Individual Post 2
What each of the groups of people that we have discussed thus far share, is being treated with suspicion due to their societal treatment as somehow not fully belonging (here, I am talking about the Chinese in Honolulu, Koreans in Befu, and Okinawans on the battlefront). We have also seen how these people fought back at times, and at others, simply tried to carve out other socialities to survive and to live out their own ideas of abundance. We have not yet discussed place-making in terms of the creation of art, of music, of literature, etc. What place do you think that these things, which we might put together as “cultural productions,” has in analyses of the eruption of political struggle? Your observations do not have to be based on research, per se. Think about how art, music, literature, and other cultural productions have shifted your own understanding of belonging, of community, and of the kind of world you want to bring into being, in meaningful ways.
Cultural productions come in many different forms — a few popular examples being music, art, and literature —and they all play a crucial role in place-making, which I generally define as the development of quality spaces in regions that allow a community to express their cultures, values, and ideologies. Generally put, cultural productions function as powerful mediums in which different ideas are introduced to other people. They allow people the opportunities to see what kinds of messages, ideals, livelihoods, and realities they can align themselves to. In the context of political struggles, cultural productions can have different methods, but ultimately push to promote one power or the other.
For instance, music often communicates feelings and experiences that humanity collectively shares, such love, grief, loss, anger, excitement, desire, or identity. The genres that I listen to — primarily K-pop, pop, alternative rock, and indie — help me connect to these emotions and experiences and therefore also to a large global community that also relates to and bonds over the lyrics and sounds. This connection allows me to have a better understanding of the world around me, especially on an international level where I can explore different cultures and values. Some examples include becoming familiar with the fashion and trends that are heavily intertwined in the musical scene, learning phrases in a different language, or simply becoming more aware of your own identity.
