Culture and Globalization --GUO YUMEI 곽우매

 Culture and Globalization 

1. Summary

I think culture and globalization have always been influencing each other. Globalization brings various ideas, music and lifestyles to all corners of the world, while culture adds local characteristics to these things.They are not independent of each other. They develop together and change each other.

In the book Cultural Globalization, John Tomlinson explained that globalization is not just dominated by Western culture. It's more about how people around the world share, absorb and integrate cultural ideas. He said that culture is spread through the media, trade and immigration, and when people accept these cultures, they will make some small changes to make them suitable for their lives.

He also said that local culture is not just a victim. People are creative. They can transform the elements of globalization into their own elements. For example, McDonald's restaurants around the world look the same, but every country will modify the menu according to local tastes. The same thing happens on global platforms such as Netflix or YouTube. Audiences from different countries create their own versions of global content. Therefore, globalization does not always destroy culture. It can create new styles globally and locally.


2. New insights

I used to think that globalization would make the world uniform. In my imagination, there would be Starbucks, Apple products and English signs everywhere. But Tomlinson changed my mind.Before reading this article, I think globalization makes the world look the same. The global scene I imagine is a city full of Starbucks, iPhone and English logos. But Tomlinson changed my point of view. He made me understand that globalization can also make culture more diverse. It connects those who will never meet.

Korean pop music is a good example. It combines Western pop music with Korean, fashion and performance to create a unique result. Nowadays, it is famous in the world, but it still retains its Korean characteristics. Fans from different countries also give it its own meaning. For example, American fans pay attention to music and dance, while Korean fans pay more attention to stories and information. The integration of these different views has created a broader and more shared culture.

I also think that globalization has changed the way people understand identity. Nowadays, people usually live in a variety of cultures. Students can study in Korea, eat in Italy, and watch American movies on Netflix. It doesn't mean that they will lose their original culture. It means that they have more choices. They can choose what they like and create their own mixed culture. I think this is one of the most interesting results of globalization - it gives people more freedom to define their identity.


3. Question

Although I agree with Tomlinson's positive view, I still have some doubts. I want to know if all cultures really have the same influence in this global exchange. Theoretically, every culture can freely communicate and integrate. But in reality, most global media still come from a few countries, especially the United States. Hollywood movies, Netflix programs, Apple products, and social media platforms like Instagram or YouTube are everywhere. They shape the views of people around the world on beauty, success and happiness.

Sometimes, even local cultures must follow these global standards to gain attention. For example, some Asian TV series or pop songs will change their style to seem more Western in order to attract international fans. I think this shows that this exchange is not always equal. Powerful cultures have more control of discourse， while small cultures need to make more efforts to be seen.

So，I think the relationship between culture and globalization has two sides. It connects people and helps them learn from each other，which is a good thing. But it also repeats the old power patterns in new ways. Globalization brings more opportunities for cultural exchange，but not everyone has the same chance to be heard. This is both exciting and unfair.

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