Culture Rejected
One of the great things about traveling the world is, of course, experiencing different cultures. Now, I say that without ever having given a great deal of thought to what the word “culture” really means. I just think of it to mean that people who live in a certain place tend to have similar ideas on spirituality, values, beliefs etc. The dictionary definition that best fits the word culture in this context is this:
the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.
Looking at culture and trying to define it for myself brings up some interesting thoughts. First, I truly believe that individuals can be defined more clearly through their culture than they can through their race. This is significant for me because lately I have found myself rejecting the label “Caucasian” when referring to my own race, as I have no knowledge of any ancestry from the Caucuses. The other popular choice seems to be “White”, but that conjures immediate images, not of race, but of the culture of suburban America.
Image: who needs variety?
lars hammar
A few days ago, I started what will be a few weeks of airports/airplanes and hotels/chain restaurants en route to Taiwan. My current leg of this journey has me visiting the mainland U.S.A. to say goodbyes to loved ones and close friends. So, right now, I’m in the suburbs of Salt Lake City, UT and I’m realizing that the more time I spend away from this type of setting, the more I loathe being around it. It seems that the culture of suburbia is to consume. The preferred method of self expression is to show off what you have purchased. Secondary to this, it seems that producing large numbers of offspring and getting them involved in as many things possible, i.e. soccer, dancing, hockey, this team, that team is some sort of pinnacle of success in this culture. Making up for one’s own empty existence by trying to live vicariously through your children? Is that what this behavior is all about? There appears to be, perhaps three different hairstyles amongst the women in suburbia, and the only acceptable choice for the menfolk seems to be a short-cropped haircut and goatee (yes, this is STILL popular?). Caked-on make-up seems to be very definitive, and don’t even get me started on the [complete lack of] fashion exhibited in suburbia. It is the cult of the soccer mom. This is a culture demands its followers become wage-slaves. An existence that I am happy to be free from and have no desire to return to. It would appear that I am in the minority in rejecting this type of lifestyle, so I suppose I probably have it wrong, but in the end, I can say that I have truly found happiness in rejecting the pursuit of consumable goods and placing freedom at the very top of my list of personal values.
This brings me back to the question of race/culture. I guess I still don’t know what groups I belong to, but I damn sure know which ones I want no part of.
Will @ May 17, 2010
Comments (5)
Hark! I believe I hear an echo down through history. This was the whole point of the 60′s. (ok the youth movement/hippie part of the 60′s) My generation turned its back on the “Establishment” for the very reasons you describe. They dropped out, grew their hair long, wore funky clothes and walked around barefoot to prove they had no need of material things. They demanded peace and weren’t afraid to use violence to get it. Ah it was a grand revolution! Ironically, those are the same people whose children are the soccer moms and Yuppies of today. The hippies themselves mostly grew up, settled down and bought into the very “Establishment” they so reviled in their youth. Most are now retired and quite happily collecting social security and a pension.
There are a few who never sold out their beliefs and they are joined by a few of the younger generation like yourself who reject our materialistic society. There will always be those that reject the status quo- and I say more power to them. Without a few rebels nothing would every change.
Still, it’s a good thing there are those who are fulfilled by raising families and living in suburbia. It would be a bit chaotic if nobody ever put down roots or worked a 9-5 job. There is an old cliche that says “It takes all kinds to make a world.” Cliche’s become cliches because they are so true, and that one is no exception.
BTW- We aren’t really white unless you’re a true albino- we’re sort of a pinkish-tan. The Native Americans had it right. We are the “Pale-faces”. All the other races are various shades of brown. I’m just saying…
Well said man. It took my wife and I a long time to wake up from that nightmare of going through the motions.
We’re currently in the process of selling off our piece of the suburban pie and heading out to Oceania and Southeast Asia in 2012 (we have a lot of crap! we’re also both finishing up our masters thesis as well) to wander for a spell.
We’re looking forward to following your journeys in Taiwan and your foray into the Mandarin language.
Best of luck to you.
Thanks for the feedback, it’s much appreciated! I sort of have as close to a ‘real’ job as I’ve had in quite some time and finding less and less time to write about Taiwan and Mandarin, but believe me I’m loving every minute of it.
[...] would expect in any modern city. This area is set far away from the hustle and bustle of downtown, suburban high-rise living if you will. Through some quick networking and expression of my desire to have a [...]