Welcome everyone to my second blog post! I think I am finally getting the hang of this and hopefully my posts will be more regular!
This week we cover the topic of the Global Media Landscape.. vivid imagery comes to mind of green grass and flowers and trees. But no, instead I ponder the American Empire.
So after looking through the notes and researching the global media landscape, what struck me most was how dominant America is over the rest of the world.
I have been unaware of how persuaded Australia is by America until I took a recent holiday to Thailand in which I was in a mixed group of people all different ages, genders and nationalities. I realised when talking amongst Americans, English and South Africans, that Australia is hardly affected by the news, current affairs, music and movies and culture in general from England or South Africa. However, we know all the latest movies, music and affairs present in America. One significant example that occured this week was the American Massacre that occured during the Batman film, this was all over twitter, social media, the internet and television almost immediately. Yet I wonder if this would have happened if it had occured in say, South Africa?
Are the flows of globalisation evenly distrubuted? Definitely not. When striking up a conversation with the South Africans in Thailand, I was stunned to realise that I knew very little about the culture of South Africa compared to that of America. All Australians have been subtley persuaded by the American culture as we listen to American music and watch American movies, eating hamburgers from McDonalds and wish to be a famous actor/actress in Hollywood.. I wonder how many people have actually sat down and watched Australian films even though they are produced in and about our own country.. I am guessing very few.
To get to some serious points but... after heading straight to my favourite resource.. GOOGLE! I found an article written by Ruth Oldenziel named "Is Globalisation a code word for Americanisation?" in which she suggests the "hegemonic power of the US nation state" has been "crucial in shaping international and transnational politics and insutions." Oldenziel names McDonalds and CocaCola as her two symbols of "Americanisation." Two symbols that are recognised almost anywhere in the world.. which helps prove my point.. are we being indoctrinated by America.. or is it really just globalisation?
More to come next week! Please give me some feedback, I would greatly appreciate it.. I have merely been rambling!!
Reference:
Oldenziel, R, 2007, 'Is Globalisation a code word for Americanisation?' Retrieved 24/07/12
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CGYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tseg.nl%2F2007%2F3-oldenziel.pdf&ei=_VMOUKDwI8SziQfw7oDIAg&usg=AFQjCNHFAlP32Jg1lvPquDAk3cL5TvMvsQ&sig2=Y5G8fjDYTQdwt2ZMRvnnbQ
Hey Tori,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback!
I enjoyed reading your blog and you raise some good points about the huge effect America has on us. Your writing is entertaining and a good use of sources, it looks a bit longer than 250 words is the only major thing :)
Ashleigh
After reading the first paragraph I immediately knew that i would enjoy this blog purely based on the fact that it seems like a genuine blog and not a forced assignment (like many others I've read). Through your instant engagement I felt inclined to read on and was pleasantly surprised at how although having a youthful tone the context you were addressing seemed really knowledgeable and even persuaded me to support your views. You have discussed the flows of globalisation in a worldly sense yet are still capable of defining it how you interpret it. Good read.
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