The Myth of National Culture?

Have just been spending the week and japan and do you know what strikes me the most? How different it isn’t. From food to fashion, the western influence is strong in modern japanese culture just as global influences are common in the west. Sure there are infinite small and some large differences — but fewer than (I) expected.

I’d argue that you can find nearly as much cultural difference between Texas and Portland as generally between Tokyo and Toronto. Which draws into question this idea of a national culture. Another topic that was keenly on the agenda at iSummit last week. Despite the evidence on the ground, our government remains ardent to encourage (ok fine) and protect (questionable?) a unique “canadian” culture. Does a national culture really exist? What are the real policy motives here? How much of this is for the nobler benefit of producing Public Goods and how much of cultural policy motivated by political ends our outdated ideas of nationalism?

I can say this, the Canadian Dept of Heritage was quite generous (and sage i’d say) in their support of iSummit, but my friend Christina Bing let me in on a secret: The ministry is quite sensitive about anyone crediting them as “sponsors“…