Comments on: Globalization’s new arbiters of taste http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/ Research, international development, foreign policy, and violent conflict Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:55:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mark Robertson http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/comment-page-1/#comment-8860 Mark Robertson Tue, 03 Nov 2009 02:33:19 +0000 http://chrisblattman.com/?p=3679#comment-8860 People in favor of globalization say that it will help us understand each other better. I guess an understanding of the appreciation or art from others could help, but what type of art are we talking about here. I doubt this is stuff that gets sold at auction. I'm thinking more likely it's what you see on the walls at your doctor or dentists office. I would guess that means that it is what the average person finds pleasing or comforting in that society. It is interesting to note the differences as well as the artists perceptions of who has better taste. I have to agree that this is a case that distracts us from the uglier side of globalization. There have certainly have been benefits for many people, but there is a long way to go. The ability to reproduce art and make a living is great, but it's not something that's going to help very many people. One step at a time I guess. People in favor of globalization say that it will help us understand each other better. I guess an understanding of the appreciation or art from others could help, but what type of art are we talking about here. I doubt this is stuff that gets sold at auction. I’m thinking more likely it’s what you see on the walls at your doctor or dentists office. I would guess that means that it is what the average person finds pleasing or comforting in that society. It is interesting to note the differences as well as the artists perceptions of who has better taste.

I have to agree that this is a case that distracts us from the uglier side of globalization. There have certainly have been benefits for many people, but there is a long way to go. The ability to reproduce art and make a living is great, but it’s not something that’s going to help very many people. One step at a time I guess.

]]> By: I’m watching the Office right now. Mallard. « Madison Sandinista http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/comment-page-1/#comment-8419 I’m watching the Office right now. Mallard. « Madison Sandinista Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:32:03 +0000 http://chrisblattman.com/?p=3679#comment-8419 [...] “French people have the best taste, followed by Russians, and then the other Europeans.”… ... says a Chinese factory artist. [...] [...] “French people have the best taste, followed by Russians, and then the other Europeans.”… … says a Chinese factory artist. [...]

]]> By: Finja http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/comment-page-1/#comment-8401 Finja Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:18:55 +0000 http://chrisblattman.com/?p=3679#comment-8401 A side note to international taste in paintings - the Russian artistst Komar and Melamid did a great project on this, called "the most wanted paintings"... They polled people from different countries on what they would like best in a painting (scenery, animal, people...) und created the most and least wanted painting. Here's the story: http://awp.diaart.org/km/intro.html and here are the paintings: http://awp.diaart.org/km/painting.html A side note to international taste in paintings – the Russian artistst Komar and Melamid did a great project on this, called “the most wanted paintings”… They polled people from different countries on what they would like best in a painting (scenery, animal, people…) und created the most and least wanted painting.
Here’s the story:
http://awp.diaart.org/km/intro.html
and here are the paintings:
http://awp.diaart.org/km/painting.html

]]> By: Claudia http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/comment-page-1/#comment-8372 Claudia Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:08:27 +0000 http://chrisblattman.com/?p=3679#comment-8372 Chris, This is a totally foolish film and your post followed as a natural consequence. No sense to present or ever dare to analyze anything under this kind of perspective or circumstance. The absurds of trade, the selling and buying of products (of all natures) to and from other places, name it globalization (or better, blame it on globalization) are many and must be addressed seriously as there are a lot to be addressed. For example, what would you think of a movie which, instead of Chinese and drunk Americans, showed outraged puritan Norwegians workers presented with images of the deceased and injured African and Asian children they "helped" to hurt and kill because they work for one of the world's largest exporter of weapons. Norway, the placid pacific and nation is one of the largest exporters of weapons int he world, the companies which produce the weapons hire typical Norwegian workers, a lot of disabled people by the way, to produce, pack and export them. Peace is somehow being sustained by the war... What if the film actually interviewed final weapon users, soldiers of all kinds and fronts, and heard the opinion of weapon producing workers, those lovely blue eyed ladies and gentlemen born and raised in the HDI 's leading country who have no clue about what is going on the other end of the trade line and prefer to remain this way... Is it fun or totally nonsensical? It is superficial and it is senseless to deal with serious issues of trade this way. It also tried to diminish the Chinese people with scenes filled with prejudice and bad judgment. I don't think it is cheap polemic what you are looking for here... Chris,

This is a totally foolish film and your post followed as a natural consequence. No sense to present or ever dare to analyze anything under this kind of perspective or circumstance. The absurds of trade, the selling and buying of products (of all natures) to and from other places, name it globalization (or better, blame it on globalization) are many and must be addressed seriously as there are a lot to be addressed.

For example, what would you think of a movie which, instead of Chinese and drunk Americans, showed outraged puritan Norwegians workers presented with images of the deceased and injured African and Asian children they “helped” to hurt and kill because they work for one of the world’s largest exporter of weapons. Norway, the placid pacific and nation is one of the largest exporters of weapons int he world, the companies which produce the weapons hire typical Norwegian workers, a lot of disabled people by the way, to produce, pack and export them. Peace is somehow being sustained by the war…

What if the film actually interviewed final weapon users, soldiers of all kinds and fronts, and heard the opinion of weapon producing workers, those lovely blue eyed ladies and gentlemen born and raised in the HDI ’s leading country who have no clue about what is going on the other end of the trade line and prefer to remain this way… Is it fun or totally nonsensical?

It is superficial and it is senseless to deal with serious issues of trade this way. It also tried to diminish the Chinese people with scenes filled with prejudice and bad judgment. I don’t think it is cheap polemic what you are looking for here…

]]> By: Alexis http://chrisblattman.com/2009/10/26/globalizations-new-arbiters-of-taste/comment-page-1/#comment-8324 Alexis Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:48:57 +0000 http://chrisblattman.com/?p=3679#comment-8324 As a Frenchman I'm very glad to know that Chinese consider us to have the best taste for cheap oil paints in the world. It should be added in the Commitment to Development Index of the CGD index where France performs as poorly as usual: http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/ Thanks very much for your blog, it's always interesting and accurate. As a Frenchman I’m very glad to know that Chinese consider us to have the best taste for cheap oil paints in the world. It should be added in the Commitment to Development Index of the CGD index where France performs as poorly as usual: http://www.cgdev.org/section/initiatives/_active/cdi/

Thanks very much for your blog, it’s always interesting and accurate.

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