Introduction

 

1. Identifying the concept and function of the popular culture and cultural festivities in East Asia
2. Examination of current cultural exchanges in popular culture and cultural festivities within East Asia
3. Exploration of agenda and measures for more cultural exchanges in East Asia
4. Policy implications

1. Recognized the importance/necessity of “cultural exchange through popular culture and cultural festivities” in East Asian Community (EAC) building process.
2. Agreed that “popular culture and cultural festivities” could be an excellent means of promoting ‘regional identity’ among East Asian people.
3. Suggested that “cultural exchange/cooperation through popular culture and cultural festivities” should be enhanced in the 2^nd decade of APT process.

1.  Popular culture has become a part of our daily lives.
2. Popular culture including television drama, film, and music can be less nationalistic than other forms of popular culture.
3. The growth of popular culture has expanded collaboration in cultural exchanges.

1. How to correct the imbalance in the flow of cultures between countries.
2. Especially, how to reduce the gap in terms of media development level between developed countries and less developed countries in the region.
3. How to respond to the Westernization of cultures with growing domination of  market forces in media industries.
4. How to help policymakers to realize the importance of popular culture in cultural exchange.

1. Traditional cultures, which are sources of fraternity and national identities, are disappearing, being driven out and under-represented in the modern era and in the process of industrialization.
2. Some governments have marginalized traditional culture considering it as retardation of economic development and modernization.
3. The marginalization of traditional culture leads to the loss of local identity.
4. Traditional festivals are recently being revitalized, however by market-driven forces and local governments.

1. Asian societies share agricultural traditions which have produced diverse festivals.
2. Industry-produced pop culture is now an unavoidable phenomenon.
3. Cultural hybridity of traditional culture and industry-produced pop culture is the way to reflect long-established identities as well.
4. Such hybridized cultural forms have changed long-lasting perceptions like Islamophobia in Western societies.
5. It is important to address the existence of subcultures and diasporas.
6. The lessons of history can be reflected in the content of popular culture.
7. It is necessary to recognize the existence of ethnic cultures in rural areas, subcultures in cities, and diaspora cultures.
8. It is necessary to address the role of distributors and new media such as the Internet and satellite TV in transnational cultural exchanges.

1. Some specific programs were proposed to promote or enhance the mutual understanding of other cultures in the region such as:

1. East Asian Cultural Festival

1. organizing committee should be drawn from diverse backgrounds and sectors
2. to be held biennially and hosted by each Asian Plus Three countries in turn
3. including conference on “evolving trends of popular culture in East Asia”
4. including film festivals focusing on East Asian films
5. including music and dance festival/competition
6. televised by public TV stations of APT countries and circulated within the region

2. Textbook of East Asian History and Culture

1. To promote mutual understanding of common history and culture from the elementary school level to secondary school level

3. East Asian Cultural Foundation

1. Coordinating and facilitating cooperation in terms of transnational exchange of cultures among cultural practitioners in the region
2. Making decisions on issues pertaining to the promotion of cultural exchange and cooperation
3. Commissioning projects to showcase the different cultures in East Asia
4. Forming “research networks” promoting research on conditions of cultures, and cultural market data and consumers’ needs across East Asia. Thereafter, annual conference on specific cultural aspects will be held

2. Some specific measures were proposed to promote “cultural exchange through popular culture” in the region as follows:

1. Active engagement in biennales and triennales held in the region so that Asian peoples can understand each other
2. Designation of East Asian Cultural Capitals following a cue from European Cultural Capitals, whereby Asian cities take turns to showcase their cultures

3. There was a suggestion that it is necessary for governments to render support to practitioners of transnational cultural exchange and to provide human network and material infrastructure for further collaboration in cultural exchange.