Devin Marshall 1. There are four major religions of the 'Far East', Asia.

They are Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. The first two are by far the most widely spread of the four, and most often used today. Hinduism is a very ancient religion, which dates back to about 6,000 years ago. Hindu followers believe in many different gods, and there is a complex mythology about the relationships of each god to one another. Hinduism also includes the caste system. This is a way of determining the person's social standing in society. If they 'perform' well in that life, then they will be born into a higher caste in their next life. The lowest caste is called the 'Untouchables', and they are considered lower than dirt and inhuman. They justify their treatment of other human beings this way by stating that they will have a better life when they are reincarnated. The caste system has technically been outlawed in India, but there is still discrimination. Though mainly a religion of India, there are over 600 million practitioners of Hinduism globally. The other three beliefs do not involve gods. Buddhism believes that the ultimate goal in life is to attain Nirvana, which is the peaceful state of being at ease with one's mind and body. The religion is simply maintained through one's moral integrity. Part of it is refusal to become attached to material objects. When someone is 'lost' and they turn to sexual pleasure or gambling, they are said to be trapped in the state of samsara. Those who are on the path to Nirvana often fast to help instill self-discipline. This and other habits allow them to keep rigid control over themselves. Most Buddhists live in China, Japan and Korea, though there are a few other smaller Asian locations that have practitioners. Daoism relies on the Daodejing, which is a book by Lao Tzu, which means the Old Teacher. His philosophy is rather simple. He teaches how to be a ruler without directly interfering with people's lives. If you let people live how they wish and do not treat them like criminals, then they will not act like criminals and they will lead civil lives. He also stated that the ruler should be humble, to run a country from behind the scenes instead of living in the spotlight. The Dao (or Tao, as it is also referred to) is a great philosophy to learn to be a humble and empathetic person. Finally, there is Confucianism, which is a mostly Chinese belief. The goal of this belief is to reach inner harmony with nature around you. It was created by the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It was originally the state ideology of China, but was replaced by the Three Pinciples of the People. Confucianism believes in altruism (trying to help others), improving yourself, and also respecting elders. It takes a slightly more direct role than Daoism, because it is less subdued and more active. Unlike Daoism, it is trying to help people directly versus letting people think for themselves, and only stepping in once necessary. It seems that many older Asian people are upset at their children for lawlessness and lack of respect. I think that respect is a major theme in many Asian families, and without it they lose a sense of their culture. I think that more people would like to believe in one of these religions, but it is hard to respect and to feel in-tune with nature if you live in a rude and bustling city. I think that it might be easier for those who live on a farm to follow, because they have a more dependable and steady life. Instead of relying on time to guide their life, they just follow the seasons instead of using computers and calendars. If you are more in touch with nature to begin with, I think it would be easier to respect it. In my opinion, I think that Asian religions are a little silly in the west. They are not usually respected for what they are, but are instead paraded around as a novelty. I find a strong personal connection between myself and Daoism/Confucianism, but I don't feel that I can always implement these beliefs into my daily life. Some people just use alternative religions as an excuse to seem trendy and exciting. Even if it is something that one strongly believes in, it will be seen as a fad in America to most people. In a place where only Christianity is taken seriously, making headway with any other religion is next to impossible. 2.

Honestly, Homi K. Bhabha's writing contains some of the driest prose I have ever come across in my life. His terms are so completely vague (on purpose?) that I could draw almost any conclusion that I like from his words. His stuck-up snobbery seems to have convinced the whole population that he is a master of the English language, but I am not convinced purely by fancy wordplay. I will attempt to analyze his essays, even though they are staler than a piece of bread that's been left out on the counter for a week. I cannot pretend that I understand most of it, or perhaps that's just because it's so physically painful to read. Alright. The term liminality, dumbed down from a dictionary definition, seems to be the physical, mental or emotional state that one experiences while being on two 'planes', such as during a ritual. I understand this to mean the state of consciousness that one is in during a sance or a prayer. Now if I were to apply this to culture, I would take this to mean individual cultures' religious viewpoints, or at least views on certain issues. As with religion, people are bound to have very different and varied beliefs when it comes to almost anything. According to Wikipedia, Hybridity refers in its most basic sense to mixture. It seems to me that cultural hybridity would be the mixing of boundaries and sensibilities, as well as rituals, dress, food, all thinkgs that come with a culture. As it is, the United States is known as the 'melting pot'. There are many people who come from many different backgrounds, either because they immigrated to the United States or their relatives did. In big cities there are close quarters, so many cultures have to get used to living next door to each other, whether they like it or not. Being so close probably helps to blend cultures a bit as people start interacting more and more. The city of Shanghai seems like another place where people come together, a cultural hub. The large art scene means that it is a desirable place to visit. It is a very global city, so it makes sense that liminality and hybridization would occur here (if I understood them correctly). There is exposure to many different religions, and also a rich educational system. According to the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau, 22% of Shanghai's population had a college education, in the 2010 census. A place of education is also a place for ideas and backgrounds to come together in one common place. The pop art of Zhou Tiehai includes western symbols and intellectual properties like Joe Camel. He often puts the character's face in the place of famous older paintings to create an ironic or comical feel. The blend of images from such distant corners of the world might have been astonishing in the past, but due to globalization it is easy to encounter such things without blinking an eye. We can share ideas within instants, and create new combinations of information and art like the world has never seen before. When a culture is hybridized, they gain insight and a compassion for other peoples. They can see what others go through, their beliefs, and understand their way of life instead of being afraid of something they don't know. There is less hatred. However, the more hybridized a culture becomes, the less individual they are. There will be less culture-specific rituals and rites as they exchange that in favor of becoming a more collective people. Much of the art from Shanghai is very contemporary, featuring wartime paintings with brandname slogans painted over them, such as in Wang Guangyi's work. They illustrate the wars of today, though they might not utilize guns and bombs. Art is a way to express oneself and how you feel about the world around you. Perhaps he feels attacked due to the hybridization of his culture. The works of Zhou Zixi convey very grey landscapes and some minimalist sketches with dark contrast. They show a darker side of the world, perhaps ironically titled 'Happy Life Series', because several of them involve death. I personally feel that the hybridized artwork of Shanghai tends to lie on the grim side. However, everyone has the right to vent their feelings in a medium they wish, as long as it does not harm others. I just hope that eventually, all cultures will get along and that there won't be any strife or hatred between them.