Globalisation and Culture

Cultural expert- Yeo Jia Wen

With globalisation today, we witness a wide and uncontrollable spread of ideas which has inevitably created a somewhat homogeneous culture throughout the world. It is clear that everyone in the world now can find some things in common. Pokemon has become a popular cartoon among children; Macdonalds has become a common fast food franchise that can be found in many parts of the world. These are but some of the many examples. The new culture of the world has seem to be evolving to a western one.

Globalisation has resulted in the growth of cross-cultural contacts. This paves the way for cultural diffusion and the creation of a common international culture. People would want to consume and enjoy foreign products and ideas, adopt new technology and practices, and participate in this "world culture".

Each individual can access foreign materials and be exposed to a diversified range of culture through globalisation(this is of course facilitated by the developments of technology, yet another phenomenon of globalisation). This new world culture can easily displace or replace the local culture, causing reduction in diversity at an international level. One clear example would be westernisation, which has taken place in many parts of Asia.

Refer to the article: http://allafrica.com/stories/200702200611.html?page=2, the section "Culture and Globalisation" (please view the next page as well)

Africa has a rich culture. However, with globalisation, there has been an inflow of foreign ideas into Africa, which supplants its local culture. Their local language, which forms the basis of their culture, is also affected. In Africa, some countries like Uganda even use English as a national and official language.

Africans have changed their ways of living through exposure to foreign ideas through the television, internet as well as the radio. The impact and influence of these foreign ideas is easily spotted in Africa today. It has now become absurd to see a young Rwandan moving around half naked as it does not fit into the idea of civilisation, which is widely spread in the world today. I quote the article, "The loud echoing advertisement rhythms of the famous Perimus, Carlsberg, Amstel, etc can be hard across boundaries in towns, cities, and townships and even in remote rural areas where drinking water is problem to get." Clearly, we can see that the new world culture is gradually becoming a new phenomenon. Ideas become so widespread that even where drinking water is hard to get, people are still hearing of brands of beers. It seems to me that when people purchase a famous product, the practicality of the product to its consumers does not seem to matter anymore, but what people now are concerned about is being part of this new world culture. I feel that people are becoming so absorbed in this new culture that certain aspects of their local culture is left aside, and as such, comprised. It is evident that this new world culture is sweeping the world, kicking each country's unique local cultures aside.

It is highly possible that this new culture will be a western one. The world is getting increasingly westernised as a result of globalisation. Western culture is soon becoming THE culture of the world, for they have the economical power to spread their influence all over the world. Take the United States or the United Kingdom as examples. They are all well to do and developed countries, which have the means to spread their influence through the media(internet, television etc.). The media is influential , powerful and easily assessbile to everyone, and being able to gain control of the media can certainly help a country spread their influence.

Coming back to my point of globalisation creating a homogeneous culture, the Korean Craze is another clear example.

Refer to article: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/33501/Korean-craze-in-the-Philippines

I'm sure the Korean craze will not be alien to any of us here, as not only has the Korean craze spread to the Philippines, it has also affected many of us Singaporeans. If we were to go onto the streets and ask people if they knew of Rain, or Jewel in the Palace, people are likely to respond with a yes. I was quite surprised to know that the Korean craze in the Philippines has become such a phenomenon that Baguio City has even, I quote, "welcomed the opening of Korean stores, schools and churches." Filipinos have even classified a Korean restaurant as one of their favourites. Indeed, there seem to be a "Little Korea" in the midst of Philippines.

This extent of this spread of Korean culture is rather amazing. Clearly, each country's ideas is no longer subtended by their geographical boundaries. Through the media, people would be able to access these infomation. In the case of the Korean craze, people can get to know more about the Korean culture through Korean drama serials, and they would start incorporating it into their daily lives as part of the craze. The Korean culture would then have become a common culture to many countries.

I agree that globalisation promotes monoculture, and in the process, the world will experience loss of many unique cultures that can diversify the world, and give each country a sense of identity. Globalisation involves the integration of culture through the spread of common ideas throughout the world. People own the same things, do the same things, experience the same things(if not, similar). As such, ONE common global culture is developed.