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“China: through the looking glass”. Rethinking Chinese cultural signs

https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2024-7-138-159

Abstract

Art and fashion exert a significant influence on the formation and perception of society, acting as a mirror that reflects the intricate symbiosis of historical, cultural, and social aspects among diverse ethnic groups and national communities. In the context of globalization and cultural interactions, the issue of representing the cultural “Other” in fashion becomes particularly pertinent, sparking extensive debates. As a platform for discussing this matter, this article analyzes the exhibition “China: Through the Looking Glass” held at the Metropolitan Museum, where China was presented as the muse of Western fashion, and also profounds motivations and consequences of such representation. Using the exhibition as a case study, the analysis scrutinizes the dynamics of cultural relations between the West, especially the United States, and the East, notably China, shedding light on the contradictions associated with these interactions, emphasizing the distorted transmission of cultural codes, the perpetual reproduction of stereotypes, and the creation of the cultural “Other” within the context of Western fashion. Special attention is devoted to the works of Chinese-origin designers who seamlessly blend traditional motifs with contemporary fashion trends. In conclusion, the article asserts the necessity of developing a more profound approach to the representation of cultural symbols and elements, aiming to overcome superficial handling of these cultural facets.

About the Author

I. A. Prigarina
St. Petersburg State University
Russian Federation

Irina A. Prigarina

5, Mendeleevskaya Line, Saint Petersburg, 199034



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For citations:


Prigarina I.A. “China: through the looking glass”. Rethinking Chinese cultural signs. RSUH/RGGU Bulletin: “Literary Teory. Linguistics. Cultural Studies”, Series. 2024;(7):138-159. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.28995/2686-7249-2024-7-138-159

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