What cultures are you familiar with or inspired by?

Pik

Pik

Member
New Member
I've mostly explored the south of Europe, Sicily, Greece, Turkey (relatively close to where I live and globally known and influential cultural centres), some of English speaking countries or more liberal Arabic cultures, but in terms of mentality and lifestyle the south seems the most chill and relaxed to me (don't know if most productive).
 
A couple of cultures that I have done pretty extensive research on is the traditional Scottish Highland culture and the culture of the Indigenous peoples who lived around the Great Lakes a couple of hundred years ago. What I have found is that they had a lot in common, and this might explain why the Scottish Highlanders who emigrated to the colonies made fast friends with the Natives.
 
Louanne Learning said:
A couple of cultures that I have done pretty extensive research on is the traditional Scottish Highland culture and the culture of the Indigenous peoples who lived around the Great Lakes a couple of hundred years ago. What I have found is that they had a lot in common, and this might explain why the Scottish Highlanders who emigrated to the colonies made fast friends with the Natives.
Click to expand...
I met an online poster from far parts of Scotland about a decade ago and it made me curious about that part of UK because they seemed (both distant and) familiar even though I knew more about Ireland at the time (than about England or Wales or Scotland). Edit: And long time ago I had a friend from Stoke on Trent who taught me a bit about law, politics and football.
 
Last edited:
My wife's parents, and their stories of growing up in Glasgow in the 40's and 50's. Her mother's father was some diplomat or whatever who died in India, and lived in the nice part of the city. Her father was from Calton. He told me stories of how his mother took in his two cousins and they all lived in a council flat along with his six brothers and sisters, because their parents had died due to coal mines and drink. And so, her mother's like, you own a house? Of course, he don't. What happens is he joins the navy, travels the world, sends all his money back to her, and, after 3 years, she's still there waiting.
 
I read that creole/pidgin is a non-standard form of a language within the community with a lot of slang expressions.

My family mostly stayed in the same region for generations except my grandfather who migrated to US late in his life (complicated story), then returned for a few years (before his death) and eventually moved back to US due to health insurance issues. I think he didn't know much English when he first arrived there because his generation was learning other languages in school.
 
Familiar with? *cracks knuckles* In order of familiarity: British (from pre-Caesar to today), ancient to modern Hebrews, Italy (from ancient times to today, but especially ancient Rome), ancient Greece and Egypt, medieval Byzantium, ancient Babylon, medieval Norse, medieval-to-modern-day Rus/Russia, etc. ;)

'Inspired by' is a different question. It depends what I'm writing or reading at the moment.
 
Pik said:
And long time ago I had a friend from Stoke on Trent who taught me a bit about law, politics and football.
Click to expand...
I was born and bred in England, but I think your friend taught you all the wrong things about football if they are from Stoke!

I like cultures in China, been to many places, some rural and out of reach, to the many different time periods of famous people who's views shaped a nation. I am fascinated by the Japanese culture, how they view life, their working habits, their outlook, how the West view them, how they view themselves. I lament at their shrinking population, despair that a cousin of mine who lives in Hong Kong, share the same fear as the many documented in the South East region where looking for a partner is based around fear of rejection.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pik
From first hand experience?

British, Japanese, Thai and Qatari/Gulf Arab. I speak the first three languages, and used to speak a bit of Arabic, but I've forgotten most of it. I also have some familiarity with Chinese diaspora culture.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pik
Interesting question. This probably doesn't fall into a neat cultural bucket, but I'm fascinated by how foreign cultures adapt to Americanism. Specifically, the things about the US that other groups key in on. Russians fascinated by the ubiquitous availability of basic consumer goods. Latin Americans fascinated by economic opportunity. Europeans fascinated by omnipresent air conditioning. Middle Easterners fascinated by secularism. Caribbeans fascinated by snow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pik
Mr Mononoke said:
I was born and bred in England, but I think your friend taught you all the wrong things about football if they are from Stoke!

I like cultures in China, been to many places, some rural and out of reach, to the many different time periods of famous people who's views shaped a nation. I am fascinated by the Japanese culture, how they view life, their working habits, their outlook, how the West view them, how they view themselves. I lament at their shrinking population, despair that a cousin of mine who lives in Hong Kong, share the same fear as the many documented in the South East region where looking for a partner is based around fear of rejection.
Click to expand...
Haven't talked with that friend for a long time, they could be living in the capital these days or somewhere in the US. They were very good with words and not a horrible friend. What both my friend and acquaintance in UK had in common was Latin I think (due to their professions). As for Asian cultures, I was reading a lot about east Asian methods of teaching drama (and used Google translate to be able to read some of the research papers in Journal in Drama and Theatre Education), Hong Kong is very pro-Western as far as I know, right now I'm reading about an American play from previous century that was staged in Beijing in the '90s.
 
As for Arabic cultures, I know the most about Egypt and Tunisia. Egypt is considered the Arabic cultural and scientific centre in my opinion though when I visited long time ago the rules were very strict and I often hear that the Emirates or Dubai are the more liberal places. I've learned Arabic in school but from my point of view it's a powerful culture with influence on my country but still distant and in mixture with other European influences.
 
Spain and Portugal are probably on top on my to go list and I read that a lot of people in my country moved from there few centuries ago. Visited Spain for a few days and have a friend living in Portugal. And I can understand a bit of Spanish even if I can't speak much of it.
 
It is good to travel to sample new cultures. I like to write about Japanese ideologies l, intrigued by their thinking and an old school friend of mine (he was a Japanese exchange student) said I should visit Japan to learn more. He gave me the lovely option of staying at his house.

What stories do you write @Pik ?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pik
I've read anything and everything I could on piracy and its history? Does that count?
As a kid it's really all I wanted to be was a pirate.

Aside from that, I spent some time in Germany and came to understand the majority of their cultural norms. A very neat place and gracious people.
 
Mr Mononoke said:
Zheng Yi Sao!

There is an amazing podcast on the bbc about her (not sure if you can get it free from where you guys are) but great story.
Click to expand...

Grace O'Malley is also worth looking into. Amazing Irishwoman and pirate in the days of Elizabeth I. Was captured, but charmed the pants off Lizzy (no, not literally). Impressed Queen Lizzy so much that Liz allegedly allowed Grace to go free, instead of being executed (the usual fate of pirates in those times).

All hail Grace O'Malley, the Sea Queen! ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top