Based on the reading, which I found very interesting, my impression of Asians is that they are open-minded in the sense that they figure out how each person fits into the larger-scale community. I think that, since Americans are more culturally rooted in Greek culture, Asians probably view Americans as people who constantly pursue self-gratification. The Chinese engineering culture utilizes the practice of feng shui when designing buildings, which can be aesthetically pleasing and relaxing to the owners and visitors of the building. However, feng shui is so important to Chinese culture and engineering that the construction of a building can be delayed until a feng shui expert is called and gives his or her opinions on the structure. American engineering takes a scientific approach to a problem. This can be more efficient in terms of time and money, but can also leave a structure lacking in positive aesthetic qualities. If I were preparing to work in Asia, I would want to learn about how their culture and beliefs influence the way they work, and how that would contradict the way I would work with them.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Asian and American Cultures
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I want to talk something about feng shui. The pursuit of feng shui was very popular in past time. Architects must obey the suggestions of the feng shui experts. Chinese believe that the right construction can bring good luck to the owner of the houses. With a long history and tradition, fengshui originated from theories of yin-yang , and the five elements.
ReplyDeleteVarious comments and disputes abound about the topic of fengshui with some considering it an integrated science, combining longtime perceptions of the environment, geography, and health, while some believe it is nothing more than just superstition, hindering Chinese innovation in construction and interior design. Feng shui is one of the representatives of traditional Chinese culture. But now, few young people realize feng shui. It's more common for Chinese to get some knowledge about feng shui from novels and the guide words of old buildings. (ENGR 103)
Asians generally do prefer a more hierarchal structure to their society, with younger members expected to defer to their elders. It is interesting that you said since Americans are more rooted in Greek-culture, they are thought of as pursuing self-gratification. While this might not be completely true, Asians do think of Americas on a general scale as people who put in less effort when it comes to work.
ReplyDeleteLearning the cultures and beliefs of a place where you working is definitely not a bad idea, because it is these exact things which influence the way that they work.
ENGR 103
What is Feng Shui exactly? I always thought it was a load of BS but maybe that is because it never is really explained. I always try to base my opinions in fact and even though Feng Shui may look pretty I don’t think it is going to help one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteI think that the Chinese engineering culture’s dedication to tradition could produce great architectural work but could also take more time and money to complete. American culture is negatively stereotyped because of our reputation in pop culture and in politics, but America has also produced world famous architectural works. I think that Chinese culture is mostly appealing because it is primarily based on tradition and ancient cultures, while American architecture varies greatly based on the location in the U.S. Most cities and regions in the United States give an image that is unique to that specific area and aesthetics of most cities in the U.S. are not really designed based on tradition and cultural history. (ENGR 103)
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