Opportunity or threat?

The following is an extract from a recent post on cph 127 ...

There is no doubt that a massive change is ongoing in China. Not a single Newspaper wouldn’t allow it self not writing about this incredible transformation. Not only for China itself, but for the world economy in general.

The major headlines is about moving production capacity to China, but isn’t it a fact that huge parts of the creative industry also will be – is - moving east?


Pleasingly it seems to take the view that this is in fact a potentially MASSIVE opportunity for the creative industries. We just need to be open to it...My own response to this entry included the following:

The reality of modern China is shocking to the senses and the imagination. Culturally, including in terms of business cultures there are challenges that cannot be conceived of unless one experiences it. It is medieval and futuristic at once. The emerging panic expressed in the west about jobs etc...is only partly warranted. China is a deeply traditional society. This has a moderating effect particularly outside the major eastern cities.

Being "scared" is probably a response that will not yield much benefit. Innovative approaches and a long term outlook that factors in the rise of China [and India too] are required. Of course there are no easy answers to this. That is why I think actual experience and a "hands-on" response to researching the background and the potentials is a good first step. Florida et al seem to be on the right track and our western "creative industries" do have a lot to offer in Asia where innovative thinking and divergent thinking have traditionally been discouraged.

More broadly, education in the west [and in China] needs to reorientate to the new paradigms emerging. We are a long way off that yet.

It is complex to say the least...but fascinating :)


I include the comments again here to provide more contextual reference for establishing discussion.