Reading 2: Cultural Globalization-John Tomlinson

Cultural Globalization

John Tomlinson

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBALIZATION AND CULTURE

1. Summary

Globalization refers to a rapidly developing network in which the interconnectivity that determines the material, social, economic, and cultural life of the modern world. Connectivity is the use of communication technology, which affects our daily lives a lot. Since we cannot escape the capitalist system, the most important thing in globalization is the economic sphere. However, we must not prioritize the process of globalization.

One common assumption in the process of globalization is that globalization will lead to a culture. The reason why this seems possible is that the integration effect of connection can be seen in the economic area. Indeed, some globalization has general unity. But increasing connectivity by no means means that it is economically and politically unified. Cultural globalization implies a form of cultural imperialism. For example, non-Western cultural traditions are being lost due to the spread of American culture. The connectivity of globalization is the contact of different cultures, but it cannot be said for sure that this is a cultural conflict. Globalization is now easily installing Western culture as a world culture. The way to approach this problem is to look at globalization in the context of historical history and culture This is especially evident in the establishment of faith groups. (for example, a map shows a propensity for Christianity.)

Deterritorialization means that the importance of the geographical location of a culture not only the physical, environmental and climatic location, but also all the self-definitions, ethnic boundaries and delimiting practices are weakened which are accrued around. Deterritorialization doesn’t make local culture completely disappear. This is because despite the progress of globalization, each country maintains its cultural characteristics. We can experience Deterritorialization in our life. For example, we can eat food from various countries in restaurants which located in Korea. The ‘telemediatization’ of culture is an important in today. We can experience ‘telemediatization’ in our life, watching tv, connecting someone who does not exist close. As a result, Deterritorialization provides people wider cultural experience.

Cultural identity is the method which can control our existential condition, personal relations and our attachment to place or community. Amid the spread of regionalism and the escalation of identity discrimination, globalization also creates a flexible category of international affiliation, formally and without resorting to specific cultural traditions.

2. Interesting point

I was interesting about cultural telemediatization. Since cultural telemediatization is a common thing in everyday life, we thought that cultural telemediatization could promote deterritorialization which could speed up globalization more than it is now. Now, with very advanced technology, we can easily talk to people living in foreign countries or people far away without seeing each other. What if sometimes I take videos, or when I call someone, the smell is shared together? I once thought that If technology is more developed and the above phenomenon becomes possible, I think the boundaries of the territory could disappear more than now. And this could create a higher level of globalization than the current level of globalization.

It was also interesting that the spread of Western culture could be thought of as a universal culture. Because fast food restaurants such as McDonald's and KFC are not a big part of our daily lives. Because there are already many of these around us. So sometimes I live by thinking that these are very natural and common. If this idea continues, I thought that the traditional culture of each country could gradually disappear. In this situation, I could think about how to harmonize each culture and Western culture.

3. Discussion point

If globalization is faster, it is assumed that the boundaries of each country's culture are removed. Will the cultures of influential countries such as the United States and Europe reveal more, or will the cultures of countries existing in Asia reveal more?