"Culture knows no borders"—this phrase is often seen as a symbol of the exchange and integration of foreign and local cultures. However, to truly understand its meaning, we must reflect on its underlying significance and boundaries. Music knows no borders; indeed, music, with its unique power, transcends language and cultural barriers, touching hearts. However, musicians do have national borders; their creations and performances are deeply influenced by their own cultural backgrounds. Similarly, while culture knows no borders, people do. Cultural exchange should not be an excuse for cultural aggression, but rather a process of mutual learning and respect.
The borderlessness of culture helps promote intercultural exchange and strengthen connections between people. With the rapid development of globalization, people can more easily access cultures from different regions and backgrounds. For example, through the internet and social media, we can share our stories, traditions, and values with people from all over the world. This intercultural exchange helps break down misunderstandings and prejudices, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and thus enhances global peace and cooperation.
Cultural Roots and the Existence of National Borders
- The Bond Between Culture and National Identity: Culture is the embodiment of the core characteristics of a nation and a country.
- Exclusivity of Values and Ideologies: Different cultures have fundamental differences in gender concepts, religious customs, etc.
- Constraints of Political and Security Factors: Cultural transmission is influenced by national laws, intellectual property protection, and geopolitics.
A Dialectical View of Cultural Exchange
- Avoid Blind Absorption: Cultural exchange requires "taking the essence and discarding the dross," and foreign cultures cannot be copied wholesale.
- Be Wary of Cultural Expansion: Some countries promote cultural hegemony under the guise of "borderless" principles.
- Protect the Uniqueness of Local Culture: In globalization, it is necessary to uphold cultural subjectivity and prevent cultural assimilation.