NOVEMBER 26, 2008

China’s Creative Youthology

In high school, I made the decision to pursue a career in a creative industry. The decision was based mostly on gut instinct; although I managed to get pretty decent grades in math and science, neither really arrested my attention the way my artistic hobbies did. I was always aware that the Asian-American community promoted science and technology, but the high accessibility of creative studies at school compelled me to follow that track instead. Looking back, I really think that the ease with which I went down this path is partially due to an American approach to education that values creative pursuits such as literature and art just as much as science and technology.

In the past, studies have shown that the Chinese approach to math and science in children’s education was far more rigorous. This study from 2006 suggests that the strong emphasis on math and science in China’s college entrance exams shows that Chinese culture displayed a preference for these areas of study. However, some of that cultural sentiment is changing thanks to economic transformation, government support, and new education initiatives. Zafka Zhang and Lisa Li write in this blog post that in the last 5 to 8 years, the kind of encouragement seen from the government for art students has changed dramatically.

This recent surge in support and attention for art students in China seems to be a very conscious effort on the part of the government to strengthen and diversify some of the intellectual exports of the country. As a result, Zhang and Li believe that Chinese youth are developing their identities in a global society with greater ease than the previous generation. I think this transformation is fascinating; it is fostering the exploration of national expression through dialogue with the international art community. The internet has played a very important role in making art programs and professionals around the world available to Chinese art students. China’s creative industries could quickly gain prominence worldwide through unfiltered channels online.

As innovation continues to drive the “brain race” around the world, China is investing in a homegrown generation of young thinkers who can pave the way to establishing the country as a premier source of artistic thought and creative services. I’m glad to see the changing attitudes in China; cultural attitudes never change completely overnight, but it seems like the proactive actions of the government have gone a long way towards validating creative studies as a worthwhile field of study. I’m sure that within 5 years or so, China will offer a competitive community of professionals that is also deeply connected to international communities through online collaboration.