According to this WSJ article, “Let 100 McMansions Bloom”, they’re building French style mansions in China. It always makes me sad to hear about these developments. I know it’s part of the nation’s economic rise, but it seems like it’s a loss of culture and history, as they pave over farmland and traditional styled homes.
The mansions have a “cookie-cutter” feel to them, and are just one manifestation of China’s “infatuation” with foreign (by which I think they mostly mean American/ Western/ European) lifestyles. The main place featured in the article is a set of mansions called “Palais De Fortune.” The French word for “fortune” is in fact “fortune” but it still gives it this half-translated, Le French Cafe feel to it. Not to mention the directness and lack of subtlety in the name “fortune”—like if someone built a block of mansions here and called it “Rich Street.” The name has even been printed in big letters on a box-shaped sign and plunked prominently on top of the corner gate.
The new houses are regarded as highly desirable by the new wealthy class, and the French mansions are just one of several themed developments—other themes include Europe, Canada, and Space. In response to the suggestion that this is like Disneyland, an real estate agent replies that the Chinese people wouldn’t really mind the comparison. If they saw the WSJ article, they would probably think “McMansions” was a compliment too.
Basically, tacky and tasteless things are happening! And no one is stopping it! It is noted that the building of chateaus by the newly rich is not unprecedented (Gatsby comes to mind, though I suppose there are real-life examples). But that’s no reason to let history repeat itself. Someone say to them Look, this isn’t really what you want to do. Trust me, in a few years, or even right now, people will be ridiculing these places.
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courageous kiwi wrote:
You know what they say - the whores are greener on the other side of the brothel. Or something to that effect.
Cheesy facsimiles of foreign culture aren’t news. Remember Larry Ellison’s old house in Atherton? Talk about a sad, sad Otaku.
An interesting paradox in the general science of culture assimilation is that cultural aspects which become “Lost in Translation” by purists ends up having more importance than the original. Orange Chicken has far more prominence in the American lexicon than, say, Ma Po Tofu, and arguably, at least in America, is more “real” than “real” Chinese food. Where do you get off acting like you’re better than the people buying these houses just because you think you have taste? Whatever, as long as it helps you sleep at night.
Posted on 06-Nov-07 at 12:46 am | Permalink
courageous kiwi wrote:
I thought I deleted that first sentence because it turned out to have no relevance to the rest of the comment. I guess not …
Posted on 06-Nov-07 at 12:47 am | Permalink
Chook wrote:
When I lived in the U.S, I was amazed at how much of an inferiority complex some Americans had when comparing their culture to that of Europeans. For instance, when I lived in Houston, they imported British phone booths and placed them in some upscale parts of town where these objects supposedly added to the air of “culture” of the neighbourhood.
In the U.K (where I’m from) these phone booths were nothing more than convenient lavatories for the post-pub-crawl drunk and the homeless. More often than not the phones had been vandalized or simply didn’t work and reeked of urine and vomit. Some cultural symbol!!
So, yes it is sad to see people placing more value on other people’s culture than there own but it is a natural process I think.
Posted on 06-Nov-07 at 2:22 am | Permalink
Xxxtine wrote:
it’s not a direct comparison … but when I visited Vancouver for the first time the first thing that hits you are the mountains. I’m from Toronto, on the other end of the country where we have no such items in our cityscape. The guy I was staying with, didn’t think to much of them, because they were just there - part of the environment - but me as a visitor, never seeing anything like it, was fascinated.
This works much the same way. If you’re looking at an environment that just sprouts up the same thing over and over again - same old same old, it’s get boring. People like unique things and the more obsessive become collectors. I mean, for myself, I’m in North America, but am more fascinated with what is coming out of Asia like Swiss Army Featured cellphones and clothes that actually fit!
Also, the Chinese were never good at giving flowery names to items - just look at a menu for a Chinese restaurant and compare to a menu from a French restaurant.
Posted on 06-Nov-07 at 8:48 am | Permalink
Bertie wrote:
who are we to judge? just take a look at the mcmansion explosion in the u.s.! and as to non-mcmansions, check out some of the “quaint” houses in certain parts of queens and nassau county - they’re not “authentic” either. they’re tudor style knock-offs. and so what? they’re cute. i’d like one. hell, i’ll take a mcmansion. to hell with the detractors.
i think people who ridicule mcmansions fall into two categories: (1) cultural classists and (2) people who can’t afford them. the people in the first category are snobs and look down upon the people who buy them as coarse and unrefined; it’s really just a bizarre form of classism. it gives these people a sense of smug superiority to think the following: “wow, look at the clueless hoi polloi who have come into money but who are unaware of how unrefined they really are. how gauche. i’m better than them, because i know they have no taste. hee hee hee hon hon hon.” and the people in category two are just jealous. i suspect some people fall into both categories.
why can’t people who finally have some money enjoy the fruits of their labors without being ridiculed? i mean, good for them! communism sucks, and i’m excited that these folks in china are finally getting to own some kick-ass property from their perspective. if it makes them happy, then i’m happy for them.
Posted on 06-Nov-07 at 9:02 am | Permalink