2nd Assignment: Cultural Globalization: Cho MinSeok

 1. summary of the content

Understanding Globalization and Culture

    Globalization is a process that involves many areas such as the economy, politics, technology, environment, and culture. It is described as a complicated and fast process that connects the world. Some important things about globalization are:
- It quickly creates many connections and dependencies.
- It causes movement of money, products, knowledge, information, beliefs, pictures and more.
- The world is more connected now because of technology, cities, entertainment, and big problems like terrorism and climate change.
- The world depends on each other more than ever before.
- A lot of people think globalization is mostly about money. But culture is also very important. They are connected. And culture is not just affected by globalization, it also affects globalization.

The Complexity of Culture

    Culture is about the meanings we share as a society. It gives meaning to our lives and helps us understand our purpose. It influences how people and groups behave. The choices we make in culture, like what we buy, can affect the whole world. Cultural globalization is both affected by and affects globalization.

A Global Culture?

    Some people wonder if globalization will make the whole world have one culture. There is a worry that Western culture, especially from the USA, will take over. Big companies like Disney, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, and McDonald's are seen as signs of this. But just because these brands are everywhere doesn't mean everyone will adopt Western values. Some places, especially in the Muslim world, resist Western culture. If we look back in time, we see other examples:
- An old map from Europe in 1284 showed the world with a Christian point of view.
- Karl Marx had an idea of a future where everyone was communist, spoke one language, and shared one culture. But he still thought Europe was the center.

Conclusion

    Globalization is complicated. It both changes and is changed by culture. The idea that the whole world will have one culture, led by the West, is not likely because cultures are strong and different. Looking at history, we can see that people have always tried to imagine a world where everyone is the same. But it hasn't happened.


2. Interesting point

    Emphasis on the interplay between different cultural elements is reminiscent of Marx's concept of the "base and superstructure." Marx posited that the economic base (or the means of production) influences the superstructure, which includes elements like culture, ideology, and institutions. However, it's crucial to note that the superstructure, in turn, can influence the base, creating a dynamic and reciprocal relationship.

    This concept can be applied to contemporary issues, such as the influence of technology on culture. For example, the rise of social media platforms has not only been influenced by economic factors (the base) but has also reshaped cultural norms and values (the superstructure). A major news article from The Guardian titled "How social media reshapes our society" delves into this phenomenon, highlighting how platforms like Facebook and Twitter have transformed communication, relationships, and even political discourse. 

    To further explain this point, consider the Arab Spring. A research paper from the Journal of International Affairs titled "The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring" discusses how social media platforms played a pivotal role in mobilizing protesters and disseminating information. This is a prime example of how technological advancements can influence and reshape cultural and political landscapes.


3. Discussion

    The concept of a singular global culture, as a result of globalization, is a topic of significant debate. While some argue that globalization leads to cultural homogenization, others believe it results in cultural hybridization or coexistence of multiple cultures. Tomlinson's discussion provides a nuanced perspective, suggesting that the mere spread of Western cultural goods does not necessarily lead to the adoption of deeper Western cultural values.

Question:

    In the context of Tomlinson's argument against the simplistic notion of Western cultural imperialism, how can we reconcile the apparent global dominance of Western cultural products with the persistence and resilience of local cultural identities? To what extent does the global distribution of cultural goods influence or fail to influence deeper cultural values and practices, and how might this dynamic evolve in the future?















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