Which Chinese Creators are Famous and why: Views from Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese Students

Abstract

178 Which Chinese creators are famous and why: Views from Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese students

Who are the Best‐Known National and Foreign Creators — a Comparative Study Among Undergraduates in China and Germany

“…Other studies have found that while scientists are popularly recognized as creators across the modern world, entertainers are likely to enjoy more favorable recognition nowadays for the entertainment industry upheld in the Western societies, which promote them as creative role models of personal success (Goulding, 2000, Cheung & Yue, 2003. In view of the significance of the entertainment industry in Hong Kong, a person's entertaining or artistic role is conducive to Hong Kong Chinese people's judgment of creativity, as shown in the previous study (Cheung & Yue, 2007).…”

“…It is particularly interesting to examine if the aesthetic salience of the creator is truly more valued in the Western evaluation of the creator, while the meritorious salience of the creator is more valued in the Chinese evaluation of the creator. A previous study has shown that a creator's creativity and merit or social contribution reinforce each other in earning fame among Mainland Chinese students, but not among Hong Kong students (Cheung & Yue, 2007). Other studies have found that while scientists are popularly recognized as creators across the modern world, entertainers are likely to enjoy more favorable recognition nowadays for the entertainment industry upheld in the Western societies, which promote them as creative role models of personal success (Goulding, 2000, Cheung & Yue, 2003.…”

“…The meritorious salience of the creator, on the other hand, refers to valuation of the creator's social merits, recognition, and influence (Cheung & Yue, 2007;Rudowicz & Hui, 1997;Rudowicz & Yue, 2001;Yue, 2003). Creators of meritorious salience would include those in political, scientific, technological, and religious arenas, such as politicians, scientists, inventors, generals, religious leaders, businessmen and the like (Yue, 2003;2004).…”

“…Chu, 1970;Kuo, 1996;Niu & Sternberg, 2002;Ng, 2001;Rudowicz, 2003). It is oriented towards fulfilling one's social obligations (Cheung & Yue, 2007;Leung, Au & Leung, 2004;Wen, 1989;Yue & Leung, 2003;Yue, 2004) and embracing strong ethical and instrumental standards (e.g., Chan, 1997;Shi & Zha, 2000;Wang, Duan & You, 1997;Wu, 1996;Yue & Ho, 2002). Inspiring people, making a contribution to the progress of society, and being appreciated by others are regarded as the essential characteristics of a creative person (Rudowicz & Hui, 1997Rudowicz & Yue, 2001).…”

“…Chinese children are socialized to respect parents, teachers, and elders, and to restrain expressing their personal feelings and critical opinions (Cheng, 1999;Farver, Kim & Lee-Shin, 2000;Gardener, 1989;Ng, 2001). Accordingly, the Chinese evaluation of creativity seems to embody two salient features as well, a high valuation of meritorious salience of creativity and a pervasive application of a utilitarian practice as the primary standard against which creative individuals are judged (Cheung & Yue, 2007;Yue & Rudowicz, 2002;Yue, 2003Yue, , 2004.…”