X WEST

BY JAYNEIL ENRIQUEZAND PIPPA HOLLIDAY

EAST

TAKEN FROM THE BOOK THE INFLUENCE OF CONFUCIANISM ON CHINESE CONCEPTIONS OF POWER

- Rita Mei-Ching Ng

AND THE INFLUENCE OF CLASSICAL CHINESE RHETORIC ON CONTEMPORARY CHINESE POLITICAL

- Xing Lu

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Featuring: Calli Ella, Sasha Issa, Kara Schesnuk and Shanice Aaron

Stylist: Alex Macariola Makeup Artist: Chelsea Belardo Editorial Assistant: Jellena Solan

Confucianism is a system of philosophical, ethical, social and political teachings. In the two books that discuss the influence of the classical Chinese rhetorics to the contemporary conceptions of socio-political communication and relations, Rita Mei-Ching Ng and Xing Lu look further into the topic of Confucius along with the texts of other influential philosophers in the same period,and identified the distinctions between the eastern and western cultures.

Constructed from factors that make up this teaching, specifically from the selected values of Confucianism such as The Government and Family, Harmony, Power and Authority, this fashion editorial transforms these subjects into conceptual imagery, shedding a different light to the effectiveness of m odels, styling and photography as mediums. With a modern approach to these ancient teachings, every spread focuses on a different element in Confucianism, which features two images that show the juxtaposition between the east and the west.

The technique for the shoot was to keep all the elements clean and minimal so as not to detract from the central message being conveyed. Taking place within a studio, the shoot paved a raw platform for the imagery to work from. Models were selected specifically for their individual ethnicity and characteristics, as well as their ability to appear in a certain homogeneity as part of a collective, which projects the diversity and certain dynamics present in today's context. In the area of clothing, it was key that the choice and combination of garments, as well as its hues and shades themselves, do not pull the focus away from the main photographs. Taking inspiration from a modern music artist, Kanye West’s fashion collection, the style of the editorial consists of layered clothing in a neutral palettes.

East vs. West is a fashion editorial that plays within the understanding of rhetorics and communication in its basic cultural framework, and the acknowledgment of culture as a prolific force for convergence and innovation.

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FAM

ILY A

ND G

OVE

RMEN

T

West

The

wes

tern

take

on

the c

once

pt o

f fa

mily

and

gov

ernm

ent i

s“str

ictly

bus

ines

s”. T

hese

two

elem

ents

wor

k in

divi

dual

ly, m

akin

g su

re th

at w

ork

and

rela

tions

hips

are

ext

rem

ely

sepa

rate.

In

doin

g so

the g

over

nmen

t is

seen

as

a sy

stem

that

doe

s no

t per

petu

ate o

r rela

te to

the i

ndiv

idua

l. T

his

hier

arch

y in

pow

er h

olds

a la

ck o

f hu

man

invo

lvem

ent a

nd em

otio

n. D

ue to

this,

the w

ester

n go

vern

men

t is

in c

ompe

titio

n w

ith th

e fell

ow p

eopl

e as

to b

econ

quer

ing

in n

atur

e, in

stead

of

bein

g in

har

mon

y.

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EAST

VS

WEST

Family plays as a unit in eastern society. In this unit, there is a hierarchy which mirrors the order of the goverment. People of the hierachy should look after their subjects and in return,

their subjects must be submissive and make sacrificies for the common good.

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HARMONYWest In the west, the idea of harmony and living dynamic is self-directed. Instead of the priority being “to connect” with

others, the western society is more social independent.

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HARMONYEast

A big factor of Eastern culture is to have solid human relations, that each man values and seeks interpersonal accommodation. The population stoves for relatedness, which means they make extra attempts to make sincere affiliation, rather then detaching ones self. Confucius idea of ‘Jen’’Yi’ and ‘li’ are the ideas to keep hamony with this culture.

POWER

Power is seen as a responsibility and is imperative in the east for harmony and order. It is accepting this authority in a way that is not obligatory but in a cautious concern for the greater good. It is because of this stability and loyaltythattheeasternculture projectsthei-deaoftheidealfamily.Duetothis strong family tie, it creates a sense of unity, which in turn

prevents any breakdown of the established authority.

East And West

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Power in the west is an impersonal transfer from person to person. This system of rules is how they enforce and maintain harmony. People participate in the

decision-making and political process, while still maintaining detached. The desire for autonomy and individual identity is something that the west apply.

AUTHORITYWest

Loyalty to authority is gotten from effectiveness, honesty, personal charisma, and host of other variables.

AUTHORITY

AUTHORITYEast

Authority is a monolithic concept in eastern society. This power structure is not seen as being a service of policies but as a rational choice. Within this, governmental regime individuals strive to find personal ties for security. Even if relationships may seem adverse, the main concept to withhold is loyalty.