In "Globalization of Culture Through the Media" Kraidy (2002) discusses the controversy between cultural imperialism and globalisation. He mentions the view that "cultural imperialism", once dominant from the West through media, has evolve into globalisation and hybridisation, where cultural flows are multilateral. He suggests that "cultural hybridity" is not a new phenomenon but one that has existed in the past.
Kraidy (2002) in his article discusses the opposing perspectives that globalisation, thus cultural hybridity homogenises cultures and undermines present local cultures. However, I feel that rather than homogenising local cultures, hybridisation actually reinvents and revives local cultures. The exchange of ideas and information, from the interaction between traders and villagers in the past to the present prevalent usage of media, causing culture to evolve and change over time. As interaction occurs, parties pick up relevant ideas and information, adapting them into their respective cultures, modifying and leading to cultural hybridisation. With globalisation, the interconnectedness of countries accelerates interactions, resulting in more intensive exchange of ideas. Cultures that operate at a global scale are what Featherstone (1995) mentioned as "third cultures", which nation states no longer have complete control in, resembling many of the cultural influences we see today.
For example the recent K-Pop craze, by adopting Western pop culture into its music genre, Korea has not only modified its local culture but also marketing it to the world. With the extensive use of media such as television and internet, people around the world are constantly being exposed to K-pop. The popularity of K-pop and its worldwide subscription sells Korea as a tourist destination. Fans from around the world are eager to learn Korean, and through the language are able to better understand the local culture. This is not a one-way interaction where Korea adopts the Western pop culture but also the acceptance of K-pop around the world in countries like USA, Singapore and China.
However, it can be said that popular consumption of K-pop has led to its commercialisation. As McEwan and Daya (2012) suggest "culture has become increasingly commodified". One can see in the global market, K-pop music are usually catchy and contemporary which appeals to the general audience. Instead of portraying traditional cultures of Korea to the audience, the music is being commercialised for consumption. Therefore, a balance has to be struck between commercialising and promoting the local culture, in order not to undermine and dilute it into a totally different one.
400 words
References:
Featherstone, M. (1995). Undoing Culture: Globalization, Postmodernism and Identity (Vol. 39). Sage.
McEwan, C. and Daya, S. (2012) "Geography, culture and global change", in P. Daniels, M. Bradshaw, D. Shaw and J. Sidaway (eds.), An Introduction to Human Geography (Harlow: Pearson), Chapter 13, pp. 272-287.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Reader Response Draft 1
In "Globalization of Culture Through the Media" Kraidy (2002) discusses the controversy between cultural imperialism and globalisation. He mentions the view that "cultural imperialism", once dominant from the West through media, has evolve into globalisation and hybridisation, where cultural flows are multilateral. He suggests that "cultural hybridity" is not a new phenomenon but one that has existed in the past.
Kraidy (2002) in his article discusses the perception that globalisation, thus cultural hybridity homogenises cultures and undermines the present local cultures. However, I feel that rather than homogenising local cultures, hybridisation actually reinvents and revives local cultures. The exchange of ideas and information, from the interaction between traders and villagers in the past to the present prevalent usage of the media, causing culture to evolve and change over time. As interaction occurs, parties pick up relevant ideas and information from one another and adapt it into their respective culture, often modifying and leading to cultural hybridisation. With globalisation, the interconnectedness of countries accelerates interactions, resulting in even more intensive exchange of ideas.
For example the recent K-Pop craze, by adopting the Western pop culture into its genre of music, Korea has not only modified its local culture but also market it to the world. With the extensive use of media such as television and internet, people around the world are constantly being exposed to K-pop. The popularity of K-pop and its worldwide subscription sells Korea as a tourist destination. Fans from around the world are eager to learn Korean, and through the language are able to better understand the local culture. This is not a one-way interaction where Korea adopts the Western pop culture but also the acceptance of K-pop around the world in countries like USA, Singapore and China.
However, it can be said that the popular consumption of K-pop has led to its commercialisation. As one can see in the global market, K-pop music are usually catchy and contemporary which appeals to the general market. Instead of portraying the traditional cultures of Korea to the audience, the music is being commercialised for consumption. Therefore, a balance has to be struck between commercialising and promoting the local culture, in order not to undermine and dilute it into a totally different one.
372 words
Kraidy (2002) in his article discusses the perception that globalisation, thus cultural hybridity homogenises cultures and undermines the present local cultures. However, I feel that rather than homogenising local cultures, hybridisation actually reinvents and revives local cultures. The exchange of ideas and information, from the interaction between traders and villagers in the past to the present prevalent usage of the media, causing culture to evolve and change over time. As interaction occurs, parties pick up relevant ideas and information from one another and adapt it into their respective culture, often modifying and leading to cultural hybridisation. With globalisation, the interconnectedness of countries accelerates interactions, resulting in even more intensive exchange of ideas.
For example the recent K-Pop craze, by adopting the Western pop culture into its genre of music, Korea has not only modified its local culture but also market it to the world. With the extensive use of media such as television and internet, people around the world are constantly being exposed to K-pop. The popularity of K-pop and its worldwide subscription sells Korea as a tourist destination. Fans from around the world are eager to learn Korean, and through the language are able to better understand the local culture. This is not a one-way interaction where Korea adopts the Western pop culture but also the acceptance of K-pop around the world in countries like USA, Singapore and China.
However, it can be said that the popular consumption of K-pop has led to its commercialisation. As one can see in the global market, K-pop music are usually catchy and contemporary which appeals to the general market. Instead of portraying the traditional cultures of Korea to the audience, the music is being commercialised for consumption. Therefore, a balance has to be struck between commercialising and promoting the local culture, in order not to undermine and dilute it into a totally different one.
372 words
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
An Event That Shaped My Life
The following event might sound very ordinary but I felt that it probably affected me quite significantly and helped shape what I am today. It was more of a continuity throughout my primary school life rather than a single event.
A very good friend of mine, Denie, spent 6 years together in the same class with me during my primary school life. We came from very different cultural background- he was from a Malay family while I came from a Chinese family. However, we hit off well and had many memorable moments in primary school. Occasionally, I would skip my Chinese lessons to attend Malay lessons with him, even though I've never pick up much from the lessons.
We did almost every thing together in school, from eating (I ate Halal food everyday) to joining the same Co-Curriculum Activities. Everyday without fail after school, we walked from school to Denie's house which was 10 minutes away. When most primary school kids would hurry home, we would take our time and joke and laugh at everything. He would either invite me to his house or accompany me while waiting for my dad to come fetch me. We were so close that his family would invite me over for his siblings' birthday party, which I felt was something worth noting.
277 words
Edited 13 February 2014
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