic issues, management style issues, fairness and equity issues, economic issues, skill and talent issues, legal, political and security issues and the transferability of credentials. The author reflects that the management styles are used by companies when developing in to a new country are: Ethnocentric (top management positions are filled by people from the home country); polycentric (staff at the foreign branch all comes from the host country), and geocentric (the people working at the foreign branch are taken from countries worldwide). The paper points out that Japanese corporate law is changing, in response to the increasingly competitive global market, which has the effect of opening up the Japanese market to more international businesses.
From the Paper "The Japanese language is extremely complex, but many non-Japanese have learnt the language, and many international businesses successfully do business with Japan, so there is a tradition of translator-mediators in this country. Many international companies also put on Japanese lessons, and so many of the key personnel in international companies should be able to speak some level of Japanese. The language barrier is therefore not great."
Tags: personnel, language, culture, transferability, political
Abstract This paper provides a biography of Lu Xun, a Chinese poet born in 1881. It explains how he was heavily influenced by the Chinese culture and the politics of the day and how these effected his writings and poems. The paper concentrates on his classic work "Diary of a Madman" which was heavily influenced by Confucianism.
From the Paper "Lu Xun did not set out to be a writer, however. His first interest was in the direction of medicine, which was influenced by the illness and eventual death of his father. By experiencing the frail Chinese medical system first hand, Lu Xun decided he wanted to practice medicine in hopes to improve China's medical field. As he pursued his education in medicine, he still maintained an interest in Chinese literature but it always seemed to be in second place in relation to medicine. However, this mindset was dramatically changed when Lu Xun saw a documentary that exposed a Chinese spy being executed by the Japanese for working for the Russian government. He was moved to become a writer after witnessing the "cold indifference of Chinese onlookers during the execution of a Chinese prisoner during the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). Reform, he wrote, was impossible without changing the mentality of the people" (china.org)."
Abstract North Korea has been intimidating the United States with a series of nuclear threats since October 2002, when U.S. officials stopped the supply of heavy oils to the North in retaliation of its confessed production of nuclear warheads, violating agreements signed in 1994. Shortly after, North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NTP) and agreements with the United Nations. The paper shows that while there is little proof that North Korea has nuclear weapons, it is strongly suspected that it does. The paper discusses the North Korean weapon issue.
From the Paper "Many world leaders are suspicious about North Korea's withdrawal from the NPT for many reasons. For one, it is a well-known fact that countries developing clandestine nuclear weapons programs take many measures to conceal information about these programs from the rest of the world (NTI, 2003). Therefore, without membership in the treaty, North Korea has made it difficult for world leaders to obtain information about the country's weapon capabilities."
Abstract "M. Butterfly" deconstructs Western stereotypes of the East and the women of the East. It reveals the multiplicity of individual relationships and their meanings in social and political contexts. Within the duality of masculinity-femininity and West-East, the play brings forth the aspects of power embedded in Western stereotypes of the femininity of the East, which is comparable to the power involved in political imperialism. With the deconstruction of the stereotypes and reversal of the duality, the play leads the audience to new political consciousness and look at the Western as well as Eastern stereotypes critically.
