Reading Assignment 2:What is the relation between culture and globalization? (YANGPEIFU)

 1.Summary

I read the article "Cultural Globalization-Tomlinson". Cultural globalization is an important aspect of the globalization process, and globalization itself is a multidimensional process involving economic, political, technological, environmental and cultural fields. Simply put, globalization describes the rapidly developing interconnected network of the modern world and the impact of this network on social, economic and cultural life. This growing global connection is reflected in all aspects of daily life, such as communication technology, urban lifestyle, eating habits, entertainment and travel. Although the complexity of globalization involves multiple fields, the economy, especially the global capitalist market, is generally considered to be its core. This economic-dominated view has profoundly influenced people's understanding of globalization, including businesses, politicians and anti-globalization activists. When discussing cultural globalization, John Tomlinson emphasized that although the capitalist system is dominant in globalization, it should not be regarded as the only determinant of the globalization process. The economic process itself is also cultural, so it is not comprehensive to simply attribute globalization to economic drivers. In addition, it is also problematic to regard globalization as an external "influence" of culture, because this view ignores the inherent role of culture in globalization. Tomlinson pointed out that culture is not only the background for explaining social events, but also the basic driving force of human actions and choices. Culture inspires and guides individual and collective actions by constructing socially shared meanings, thereby influencing globalization. For example, the choices young people make when shopping are not only economic behaviors, but also part of cultural self-expression. The impact of culture is therefore not limited to the individual level, but has global consequences. Cultural globalization refers to the spread and expansion of ideas, meanings and values ​​around the world, thereby strengthening social relations. This process is manifested in the common consumption of culture through channels such as the Internet, mass cultural media and international travel, continuing the history of global cultural communication brought about by commodity exchange and colonization. The circulation of culture enables individuals to establish extensive social connections across national borders and regions. This connection is not only reflected in the material level, but also involves the formation of common norms and knowledge, and these common cultural elements help people identify individual and collective identities. In the review of Wikipedia, the concept of cultural globalization was proposed in the late 1980s and was widely disseminated by Western scholars in the 1990s and early 21st century. Some scholars believe that this concept is a response to the criticism of cultural imperialism in the 1970s and 1980s. Cultural globalization involves the spread of ideas and values ​​around the world, thereby strengthening social relations across national borders. It promotes cultural exchange through channels such as the Internet, mass culture media and international travel, and continues the global cultural exchange brought about by commodity exchange and colonization in history. This process not only brings about material exchange, but also forms common norms and knowledge, which helps people construct individual and collective identities. The study of cultural globalization covers multiple disciplines such as anthropology, sociology and international relations.

2.Interesting items 

Historical stages: Pre-modern stage (before 1500): main features include early human migration, religious spread and cross-regional trade networks (such as the Silk Road).Modern stage: the rise of European expansionism, international economic development, industrialization and the formation of national sovereignty.Contemporary stage: increased immigration and cultural exchanges after the Cold War, the emergence of the concept of "global village", improved transportation and infrastructure, and the promotion of global cultural interconnection.

Hybridization: the long history of cultural integration.Homogenization: critics believe that the dominance of Western culture will threaten diversity and bring about cultural uniformity. Intensified conflict: some scholars believe that cultural globalization may lead to a clash of civilizations or a cultural confrontation of "Jihad vs. McWorld".Friction theory: the process of globalization is complex and involves interactions and frictions between different social groups. This friction can both cause damage and promote social improvement.

Examples of cultural globalization include the global expansion of fast food chains McDonald's and Starbucks, which show the global influence of American culture and the trend of "Americanization".

The 13th century Ebstel World Map in Tomlinson's The Relationship between Globalization and Culture Tomlinson uses this medieval map to illustrate the history of cultural imagination and how this imagination has shaped the modern concept of globalization. People's cognition of the world and cultural exchanges in different historical periods. The unevenness of cultural globalization and the phenomenon of cultural resistance are also discussed, such as how some cultures resist or reinterpret foreign cultural influences. This provides an interesting perspective for studying the changes in local culture under globalization. Tomlinson mentioned that consuming Western cultural products does not mean accepting their cultural values. How global consumers interpret and use cultural products in different cultural contexts.

3. Question

I would like to know that when Tomlinson discussed cultural globalization, he mentioned that "consuming Western cultural products does not mean accepting its cultural values." Based on this point of view, in the context of globalization, how do consumers from different cultural backgrounds in Korea, China, and other countries reinterpret and utilize these Western cultural products?