Cultural Globalization

1. Summarize

  Understanding the meaning and the characteristics of cultural globalization requires understanding on the definition and the characteristics of ‘cultural’ and ‘globalization’. First, globalization is a multi-dimensional process, and co-occurs at the realm of economic, political, and technological development. Simple definition of globalization is a process of integration of global connection through complication and acceleration. Globalization shows the rapid development, interconnection network, and interdependence characterizing the physical, social, economic and cultural life of modern world, and we should understand this is in more abstract and general method. Worldwide connection is apparently shown in our lives, and we may easily encounter such connection. Connection refers to many parts of communication technology we use. Not only it includes communication devices including Internet, computer, and mobile phone, but it also includes aspects of our experiences including living style, food style, music, movie, and TV programs. Moreover, it sometimes creates backgrounds like social custom, and anxiety and embarrassment from the modern life. Currently, we have an unprecedented level of worldwide interdependence, and it is apparent the world is in a connected status. Therefore, understanding globalization as a general process with increased affiliated relationship is helpful for embracing complicated society.

Globalization did not only influenced positively on our society. Cultural analysts have talked about the worldwide control of capitalistic system. We have to be able to resist against the temptation of control after knowing about the cause-and-effect relationship confirmable at the globalization process. There are two reasons for knowing this fact. First, consideration on the negative effects has not been made as there were no positive judgements or transactions due to well-known practice. In other words, poor economic situation was encounter by not knowing about the temptation of economic reductionism.

Second, we were embracing a distorted fact from the realm of culture. A tacit assumption that the globalization is a monopolization process of a single culture is included in a general expressions such as ‘globalization effect of culture’ or ‘cultural result of globalization’.

One things that can be assumed at the process of globalization is a that a single culture will lead the world culture. Especially, in the realm of economics, prediction on the integration effect of connectivity is possible when looking at the model provided by worldwide market which is a firmly integrated system. Worldwide connectivity implies a world unified economically and politically. Frequently mentioned in the realm of development studies, the countries called as ‘The third world’ does not actively participate in becoming a world with globalized economy or communication. Predominant worldwide economic system deeply affects in deciding the destiny of African nations.. This means that Africa is distant from a integrated society with economic prosperity, and social and technological development. Therefore, we may seek for a right telling us that the globalization is an unfair process.

Despite the unfair appearance of globalization, some western cities tend to imagine globalization while strongly suggesting ‘global culture’ embracing everyone. This global culture implies the form of cultural imperialism as mentioned earlier. This can easily be recognized through the fact that symbolic brands including Microsoft, Google, McDonald’s, Nike, Disney, CocaCola, Starbucks and others, and standardized media is controlling the world culture in general.

Marx suggested that eliminating mammonistic era and achieving ‘citizenship’ before the modern era is the method after seeing that the eurocentric attitude is deeply penetrated into the other culture. Global culture and ethnocentric attitude may coexist with rational, progressive, and humane vision. Accomplishing such model is hard, but is essential for avoiding violent disputes of global perspective that currently threatens our world.

 

2. Interesting, unusual items learned

  The main street of South Korea is lined with foreign brands including Starbucks, McDonald’s, and Nike. The blockbuster action films with Hollywood actors and actresses are popular in theaters, and people listen to pop-songs for a hobby. People even follow the apparels of foreign actors and actresses. Moreover, South Korea sometimes embraces American and European systems without concerning the situation in South Korea even in the political or economic sector.

I have acknowledge that I was unconsciously thinking that embracing the advanced culture of western civilization is reasonable after reading an article on cultural globalization. There would be decent cultures and systems of western civilization, but the they should be implemented after considering the situations of each nation as they are not all decent. It felt uncomfortable after thinking that the current culture of South Korea are disappearing by the oppressive power outside power (economic, and political power) and by the Koreans taking advantage of power. I hope globalization to be realized in a form where various cultures coexist and not in a form where a single culture is spreaded.

 

3. Question, discussion angle

  It comes to me that perhaps the economic difficulties of the nations of the third world is from the lack of cultural globalization. Of course, the economic difficulties are not solely from not embracing the culture, or economic or political system of western civilization, but could the countries be in an economically preferable situation if they have embraced the western culture and changed themselves? There were parts lacking understanding as the article itself was difficult. What is non-territorialism? Can the accomplishment of non-territorialism be a solution to the problem of weakening of local distinct characteristics hold by modern culture?