Globalization has both a positive and a negative impact on identity. It can either promote aspects of identity, but it can also diminish them. Language can either be encouraged and promoted, or it can be stopped and destroyed by globalization. The media also can be a positive force in globalization, however it can hinder unique and individual thoughts, which make a person different from everyone else. Trade also allows us to get items that we want, because they appeal to us, however if all of the market is controlled by a few transnational corporations there is no competition, and then if we don't want to support the corporations, we don't get the products we want.
As with everything human, globalization can be good or bad, but we can impact it, by supporting small companies, speaking different languages, and making our own opinions
To what extent should Globalization shape Identity?
Sunday 4 November 2012
Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very nice thing... you are talking about the Internet, you are talking about cell phones, you are talking about computers. This doesn't affect two-thirds of the people of the world.
- Jimmy Carter
- Jimmy Carter
Saturday 3 November 2012
Media
Today our world is centred around media. We want to know all the latest news, what's going on in the world, and we can access it very quickly on the internet. However what we see on the news is not always the full story. It may be just one part of it. The information we are fed most probably is biased, either the editors or presenters choose what they want to show us.
The information we receive shapes who we are and what we think. However if we are constantly fed the same biased information and don't have the other side of the story we will not have our own opinion, but someone else's.
Most of the media in the States is owned by businesses in the States, so the bias will be strongly pro-American. For example 9/11 was shown that the Muslim countries were to blame and that they were evil, and this was the part of the story we heard here in North America. However we weren't told that only a few years before Americans had destroyed mosques and other buildings in the Middle East.
Globalization should help spread information that was previously ignored or not available, however not all information id available, for a number of different reasons. Also if there is no access to internet, TV or other sources of international media, then a digital divide happens, and some people recieve all the information, while others are left in the dark.
The information we receive shapes who we are and what we think. However if we are constantly fed the same biased information and don't have the other side of the story we will not have our own opinion, but someone else's.
Most of the media in the States is owned by businesses in the States, so the bias will be strongly pro-American. For example 9/11 was shown that the Muslim countries were to blame and that they were evil, and this was the part of the story we heard here in North America. However we weren't told that only a few years before Americans had destroyed mosques and other buildings in the Middle East.
Globalization should help spread information that was previously ignored or not available, however not all information id available, for a number of different reasons. Also if there is no access to internet, TV or other sources of international media, then a digital divide happens, and some people recieve all the information, while others are left in the dark.
Trade
If you look in your closet, you'll see that quite a bit of your clothes are MADE IN CHINA. Slowly (or perhaps not so slowly) China has taken over the production of everything. Now that everything from clothes to computers and Made in China, there is no competition for them. Globalization should be the spread of products, but if China is supplying the world with everything, then the other countries of the world rely on China for products, instead of manufacturing them themselves.
The products you choose to buy are part of your identity, and where you buy them from also are a part of your identity. However if there is only one place from which you can buy products then,even if you don't like the way they are manufactured, there is no other source to buy the product from. You can't express your identity if there is no way to do so.
Language
In the world there are a ton of different languages that are spoken. Globalization helps us become aware of these languages, however it also makes minor languages disappear. Currently English is becoming a very dominant language, in business,travel and on the internet. While English is pushing its way to the front of the line, minor languages are being lost, because people stop speaking a language because they can't communicate with a lot of people. Globalization should be a means of helping minor languages thrive, however the opposite is being accomplished.
Language is a huge part of a persons identity, because when you speak a language you belong to a group, and you share a collective identity. However if a language stops being taught and spoken then slowly this collective identity is becoming erased. Slowly English is erasing all differences of language, and cultural homogenization is forming.
Language is a huge part of a persons identity, because when you speak a language you belong to a group, and you share a collective identity. However if a language stops being taught and spoken then slowly this collective identity is becoming erased. Slowly English is erasing all differences of language, and cultural homogenization is forming.
What is globalization?
Globalization is the spread of ideas, technology and other cultural aspects. For example in Canada, you can walk down a street and see a whole bunch of different restaurants, Chinese,Mexican,Italian to name a few. As well if you look at your clothes, you might see that your shirt is made in China, your pants in Mexico, your shoes in Vietnam and your socks in the US. Globalization allows us to have access to things we normally wouldn't be able to get.
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