Globalization & Culture

DQs- Chapter 5 1. Does globalization make people more alike or different? Is this a good or bad thing? 2. What impact does the MNC media industry have on culture? 3. How does globalization impact languages? 4. What role does culture have in achieving a global consciousness?

What about Culture?  Attributes  Causal relationships  Slow to change

Globalization & Culture About Culture  Symbolic construction  Articulate information  Means of self-expression Done through:  Language, music, art, etc. ¤

Q 1: More or Less Alike? Hyperglobalizers: More, and it’s a bad thing  Homoginization  ‘Culture Industry’  ‘McDonaldization’  ‘Ethos of Infantilization’ ¤

More or Less Alike? Optimists: More, and it’s a good thing  Americanization  democracy & capitalism  New forms cultural expression  ‘Glocalization’  ‘Hybridity’  Pros & cons ¤

Q 2: Role of MNC Media  Shape identities  Structure desires  Small group dominates  Affects values  Weakens civic bonds  Less journalistic ¤

Languages How well do you know ‘English’?English 1. What is the point of this exercise? 2. How might you know some of these words? 3. How is your knowledge an indication of globalization? 4. Will these dialects of English eventually result in different languages?

Q 3: Impact on Languages  Disagree about direction  Question dominance of any one  Extinction trend- Why?  ↓ indigenous groups  ↓ dialects ¤ Year# of Languages , <7, Predict losing 50%-90 =~ ,500 left

Q 3: Impact on Languages  Exploration  Colonization  European dominance  Migration  Mixed languages, like Maltese  Media  Communication, entertainment  T.V. in Poland  Education  Discipline jargon, cost/availability of non- GN language ¤

Q 3: Effect on Languages GN domination  Chinese next? All effects negative?  More shared knowledge  Greater interaction  Opportunity for increased standard of living  Learn language of tourists in GS ¤

Q 4: Global Consciousness Barriers  Cultural imperialism  Cultural relativism Advantages  Share ideas  Brings together diverse groups  Social media ¤

The English Empire How is the push by MNCs for a lingua franca connected to globalization?  Recruit globally  Reach global markets  Global production teams  Integrate foreign acquisitions  Promotes ‘free thinking’  Faster meetings  Neutral language for non-English mergers ¤

The English Empire What is the downside of English for foreign MNCs?  Hostility toward ‘Englishnisation’  Disenfranchises slow learners  Fluent speakers’ expectations  May get complacent ¤

Icelanders Why is Icelandic under threat from globlalization?  Relationships with English speakers  Technological devices  Fear of lack of global competitiveness ¤

The French How do the French feel threatened by globalization?  Musical infiltration  30 yr-old quota of 40% French language songs  Threat of foreign competition in the arts  Want to protect their lang. and culture- esp. from English  Internet streaming ¤

Recap 3 Main Themes 1. Tension bt. sameness & difference  Hyperglobalizers v. Optimists 2. Mass media rules  Role of MNC media 3. Globalization of languages  Languages are disappearing  Some gains, some losses  English as the lingua franca for business world  More people interacting- need common means to communicate  Reactionist policies ¤