This week, we went through a very interesting topic. Cultural Imperialism. In this entry, I'll discuss if we're really influenced by cultural imperialism or is it globalization that we're going through...
Which do you think is more appropriate, are we, in your opinion, influenced by other culture or is it just globalization taking hold of our lives? or.. is globalization and cultural imperialism basically the same thing?
I have never gave it much thought before, but after this week lessons I realized just how influenced we are by foreign media, especially from the US.
Just see for example, the recent US presidential elections, it appears even bigger than our own elections here in Singapore! The lives of Obama, Clinton, et al. got scrutinized to its fullest extend even by our local media. I remember the during days of the election when I was on the bus to school, TVmobile was play Channel News Asia, but the news were fixated mainly about the presidential race! now, I just what does the Asia really imply in the title of the news channel. Nevertheless, I think that the world is so interconnected that we are basically a "global nation", what is left to differentiate countries are really only physical borders to mark our territorials. Well, sometimes I think that why should we care about what happens in the US and the problem is, as it seems to be today, anything that happens in the US affects just about the whole world... Thats how powerful they have grown to be...
Let's take a look at life here in Singapore, a walk down most housing estates and you would see KFC, Macdonald's everywhere, and these fast food joints aren't usually empty! we are constantly receiving news feed from the US. Most of our theaters screen movies from Hollywood, which is of course from the US. A lot of other things we use, like computers (Microsoft or Apple), running shoes (Nike), you name it, is from the US.
Sometimes i wonder, if I were to go to the US and stay, would I feel out of place? well, the only thing left to differentiate us is the whether, and maybe they don't have as much delicious food as us here in Singapore!
some would argue that cultural imperialism isn't taking place, it is globalization that is happening, the reason why we're soo connected with the world outside...
my opinion? cultural imperialism is globalization at work. However, what needs to be urgently address is, "is globalization really a boon or a bane?".
I think the benefits of globalization is apparent, third world countries (like us once upon a time) develops, nations build ties resulting in less tensions and wars being fought.
What is worrying however, is how our own identity wilts away and unique traditional practices/cultures gets suppressed leading to extinction from earth one day.
Will there still be diversity in the world tomorrow?
Do you think we are influenced in any way by other cultures? What are the implications and what have been the benefits?
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I couldn't agree with you more about cultural imperialism and globalization in Singapore. I think the issue is not about which is the more appropriate reason that influences us but more of how much of how they work hand in hand together and ultimately impact our society today. Because one cannot live without the other. Cultural globalization, driven by communication technology and the worldwide marketing of Western cultural industries, was understood at first as a process of homogenization, as the global domination of American culture at the expense of traditional diversity. Thus, cultural imperialism is bound to occur in our country. As a multi-racial country and with a huge reputation of being a small red dot without any natural resources, I believe that the only way of progression is to open up to other countries around the world. To cultivate relations and build a reputation of a business trade hub. Therefore, Singapore will bound to encounter a diversity of cultures from foreigners that visit Singapore and which I believe is an advantage to our country. Americanization to me is something that is inevitable if we want to progress and survive in this very much fast paced world.
Firstly, i like the way you have arranged the music to be played in the background! it generates a soothing atmosphere that i guess helps the reader better absorb the information on your posts. Right, with that, i'd also like to say that perhaps Cultural Imperialism is actually a ramification of Globalisation. Perhaps "influence" would be too mild a word to use for Cultural Imperialism is really a negative usurping of foreign influence as a result of the local culture's relative weakness. Nonetheless it is very real, and we cannot deny that it is a significant occurance today. I guess the onus is on us to distinguish how much of foreign culture is actually good for us.
Well, I think cultural imperialism is similar to globalization since both somehow means that this place that we live in is affected by the western culture which makes it seem like the whole ‘globe’ is ‘getting closer’, not by distance but in terms of connectivity.
However, the term globalization seems more broad and its more than a culture taking hold of our lives, its how our world is evolving to be a close-knitted community despite countries being miles apart! Just think about the recent financial crisis and how the effects of it spill over so quickly from the US and then to the rest of the other countries. I believe that globalization is the reason for these entire spill-over effects of the financial meltdown. The US suffers a credit crunch, countries including Singapore suffers from recession! The greatest evidence to how closely connected we are to the US isn’t it?
Thanks JJ,
you got a point there, globalization and cultural imperialism does indeed seems to be different things! but what i was trying to convey is, is it because of cultural imperialism that's why we have globalization?
Think of it, after WWII, who were the remaining powers? basically the USSR and the USA but which had more appealing ideologies, or dare I say, which nation was able to build ties and make a mark in other countries? the US went in aid of many nations, news were broadly delivered by them, and their ideologies were accepted with regards to trade amongst other things.
so aren't we in a way influenced to think and work like how they do? and by doing so would that make it appear that we're all doing the same things with the same goals and its globalization instead of cultural imperialism from the US?
I believe that saying globalization is equivalent to cultural imperialism is a little too simplistic an argument, or for that matter, 'imperialism' is too strong a word to describe globalization as a whole.
Cultural imperialism (in my opinion) would imply that countries are forced or even coerced to accept whatever norm or idea is held by another country. For example, human rights are generally a Western ideal. However, other countries outside of the 'West" are forced to comply with human rights laws and such even if it means an encroachment of their own laws and such.
Globalization on the other hand, does not hold such strong inclinations as CI. Though there may be people who are opposed to it, globalization does in fact have some positive effects as well, increased trade and development are just some examples. Furthermore, globalization also allows for a transfer of ideas in the opposite direction, and it is not necessarily forced.
In summary, I see cultural imperialism as being 'evil' while globalization is not necessarily so, and can in fact be a good thing as well.
After reading all of the above posts, I would like to highlight a few things.
Firstly, US is almost like a big brother for every country. In terms of media, economic or even cultural influences would be inevitable as we very much depend on them.
Lets talk about the latest case of financial tsunami, it both affected most part of the world as much as the US. So who's fault is that? Or is tat many countries are dependent on US for the survival of their economy? Think about "Properties, Technologies, Trades (import and export), Fashions, Media, Entertainments and Businesses". These will give you a better understanding of the meaning of GLOBALISATION.
Next we have to take note that New York City is the Media Capital of the World. It has to be a strong backing for this statement to be made true. American freedom of Speech and their free press does practice Codes of Ethics and "advice" writing styles (AP style). Although "Spin Doctors" do exist but this is only part and parcel of ugly side of human.
Back to your questions, its a "catch-22" situation to make the judgment on whether is it Globalization or Cultural imperialism that affected most of us. However, as most of the phenomena are inter-related, in my opinion it very much depends on what you are talking about specifically.
Thank you.
I feel that we can have both our culture and globalisation at the same time. I think that globalisation is more of interconnection between countries while culture imperialism is more of the domainance that influences the rest. The US has become so much in domainance that people are influence by them a lot. I can see Singapore getting more and more influence by the US for example, the television shows on Channel 5. They come up with english serial dramas similar to those from USA (if I'm not wrong, the show is call red thread).
I feel that though we are changing but we should still keep our Singapore culture in us because it shows who we really are.