Computer camp

This poster advertises in Burmese: "Child computer literacy classes for Summer" - basically, computer summer camp (the stuff a typical American middle schooler would get beat up for admitting they attended). Note the skills touted as important for the "Next Generation" to possess.  Note the language of publication of the notice - that of  "New... New... Next..."  - is this the best strategy for enticing students to enroll? Finally, observe the trio of happy non-local children playing with a laptop and gleefully fulfilling the paradigm of what a globally-savvy, 21st century primary schooler looks like. Finally - consider the role of the English on this poster listing the variety of skills and programs taught by level, and how when being interpreted by parents it is less meant to explain skills and more meant to prove the English knowledge of someone associated with the program - "Well, I don't know what all these fancy internet-English words mean, but judging by how many there are, they must be great and useful!"

Coffeemix = modernity

 

As Myanmar negotiates its path to modernity, inhabitants are deliberate in adapting signs and behaviors that indicate their modern status. One such affectation is the consumption of coffeemix.

One could argue that coffeemix is so widely favored for its convenience of preparation (all that's needed is hot water) or for its low price (prominent billboards brag of their brand of coffeemix costing a mere 52 kyats, or US $0.65). With packets of instant teamix available at practically every retailer that sells instant coffeemix, however, oftentimes it is possible to purchase  powdered teamix wherever powdered coffee is being sold. Thus, there must be other factors at play besides availability.

On this packaging there is a connection made between coffee and its consumption with modernity, tech savviness, and global cosmopolitanism. For cosmopolitanism, although the use of the blonde woman is heavyhanded (and the reproduction of her face on the mug that she is drinking from rather surreal/creepy), note also "Korea Style" (written above "iNTE{R}NET"). This "Korean connection" is a theme that can be seen across many products and services hoping to align themselves with all that is "modern" in Myanmar today. Myanmar looks to Korea as a model for modernity, mostly on account of the prolific amount of Korean soap operas and historical dramas that air on Myanmar television.

Also made notable by its absence is the complete lack of Burmese (not to mention Korean!) writing on the packaging. Although nominally "Korean Style", the lingua franca of the modern world (at least in the eyes of Internet Coffeemix's marketing department) is English.

Finally, the packaging norm illustrates the association in Myanmar between the level of packaging and the relative modernity of the packaged item. Although certain cultures have had their behavior towards packaging dissected and analyzed in the hopes of forming conclusions about that culture as a whole (i.e. Japan), in Myanmar the trend is progressing towards "more is better", with plastic the preferred packaging medium.