Part of the distinction must be the embrace of communism in the 1930's (even if the revolution wasn't ultimately successful until the 1940's). Marxism (cultural Marxism, post modernism, Queer Theory) is a kind of cultural acid. By establishing itself AGAINST the things of the past (economic classes, traditions, religions, norms, age of consent laws, etc.) it promises utopia. But it doesn't attract stable or productive people. It attracts and generates resentful, emotional, utopian malcontents.
Russia was actually a rapidly modernizing and cultural quite rich country towards the end of the Romanov dynasty. It continued to modernization (at the cost of tens of millions of lives and a vast army of slave laborers) but what great cultural advances did the USSR make? These ideologies are civilizational poison. The captured countries will continue moving forward and building things and creating children and raising armies... but they're zombies. And like all zombies, they want to create more of their kind.
Hong Kong was a great creative centre, particularly in film. Not sure it is these days. As for the rest of China, it did start to produce some notable artists such as Ai Weiwei, but I don't think Xi likes tall poppies.
Very well argued. These points are overlooked by both ends of the political spectrum, but culture is the ingredient that gives a civilization lasting power.
China's atrocities of the 20th century, and ongoing police state, make any organic cultural flowering impossible.
A free Iran will change that of course. Chinese people will notice, and their dictatorship's terror will grow before its final collapse
The only great modern Chinese artist that comes to mind is film director Wong Kar Wai, who, admittedly, comes from Hong Kong—a fact which does more to prove the thesis than refute it.
Why create when it's easier to steal? 😉
Part of the distinction must be the embrace of communism in the 1930's (even if the revolution wasn't ultimately successful until the 1940's). Marxism (cultural Marxism, post modernism, Queer Theory) is a kind of cultural acid. By establishing itself AGAINST the things of the past (economic classes, traditions, religions, norms, age of consent laws, etc.) it promises utopia. But it doesn't attract stable or productive people. It attracts and generates resentful, emotional, utopian malcontents.
Russia was actually a rapidly modernizing and cultural quite rich country towards the end of the Romanov dynasty. It continued to modernization (at the cost of tens of millions of lives and a vast army of slave laborers) but what great cultural advances did the USSR make? These ideologies are civilizational poison. The captured countries will continue moving forward and building things and creating children and raising armies... but they're zombies. And like all zombies, they want to create more of their kind.
https://jmpolemic.substack.com/p/the-social-justice-killing-fields
Hong Kong was a great creative centre, particularly in film. Not sure it is these days. As for the rest of China, it did start to produce some notable artists such as Ai Weiwei, but I don't think Xi likes tall poppies.
Very well argued. These points are overlooked by both ends of the political spectrum, but culture is the ingredient that gives a civilization lasting power.
China's atrocities of the 20th century, and ongoing police state, make any organic cultural flowering impossible.
A free Iran will change that of course. Chinese people will notice, and their dictatorship's terror will grow before its final collapse
The only great modern Chinese artist that comes to mind is film director Wong Kar Wai, who, admittedly, comes from Hong Kong—a fact which does more to prove the thesis than refute it.
It's no secret that most Chinese tech has been stolen from others. They don't need to innovate.