POSTCARD OF THE WEEK II: South Africa

I received this card at least a year ago, but it is still one of my favorites, because postcards from anywhere in Africa are pretty rare. In fact, I only have gotten one other card from Africa in the nearly two years I’ve been collecting. This one was sent to me by Verdigris.

I honestly had not heard very much about the Zulu tribe before getting this card, but it looks to be a group steeped in some cool traditions (I mean…I totally wish I could train to be a witch doctor!). I usually picture South Africa as post-Apartheid Johannesburg, with country clubs, suburbs, and traces of post-British imperialism. I see images like in the postcard above and my mind goes to Kenya, Zambia, and Angola before it goes to South Africa.

Then I got to thinking how I used to associate African tribal villages as being poor and backwards. I’m embarrassed to admit I used to think this way. I blame my middle-class American hegemonic upbringing for this. Now I think of life in a small, isolated village as probably a peaceful way to live, as long as food and water were in constant supply (which I know isn’t true in many cases). Think about it: you don’t have to worry about the NASDAQ crashing and wiping out your 401K, you don’t have to endure the mindless drivel that is 99% of pop culture these days, and you’re probably going to be very close with the entire village, so basically it’s like an extended family. You don’t necessarily need a 250K Masters Degree and a six-figure salary to live a satisfying life.

Perhaps people like the Zulu have their priorities in order more than Americans do. I can’t confirm this as I have no experience with Zulu culture, nor have I even even known a member of the Zulu tribe, but when you’re in a small, traditional tribe, your priorities are more likely about to be survival, safety, and living. Last week I was accosted by a group of thirteen years olds who hollered ‘selfie with stranger!’ and took off before I could realize that they placed being ‘cool’ above ‘not getting kidnapped’ in their priority order. Technology has warped us beyond our basic instincts, and it’s really getting bizarre.

Will I get to visit the Zulu tribe one day? Not sure. It’s not like I can take a Delta flight to the middle of the Serengeti. But if I could, would I? Absolutely!

POSTCARD OF THE WEEK I: China

This postcard comes from Cici in China! She describes the artwork as ‘Chinese Opera art.’ I absolutely adore the use of watercolors and the tone the image sets of both tranquility and mystery. I am an all-around art fanatic, so getting cards displaying cultural art such as this are probably my favorites.

Chinese socio-political history has been an interest of mine for a few years, especially when I got into Wild Swans by Jung Cheng and the historical fiction books by Lisa See (China Dolls comes out in June…so excited!). I love learning about what really went on during the Maoist era and the pre-Maoist struggles between the Communist Party and the Kuomintang regime. In school, the topic was barely glanced over in World History in favor of more pro-capitalist Americana history. Granted, the Maoist Communism of the late 40s-70s wasn’t exactly a gleaming light of victory in Chinese history, but the whole progression fascinates me, especially in Wild Swans, where the author explores the era through both her own eyes as well as the eyes of her mother and grandmother.

I also enjoy learning about the traditionalist dynastic eras of Chinese history. So many people see it as an era that was terrible for women, and I can see where they are right (like the foot binding…ouch!). But authors like See give it an almost feminist perspective. It’s hard as a Western feminist to see the concept of filial piety as a positive concept: ‘When a child, obey your father. When a wife, obey your husband. When a widow, obey your son.” But in reality, these were the women who created their own language so they could communicate privately with other women, which is an amazing idea. These were the women who, when you think of it, were a lot more valuable to their families than even they realized. They were the means by which many poor families could survive due to their dowries.

Even in contemporary times, China has a very strong allure for me. It seems to be both parts progressive and traditionalist. The art of China is, in my opinion, best represented through music and performance, such as the opera image in the postcard above. When I first began collecting, I got a similar postcard with a photograph of two performers in a Chinese opera.

Between the operas, the dancers, the gymnasts, and the massive parades with the giant dragon kites, China has the kind of art that is best experienced if you’re there to let it surround you. Then you can fully absorb the energy it gives off and the passion these people have for their traditions. If I ever get to China one day, you can bet I’ll attend at least one classic opera (hopefully The Peony Pavilion, which is my favorite Chinese performance piece)!