(image from Washington Post)

West Rises in China's Backyard
An article of the Washington Post describes how China's citizens have been constructing replicas of European and American towns to attract their high-end citizens, burgeoning with new found wealth. Two observations in this article stuck out in their distastefulness.

1. "These so-called theme cities give testament to the great power that has fueled China's economic boom and that the country has become infamous for: making copies." Sadly, there is truth to this. Just look at the U.S. efforts to curb Chinese piracy. But I want to say there was a time when this wasn't their notoriety. Ancient China was know for it's inventiveness (paper, kite, gunpowder, fireworks, compass, porcelain, silk, several martial arts forms, etc). They sell themselves short if they persist in copying. I am sure innovation is surfacing even now, given all the engineering know-how they have aggregated. This is promising but at the same time scary for the economies of other nations. [On a side note Chinese creativity at least is showing itself in the growing international interest in modern Chinese art.]

2. It is a shame to see so many succumb to the idea that Western styles are of somehow better while Eastern styles are inferior and thus expendable. Not only is this the case but shrewd Chinese are capitalizing on this idea to gouge their fellow citizens--consumers with an ignorant concept of the West. "it costs a lot and it's different--so it's good." They want it but they fail to fully appreciate it. It is another example of pearls before swine. But in counterpoint what does this say about the West's fascination/fetish with the East? Each calls the other exotic.