Today I saw the world’s largest pop-up book in LA library, and I kept asking myself what it reminded me of.

Instagram is a maze, indeed, I could never find it here no matter how many hashtags I used. Then, as I was strolling along the crowded beach, I noticed a couple of cheerful Americans carrying their shopping bags, their bracelets clinking as they spoke loudly and excitedly about their plans for the evening. A little later, I crossed paths with an equally striking Asian woman, walking with quiet confidence, almost blending invisibly with the locals as the sun was setting.

Stereotypical? Perhaps. Yet the contrast appeared so simple and unmistakable in my mind.

The West often seems drawn to scale: big, bigger, the biggest. That tendency can, in broad strokes, be traced back to the religious and social foundations from which much of Western culture emerged ( I remember reading that in Rifkin’s European Dream).

In contrast, many Eastern traditions appear less concerned with size and more with intricacy, and refinement (I don’t remember reading that anywhere, it’s just my feeling from my years abroad). Of course, these are broad generalizations and in no way universal truths, but they capture a difference in emphasis that I find fascinating.

Both perspectives are beautiful, both have their own logic, and both are magnificent in their uniqueness.

What was I saying? Ah, yes. That record breaking pop-up book reminded me of the exquisite work of Collete_fu : a pop-up book of extraordinary delicacy and craftsmanship, created as a tribute to the millions of Chinese immigrants, who alongside countless people from many other nations, who created that great “melting pot” that US has been, often while enduring discrimination and persecution.

Now as a Greek, I should be creating a poll and ask you to vote which one you like more, and then change the results… but enough stereotypes for today, let’s all enjoy two great pop up books 🙂

#popupbook #colettefu #lalibrary