What lies between the local and the global 2014
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WHAT LIES BETWEEN THE GLOBAL AND THE LOCAL? An introduction to media and globalisation
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Transcript of What lies between the local and the global 2014
WHAT LIES BETWEEN THE GLOBAL AND THE LOCAL?
An introduction to media and globalisation
This morning
Module overview
An introduction to globalisation
Interconnection
Deterritorisation
Glocalisation and local audiences
The role of media in globalisation
So, what is globalisation?
According to Anthony Giddens (1990, p.64), globalisation involves:
“the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa”
Globalisation is an evolving process, not a thing
Core Problems
1. Why have local relations become increasingly affected by global structures and events?
2. Does ‘globalisation’ entail a progressive homogenisation of local cultures, and what role does media play in the battle between difference and sameness?
3. How does media ‘mediate’ interactions between the local and the global?
4. How have new forms of media changed the dynamics of interconnectivity between the local and the global?
Sameness
Difference
Week 2: Who controls the global village? Capitalism and media
Week 3: Is your local global? Globalisation as cultural hegemony
Week 4: Glocalisation: Understanding local appropriations
Week 5:Local laughs, global crashes: The globalisation of entertainment
Week 6: Virtual resistance: Media, technology and transformation
Module timetable
Lectures: Weeks 22-27 (20th Feb – 27th March)
Lectures are Thursday, 10-11.30, mostly in LC109
Seminars follow the lectures at 12pm and are in LC108
Learning and assessment
Lectures provide a broad overview of the topic, including participative learning opportunities
In the seminars we will work in groups to discuss the readings
The module is assessment by a 2,500 word essay, which is due after the completion of the module
There will be one essay option from each lecture – these topics will be released shortly
Readings
The core textbook for this module is Rantanen, T (2005) ‘The Media and Globalization’ All chapters are posted online
There will be a reading assigned each week from this text
Specialist ‘group readings’ are also assigned for the seminars
About Me!
Room: MJ153
Phone: ext. 66547
Consultation and feedback hour: Tuesday 1-2pm
Globalisation
“the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa” (Giddens,1990, p.64)
How?
Mediating our lives
The media ‘mediate’ communication between distant peoples
Consequently, how we understand the world around us is largely determined by how it is represented for us
Conversely, we don’t just take on the exactly what is presented to us, but have competing influences and the ability to reflect upon information
What are ‘proms’ like at American High Schools?
Filtered Knowledge
What’s new about globalisation?
The processes described in globalisation, principally the connections between people outside of the nation state, have been developing for a number of years
What is new is the intensity at which they are occurring through changes in technology, communication and co-operation
Empire and Inter-nationalism
Global ‘empires’ spread hegemonic cultures and established new markets for trade through technological developments
What is different is the sense of a global ‘society’, as opposed to interactions between states (inter-nationalism) and the intensity of these linkages
No more sunrises?
Our sense of a ‘global’ world developed with the early sparks of modernity as peoples migrated beyond their localities
Scientific advances, such as Copernicus’ 1543 theory which established that the Sun was the centre of the universe, were the catalyst for more human centred thinking
An emerging recognition of the common bonds between peoples has been advanced by mass communicative technology
Global interconnectedness
Associated with Marshall McLuhan (1911 -1980), the idea of a ‘global village’ connected by electronic technology captures the most optimistic sense of the inter-connectedness possible through globalisation
Closer global connections and a sense of global consciousness make global problems more manageable
Global governing institutions have emerged to respond to the difficulties in trans-national exchanges
The global village
The development of a global consciousness suggests both an interconnected society, but also a singular global sense of humanity
Whilst we are undoubtedly more connected, there are significant doubts about whether we are becoming more similar Does globalisation mean a more similar global culture, or
an increasing range of influences?
If there is increasing homogeneity, is this one culture
imposing itself upon the others?
Intensified connections
Connections between peoples have intensified across time and space
More communication and influence outside of immediate
environment (space)
Quicker interactions between geographically separated peoples (time)
These changes have led to a progressive deterritorisation
Changing time
The compression of time means that the time previous taken for social interaction to occur has been reduced
Communicating with the Southern hemisphere once took more than six weeks but is now instantaneous, changing our sense of time and distance
This has changed our perception of distance and the importance of territory
These changes have been primary driven by technological developments, from steam trains to smart phones
What technology allows you to influence people beyond those
immediately around you?
Does this change your perception of time and
distance?
Consequently…
Technological developments have allowed for a much wider geographical influence This influence has led to both global communities and
co-operation, but also global problems that require global organisations and solutions
Trans-governmental institutions such as the United Nations and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have (partially) shifted sovereignty outside of the nation-state and local representation
Corporations trade outside of their national origin and the restrictions of national regulation
Global ‘brands’ create shared cultural connections between different peoples
Increases in global tourism by region
Source: International Trade Centre
Globalising employment
Uneven globes
If globalisation involves the construction of more globally similar cultures, this is experienced unevenly
Globalisation is often seen as the hegemonic spread of American ideals (or British…)
As Permutter (1991, p.898) argues, the imposition of one form of culture upon another has generally been seen as a form of violence
This ‘symbolic violence’ occurs primarily through trade, political ideology and cultural imperialism, rather than physical violence
Glocalisation and resistance
Nonetheless, local cultures do not simply absorb global forces, but appropriate and adapt
These processes are known as glocalisation, hybridisation or indigenisation
There have also been significant moves, often violent, to resist global forces and maintain local cultures and traditions
Media and globalisation
The influence of media is often implied within globalisation without being specifically developed
Media have been contributed to the process of globalisation and have themselves been globalised
This influence is not only cultural, but economic
The development of global communication could not occur without a globalised media apparatus
Globalised media
The globalisation of communication suggests the development of forms of media that transcend local contexts (Thompson, 1995, p.149).
If globalisation is defined by an intensified cultural interconnectedness, this interconnectedness is principally generated by media
Different forms of mediation create different social interactions between the local and the global
We ask…
Following Thompson (1995, p.81) ‘How do the developments of media and communication affect traditional patterns of social interaction?’
If communication has become increasingly global, what has been the effect on local relationships and the relationships between local cultures?
Does media produce forms of globalisation that increase sameness within global culture (homogeneity) or global differences (heterogeneity)?
To what extent do you see yourself as living in a
global society?
Two-minute summary
Write for a minute or so on these questions:
What is globalisation?
What is the relationship between media and globalisation?
Does globalisation entail a greater global cultural similarity, or increased cultural difference?
Next Week
Who controls the global village? Transnational media and global capitalism
Group reading: Chapter One (pp.10-41) Herman, E.S. & McChesney, R.W. (1997) The Global Media: The New Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism. London: Cassel
