We never "understood"

Rubye 2022-03-23 09:02:34

Anthropology often uses culture to explain social phenomena, as if using culture or situation can explain all the contradictions and disputes in human society. In contrast, there is an excessive worship of "understanding", which is often the only way to face cultural shock, whether for academic purposes or in daily life. However, "understanding" is like a paradox. "Understanding" emphasizes the coexistence of "multiculturalism". However, our practical experience tells us that "understanding" means acceptance to a certain extent, and acceptance is often "compromise". Can we really "understand" transnational cultures, even the unique cultures of each individual? Just as Bili can never understand why patients don't have the right to know their real condition, nor can they understand why a group of middle-aged uncles should be shirtless and smoking cigarettes. As a result, we are often unable to understand the culture of the other, and we are faced with only "compromise" (for example, Bili imitating grandma's roar in the streets of New York, although it may mean a kind of missing) or "resistance". In fact, in our daily life, we are more "suspended", which is to avoid talking about differences. However, this is only an expedient strategy, and there are still only two choices waiting for us in the end.

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The Farewell quotes

  • Jian: Chinese people have saying, when people get cancer they die. It's not cancer that kills them, it's the fear.

  • Jian: I don''t like, you know, put all my emotion on display. Like I''m in the zoo. But in here, if you don''t cry, you don''t put a show, they think that you don''t love your family. You know, in here, they even hire some professional criers. Just to show how sad they are. It''s just so ridiculous. I hate that.