reader response draft 2

In Kraidy's article, "Globalization of culture through media (2002)", he explored the global media debate between 'cultural imperialism' and 'globalization'. Kraidy disagreed that audiences especially from developing countries are passive importers and receivers of values, information and products from Western culture. He evaluated and analyzed cultural imperialism and explained how it evolved with the influence of media into 'globalization' and 'hybridization'. Instead of a homogenizing process, he considered cultural globalization as hybridization where different cultures globally transform and adapt to satisfy their local needs while retaining aspects of their traditional culture.

Kraidy mentions that one party of the debate regarding the ‘relationship between media and the globalization of culture’ perceives that “mass media trigger[ed] and create[ed] the globalization of culture”.

I personally feel that the claim is too generalized and fails to take into consideration the other driving factors of cultural globalization that precedes the advent of mass media. Therefore, I believe that the phenomenon of globalization of culture is already prevalent in the past, long before the introduction of mass media.

The advancement of technology and progression into the digital age has invariably increased the speed of culture globalization. Ashdown stated that “Because of the internet”, “Everything is connected to everything [in our modern world]” making nations and people ‘interdependent’ and ‘interlocked’ (Ashdown, 2011). This progression is evident in our everyday life, such as television channels and online news portals supplying news from all over the world to our intimate spaces. Social media platforms increased interconnectivity of people and allowed them to adapt and gain knowledge of different cultures. Mass media truly transforms our cultural experiences in unprecedented ways.

Media is an indisputable force of the globalization of culture, but I would not label it as the sole trigger. The era of the steamboat began in 1787 and bullet train transportation was invented in the early 1960s, such transportation advancements led to increased in the movement of people and migration. These are integral factors of cultural globalization as  “new technologies of transport allow frequent and multi-directional flows of people, ideas and cultural symbols” (Castles, 2006).  Looking beyond the influences of mass media, I consider advances in transportation, migration as early engines of cultural globalization that assisted the assimilation of different culture by various groups of people and generation of cultural activities. Therefore, I do not agree that mass media should be solely culpable for cultural globalization even though it has indeed quickened and escalated the whole process.

(400 words)

References:

Stephen Castles (23 FEB 2006). Migration and Community Formation under Conditions of 

Globalization.

Paddy Ashdown (Jan 2012). The global power shift. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/paddy_ashdown_the_global_power_shift.html

source=facebook#.Uvj0BmChr9I.facebook

Kraidy, M. M. (2002). Globalization of Culture Through the Media. Retrieved from

http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1333&context=asc_papers

My reader response on 'Globalization of culture through media (2002)'

In Kraidy's article, "Globalization of culture through media (2002)", he created a context for the global media debate about 'cultural imperialism' and 'globalization'. He contends the point that audiences especially from developing countries are passive and homogenized under the influence of Western culture. He evaluated cultural imperialism and the imbalanced flow of information and how it evolved with the influence of media into 'globalization' and 'hybridization'.

Kraidy mentioned that it is difficult to find a precise answer to the question on the ‘relationship between media and the globalization of culture’. Furthermore he also mentioned that one side of the debate supports the idea that “mass media trigger and create the globalization of culture”.

I personally feel that even though the claim that the globalization of culture is mainly brought about by the advent of mass media is undeniable, it is too generalized and failed to take into consideration the other driving factors. Therefore, I am in favor of the view that the phenomenon of globalization of culture is already prevalent in the past, long before the introduction of mass media.

Due to the advancement of technology and progression into the digital age, it has invariably increased the speed of culture globalization. The assimilation of culture is further boosted. Ashdown (2011) stated that “Because of the internet”, “Everything is connected to everything [in our modern world]” making nations and people ‘interdependent’ and ‘interlocked’. Such as the television and online news portals supplying news from all over the world to our intimate spaces. Interconnectivity of people worldwide through various social media platforms allowed parties to adapt and gain knowledge of different cultures. Through mass media, our cognition, lives, habits and emotions are being shaped and altered when we are presented with abundant information from various cultures. This transforms our cultural experiences in unprecedented ways.

Media is an indisputable force of the globalization of culture, but I would not label it as the sole trigger. Looking at the history of Singapore, when we are established as a trading port and then, being much behind the digital age, I believed that there are already multiple forms of cultural globalization. Being heavily involved in entrepot trade and the inflows of merchants of different nationality (Chinese, Arab, American, etc.), allowed the assimilation of their culture with the locals back then. Therefore, I do not agree that mass media should be solely culpable for cultural globalization even though it has indeed quickened and escalated the whole process.

The event that has shaped my life and the person I've become

During the age of 12 to 16 years old, I felt that I was not as confident or outspoken and that I am a person of neither talents nor forte compared to many of my friends. When I was a child, I never got the chance to attend those aesthetic classes like art, piano or dance classes as my parents felt that my childhood should not be bombarded with extra lessons. They thought that talents come to children naturally. I always had a strong sense of regret when it came to not developing any skills.  

I was part of my secondary school's Chinese orchestra for four years.  Sadly, I found out that I was not musically inclined at all. My instructor always placed me at the last row so that my terrible skills can be concealed. Therefore, throughout the four years in secondary school, I felt very disappointed with myself for being a person with no skills or talents.  

When I went to Junior college, everything changed when I decided to fill in the application form for house committee. At first, I thought that I would not be able to get elected, as the whole process was very tedious and long. However, somehow I managed to get through all the rounds of selection and even gave a rally speech in front of more than 200 people. After I got selected as publicity I/C for house committee, I became very active in many school activities. I had to pick up Photoshop skills and created many artworks for school posters, banners and even t-shirts. Being a leader and having to organize many school events such as sports day and orientation day, I am required to be more confident, out-spoken and creative. All these occurrences and events gradually allowed me to shape my confidence and self-esteem as I discovered and embraced my strengths and no longer focusing on only my weaknesses.  

Up till today, success of those school events still gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment. Two years in junior colleges and the chance to have a leadership position in house committee really is a remarkable milestone of my life that has shaped my life and the person I've become.