Cultural reflections

At Satoko's Bamboo shoots party, I was there with a gaggle of people from all different cultures. Of course there were Japanese people, there were also people from Brazil and there were people from America too. Some Japanese people could speak English, some Portuguese people could speak Japanese, some Americans could speak Japanese and some Americans (such as myself) could speak English. Being able to speak another language opens up so many doors into new ways of thinking. During this cultural schmorgues board it was explained to me that in Japan they prefer people to have long legs and short bodies. However, in Brazil, their desired look is short legs and long bodies. These are rare among their own ethnic backgrounds. The man who was telling me this said, these are the reasons why he was perfect for his wife, she is Brazilian - and he is Japanese (short legs and a long body!)

I started thinking today about these cultural interests and how they transcend into other cultural aesthetics. Buildings, furniture, art, city planning, all of these tastes are reflected. I see how South American design is long shapes and with soft textiles - almost as if their furniture were the long torsos that appeal to them. And Japanese design is asymetrical and sleek using more natural fibers and recycled materials that could represent their taste for length, endurance, movement as they prefer in their physical appearance. As I have said before, culture is a machine that functions when using all its parts - personal aesthetic included.

So how does America fit into this? We like what? Long legs, long bodies, big butts, big chests, strong, healthy, tone? Can you see how our personal aesthetics transcend into our architecture and material culture?