Art Theory: BVA 313 - 24/09/2019 (Book: Chinese Overseas - Introduction)

I wanted to explore cultural identity between my ancestral culture, Chinese. Hopefully this investigation can help me to clarify my questioning towards my identity as a Malaysian Chinese. 

Book: Chinese Overseas – Comparative cultural issue 

Annotation 

Pg 1: I use my experience of long term research among the Malay-speaking Chinese in Malaysia, called Baba, as well as my field experiences among the other Chinese communities in Malaysia to understand the complex issues of localization and Chinese identity. 

Pg 2: I prefer ‘ethic Chinese’, but I also use the term ‘Chinese in diaspora’ where necessary. In doing so, I do not assume that Chinese overseas still look to China as their home land. In addition, I have occasionally used the term ‘people of Chinese descent’ to refer to Chinese overseas more generally. Strictly, ethnic Chinese are people of Chinese descent who still regard themselves as ‘Chinese’ in one way or another. I have discussed the politics of these labels in Tan (1997) 

Through here, I can relate myself as I do think my motherland is no longer from China as I am born in Malaysia. However the relationship between my ethnicity made me questioned myself in the following question.

Chapter 1 explains the idea of ethnological field. To show the similarity and diversity in Chinese cultural reproduction in Southeast Asia and in China. (issue of localization) 

-How Chinese become localized in different localities and notional societies. 

The following chapter question how the Chinese have changed culturally and ethnically as they adapt to living in different national societies and specific localities. **Highlights the traditional culture – Baba. The merge of Chinese and Malay culture. 

Later it discuss the different categories of Chinese have different emphases of cultural identity. (This gets more complicated as my intension is to find my identity. Not to elaborate the categories of Chinese culture within Chinese itself.)

-       Localization, ethnic Chinese everywhere can always construct an re-construct their Cheesiness, leaving much room for identity politics. 

Chapter 3 uses the case of Baba to discuss localization and the production of local Chinese culture. 

-       It is they themselves who bring about their own localization through their interaction and participation in the local society. 

-       Baba illustrates the production of ethnic Chinese culture in different parts of the world. (However my identity in Malaysia is pure Chinese, not sure if this relates?) 

Chapter 4: Localization affects cultural expression, and individuals are socialized into particular kinds of ethnic identity. 

-       Chinese identity really has two dimensions: the bounded national and local dimensions and the unbounded dimension as Chinese of whatever nationality or cultural expression. Ethnic identification in Malaysia is very distinct in that everyone is expected to have a distinct ethnic identity, and Chinese cannot become Malay unless he or she converts to Islam and joins the Malay community. [I think what traci suggested is this view point of identity. Chinese in Malaysia is different. ** highlighting cultural differences. This chapter suits my topic more.]

-       But linguistic change does affect the perception and cultural expression of an identity. [AHHHHHHH. It elaborates to another topic. Linguistic. This topic interest me a lot but it introduces another topic which I do not want to add into my essay.]

Chapter 6 shows, the experiences of Chinese overseas are useful for studying ethnic relations. The nature of ethnic relations is explained by the nature and intensity of socio-economic competition between Chinese and non-Chinese. 

-       Ethnic Chinese are generally politically insecure because their minority status, and so they seek security in economic success or professional achievement. 

-       Ethnic Chinese are very conscious of being treated as somewhat alien in a land that they see as home. [Corelate with my research topic] The want of being accepted within a community. 

Chapter 7 shows how cultural aspects can be relevant to Chinese economic performance, while giving attention to the larger political economy. [Now it involves aspect of economy] 

-       Seen as dominating the economy in Southeast Asia, and indigenous elites see Chinese economic achievement as a threat. [Again a great justification for research topic]  

-       Localization produces different models of being Chinese, and identity politics is linked to an essentialized view of Chineseness.

Throughout the seven chapter, chapter 4 relates the most to my theoretical aspect. However, I will read chapter 1 then 4 to evaluate the ideology of this book. 

Tan, C. (2004). Chinese overseas : Comparative cultural issues. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral.proquest.com