Within the last decade in Singapore, the acceptable length of shorts has gone from 3inches above the knee to right about underwear length.
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Please don't cite the heat or global warming as weak excuses, you don't need to because I really don't have a problem with this. At all. I enjoy the view, the girls enjoy the attention and the confidence boost. Everybody wins.
If the lengths keep getting shorter however, um.. how much shorter can we go?
While our culture is obviously gradually getting Americanised from the mass media channels that they own and saturate, skimpier more revealing outfits are going to throw asian humility out the window. Sad but true.
Hiphop, which has been a part of the western mainstream music for about 15 years now, has through cultural imperialism become increasingly popular in Asian countries together with the sleazy, skimpy, objectification of women. Asian pop music, then integrates the rapping and bass heavy instrumentals into its music, producing a weird clash of cultures.
While the video is an exaggeration of everyday club scenes, being telecast on mass media, it does influence Asians to deem booty shaking with a camera below your skirt as acceptable. While once again I'm not saying it's wrong to not be liberal, I just wonder what happened to humility.
In all aspects of culture, it's becoming increasingly acceptable to show more skin, be promiscuous and liberal about issues that were once taboo. As this is happening and will continue to go on, maybe it's time to take a second to take a real unbiased look at what Americanisation has done to our culture. What we've gained, lost, and whether that's what we really want as blood Asians.
Just so you know, the sleazeballs over there, masquerading under funky beats and cheesy rhymes are trying to convince our girls that going to a "hotel, motel, holiday inn" to "open up your blouse and pull that g-string down south" is definitely the way to go.
Once again, I don't have a problem with that.
The media has certainly fueled the pace of westernization in many Asian cities. I don't think that being more liberal whether in terms of dressing or thoughts is the problem at all. But overly rapid westernization does kill some of our traditional Asian culture and values.
ReplyDeletecheng!
ReplyDeletei love this entry!
(minus the bit about pitbull cause i kinda do like pitbull GRR haha)
I do agree with you though
about the strong influence that the west has over asia now
With globalisation and the constant exchange of information and ideas between different cultures and communities, this was bound to happen sooner or later. The biggest culprit for the strong influence of the west over asian culture definitely has to be the mass media. From commercials to magazines to films and music, the media is constantly trying to shape and control our perceptions of what should be deemed acceptable.
p.s. I actually hate the fact that I love pitbull because they sing such trashy songs. But their music is so awesome and dance-able its difficult to NOT like it!
Hey cheng.
ReplyDeleteWell I don't see a problem with being more liberal and less conservative. We've been so heavily influenced by Westernisation in all aspects, from behaviour to fashion, that some of us have actually abandoned our traditional, cultural roots - its beliefs and norms. That's the downside that more and more people are caring less about.
While shorts get shorter, I guess that individuals just have to find out for themselves whether or not they actually do look good, or whether their dressing is a complete turn-off.
Well it is true that our country is becoming more and more westernized as compared to the past. And we also got to accept the fact that it is kinda difficult to really have our traditional roots back. Of course we still do have our own cultural beliefs and norms instilled in us, but in terms of the media, it is hardly seen anymore. And because the western influence is so big, people do tend to follow whatever they are doing.
ReplyDeleteI am on the same stand as audrey and i do not have any problems with being less conservative. In fact, I think SG is toooo conservative for its own good.
Yes, many countries today are actually becoming more westernized. I don't see any wrong with that as it is a chance to know more about other countries culture too. However, if it is at the cost of our own culture, then I guess it is a bad thing. We still have to embrace our own culture and learn more about them. As for the shorts, I guess it's all part of fashion.
ReplyDeleteLOL CHENG! THIS IS GOOD.
ReplyDeleteanyway, these short shorts girls are just like wanting to look as hot as those american pretty girls.. However some of them cant pull off the looks!
I feel that it is definitely okay to wear mini shorts out, but of course for appropriate situations, like going to the beach or something... For other cases, it'd be better to just slip on some jeans.
oh, and for those with the ugly butts (like the girl we saw in school,) should just stay at home.
HAHAHA.
First of all, I do enjoy Pitbull's songs because they are catchy. But that does not mean that I agree with what the lyrics or the music videos portray.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I hear a new song and I like it, I will tend to look up the lyrics in a bid to sing along to the song and also to find out what the song is really all about. Most of the time, the kind of songs that I look up, tend to have sexual references and women would be the object of the music video especially. It does make me cringe at the sight of it, but I can't help it. I still listen to the music but maybe stay away from watching the music video. Ironic, but true. And I think this is the result of americanisation. It makes people want it more and more. But! It does not mean people take everything of it. People still sieve through what they want to take from the values and things portrayed.
And for those with short shorts, if they have a nice pair of gams, that's fine, if not, oh god save my eyes! LOL.
I think the media has played a big part in shaping our views on what is sleazy, what is short and so on.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that many countries are facing cultural imperialism, most of which are affected by westernisation.
But can you imagine Asian pop music performed in the way of western hiphop? Oh gosh, what a clash of cultures and it'll look totally weird.
=)Kai Ting
Not only Singapore get influence becoming more westernized, like Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and lots more of countries. main reason is because alot of fashion magazine like japansese ViVi they have alot of different dress up. Such as: sexy, hip-hop, punk and the another reason is because we are new generation.. I mean as a girl i find it ok.. but our culture also we must respect.. we also must believe the cultural beliefs.. As for shorts, i find it's ok.. cause is part of the fashion.. cause it can mix n match wif alot of tops.. Example: t-shirt, spaghetti stripe, tube-tops..
ReplyDeleteHi Cheng!! Well as mentioned by all the comments earlier, Singapore is getting more and more westernized. All thanks to the massive and powerful media that have been influencing us. Furthermore, being westernized is being deemed as cool or hip so more people are trying to speak with an american accent, dressed more westernized and being more invovled in the american entertainment industry. Sadly, we can never reverse this trend. We can only do so much to delay this trend from finally overwhelming the whole nation.
ReplyDeleteWell Cheng, i personally feel that Singapore is indeed highly westernized today. However, this is because of the infiltration of the western media which has shaped our beliefs and perceptions such that it is okay to be less conservative. This is not the norm of Asian societies but as seen from comms project presentations, many countries are gradually being sucked into the "western arena". I agree with Champ that this trend can no longer be reversed but instead, only delayed.
ReplyDeleteI think along the same thread of Wesernisation is the fact that an increasing number of children are now given English names.
ReplyDeleteI'm not 100% sure of the motivations behind it but I do think it's to facilitate identification in school. English names seem to be less confusing then Chinese names. But when your children prefer to be addressed by their english names as opposed to Chinese names, it seems that the chinese names are today more as a form of respect to tradition ass oposed to function.
If this continues westernisation will continue to manifest itself and our oriental values will diminish :(
I do not agree with Breda.
ReplyDeleteBy embracing an outside culture, you are spending time and effort on it, which can be spent on appreciating the nuances of your native culture.
So many Chinese teens these days can't or refuse to speak in Chinese it's starting to look really bleak for Chinese in Sinapore.
Some times, when they speak in Chinese they treat it as a novel, amusing thing and laugh about it as a joke, when it should really be the most normal thing for a Chinese to do.
I feel that there's a time and place for the right attire. apparently some girls think that SIM is the new brothel.com.
ReplyDeletethat being said, shorts can look rather tasteful when paired with the right accessories and top.
pardon if this isn't exactly a communication-student response. but this is what i deem a suitable response! i see too many skanks in SIM already!
PS: skanks as those who just don't wear the shorts tastefully!
isaac
http://pitstophere.wordpress.com
Why not look at it this way.
ReplyDeleteThe shorter/lesser ones wear, will require lesser material to produce the clothes needed.
Lesser material needed for each wear = more clothes produced = more varieties of clothes
Skimpier wear = lesser material = easy storage = easy to wash and dry