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connection to KARL mARX: The Fetishism of Commodities
connection to KARL mARX: The Fetishism of Commodities
How the Pandas Reject the Idea of Commodity Fetishism:
Panda diplomacy counteracts commodity fetishism because they hold symbolic meaning through representing peace and friendship between the two countries rather than being seen as a monetary value
The pandas humanize the relationship between the U.S and China
There are mutual efforts being made to truly care for and save the pandas, rejecting the notion that they are simply for exploitation or competition
Can be seen though the major efforts being made to get them out of being endangered
How the Pandas Support the Idea of Commodity Fetishism:
The pandas are branded and marketed. The Zoo sells stuffed animals, shirts, mugs, and more to push the pandas into the spotlight.
When people purchase these items, they are engaging with a fetishized image of the pandas, likening them to a brand.
The pandas are seen as symbols of diplomacy and peace and became popular for their cuteness factor, causing many to forget that they are living beings.
Similarly to Marx's ideas of fetishized commodities, the social and economic relations behind the panda diplomacy are overlooked by the public eye.
The pandas are seen as a adorable symbol of friendship, masking the true economic and social purpose for the exchange of the pandas.
tourism benefits
tourism benefits
Nearby businesses adorn their storefronts with panda inspired decor as the pandas bring a major increase in traffic to the area.
The pandas, the Zoo's "treasures", will attract a lot of visitors and boost the city's overall economy.
Although the Zoo does not charge for admission, transportation services, restaurants, and lodging facilities will benefit from increased visitors.
Panda inspired merchandise sales will also increase, bringing money directly to the zoo.
Image Source: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/smithsonian-national-zoo-giant-panda-make-public-debut-january-24-180985263/
connection to mARCEL Mauss: gIFT gIVING
connection to mARCEL Mauss: gIFT gIVING
Marcel Mauss' text "Gift & Return Gifts" presents the idea that exchanges and contracts take place in the form of gifts
Gifts establish a social tie and the reciprocation of the gift maintains balance and respect between the two parties
Rejecting a gift is equivalent to refusing a relationship or alliance
How does this idea connect to the D.C Pandas?
The pandas are used as a symbol to signify a positive and strong relationship between the U.S and China
The idea that the gifts are not just material value, they are important for easing political tension and creating a sense of mutual respect
The U.S and China became symbolically tied through the mutual care and responsibility of the pandas
The most notable example of this is how they got the pandas from the "endangered" category to the "vulnerable category"
There are obligations that come with the pandas: The U.S must pay a substantial fee for the pandas
The pandas are parallel to Mauss' description of gifts, they are less about the object itself and more about the political relationship it establishes
connection to d.w. wINNICOTT: tRANSITIONAL oBJECTS
connection to d.w. wINNICOTT: tRANSITIONAL oBJECTS
Winnicott describes the transitional objects and phenomenon as the relationship between an object and the emotional imagery that children create in their minds as a method of self soothing
Transitional objects serves as a form of emotional comfort when a child begins to understand that it is an entirely separate entity from the external reality.
Similarly, the pandas function as the intermedial object connecting China and the United States
Just like how a baby blanket given at birth serves as a crucial form of emotional comfort that relieves anxiety and distress, the pandas relieve any emotional and political tension between the two countries
The pandas are a non-threatening symbol of cooperation
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