The perception of each other – how Germans see Chinese
Yang Liu was born in China but moved to Germany to be educated. Having grown up in two very different places with very different traditions, Yang Liu was able to experience first-hand what the underlying differences were between the two cultures.
With a people’s perspective on it it all, Yang Liu has created these posters and images using simple symbols and shapes to convey just how different the two cultures are. The blue side is Germany and the red side is China.
When I first saw this project, I was immediately amazed at how true it all was. Of course, these are still large generalizations of a culture as a whole, but the fact that I recognize just about every single one of these is just a bit funny to me. Even funnier is that I can not only relate to the Chinese portion of the image, but I can relate somewhat to the German side too since this semester was basically German-town for me here in Australia (the bulk of my friends were from Germany).
Click inside to see some of my favorites from this project.
Traveling and recording memories
Noise level inside a restaurant – Chinese people do talk really loud — ALL THE TIME.
At a party – This is so true.
Queuing on a line – The only place I’ve ever seen Chinese people line up is at the bus stops in Flushing. Somebody tell me: WHAT IS THAT?!
Connections and contacts – This is probably the most true one of the bunch. An Asian will know an Asian will know an Asian who knows an Asian who knows an Asian…etc.
Punctuality – We run on “Asian time”.
Telling the truth – Most Chinese will avoid confrontation as much as possible. Hence this illustration.
Thanks Jo for sending these over!
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i’m surprised anything ever starts on time. flex time is also a factor in the black and hispanic communities as well. can’t speak for any others…
“The blue side is Germany and the red side is China.”
really??? am i missing something here?
ok, i get it.
as for the queuing on line, Hong Konger’s do a pretty good job queuing for the bus.. but mainland China is chaos. You can also tell from getting on a train at Canal or Grand Street. Them Chinese grannies bust through the door trying to get those seats.
[...] seen this piece by Yang Liu sent around as a powerpoint slideshow in Beijing previously, but never as a book. Using the most [...]
YOU ARE A PIG-HEADED FOOL!SHUT THE FUCK UP!
I love these. They are hilarious and so true.
It’s true. but i don’t understand the Chinese side of “at the party”. What does it mean? Could someone explain to me? thx
Chinese parties almost always include a dinner party and these take place over a round table. The round table is kept intact at other places too – bars and clubs and KTVs.
It’s more of a “Let’s talk in our group” rather than “Let’s mingle and meet people.”
I’m sorry when have there ever been big round dinner tables at KTVs? KTVs and bars are where Chinese people mingle. You have a few drinks and you end up singing and dancing with a total stranger. (Or like 5 total strangers lol)
I wanna add to Jane’s thing above too and say that the lines are all chaos because this is after the Cultural revolution where people started taking care of themselves and nobody else. Before there was a huge culture about manners and behaving yourself outside of the home.
Out of the pictures the clock one doesn’t make much sense. Chinese people are very prompt and have a tendency to be early. Tardiness is intolerable and you’ll never hear the end of it.
The important thing to note about punctuality is that people often come too early (it’s not always just late like in some other countries). It’s perfectly normal here in China to have a meeting scheduled for 2 and people come already at 1 and expect to then start the meeting. This happens privately as well, we had a house party that was starting at 7, in many parts of Europe you’d expect the first guest around 7 and the majority between 7 and 8 sometime. The first Chinese came a 6:15 and the last around 9….
This is awesome! As a relative newcomer to America, it’s nice to see my culture shock illustrated so humorously. I especially relate with “confrontation,” “standing in line,” and “at a party.” I still suck at mingling….it feels unnatural for me to be at a party and pick out one or two people to make small talk with. Most of the parties I attended back at home (or with my Taiwanese friends here) have everyone doing the same thing together…everyone playing Big 2, everyone watching a DVD together, everyone singing karaoke together, all of us sitting on the floor and having a 12-person conversation.
Hello I’m doing a study in a Master of Advanced Study in Informationsecurity.
I would like to use your pictures on our website in my masters thesis.This thesis ist not for commercial use.
I study at the Hochschule Luzern in Switzerland.
Could you give me the permission to use your pictures in my thesis.
I would be very happy. Best regards Marcel Eberle
[...] East vs West: cultural differences by Yang Liu [...]
[...] http://www.doobybrain.com/2008/01/18/east-vs-west-cultural-differences-by-yang-liu/ [...]
[...] son derece açık bir diğer sanatçı da Çin ve Alman kültürlerinden yola çıkarak Doğu-Batı karşılaştırması yapan Yang Liu. Kültür mefhumunu farklar açısından ele almanın ne denli politik, zor ve [...]