Conceptual Understanding
Key Question: How do global interactions bring cultural influences and changes to places?
The global spectrum of cultural traits, ethnicities and identities, and ways in which the spectrum of diversity is widening or narrowing at different scales
The effects of global interactions on cultural diversity in different places:
• the diffusion of cultural traits, and cultural imperialism
• glocalization of branded commodities, and cultural hybridity
• cultural landscape changes in the built environment
How diasporas influence cultural diversity and identity at both global and local scales
• Case study of a global diaspora population and its cultures(s)
Synthesis, evaluation and skills opportunities
Differing evidence and perspectives on how diversity is changing at local, national and global scales.
March Break 2024
The Diffusion of Cultural Traits
Google Doc for lesson.
Culture is our way of life. It includes our values, beliefs, customs, languages and traditions. Culture is reflected in our history, in our heritage and in how we express ideas and creativity.
Our culture measures our quality of life, our vitality and the health of our society. Through our culture we develop a sense of belonging, personal and cognitive growth and the ability to empathize and relate to each other.
Direct benefits of a strong and vibrant culture include health and wellness, self esteem, skills development, social capital and economic return. Culture is constantly shifting too and should be seen as dynamic and not fixed. (Source)
Cultural diffusion is the spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group of people to another.
This involved the mixing of world cultures through different ethnicities, religions, and nationalities has only increased with:
* advanced communication
* transportation
* technology.
Is there such a thing as a developing ‘Global Culture’?
As the planet becomes more and more connected, people and financial flows increase between places, it has been suggested that the spreading of cultural traits (westernization) and mixing of cultures (hybridity) may be leading to a new universal cultural practice.
Task 1. Read the article from Forbes, and summarise the main ways in which Balaji Viswanathan disagrees with a global culture being created.
Task 2. The video wall beneath shows five key aspects of global culture and the associated impacts of cultural diffusion. Watch each video and decide upon the following:
* What the feature of culture is
* How culture is impacted by this feature now & in the future (possibilities)
* How might traits be spread (process)
* How might cultures be mixed
* Where are the places being connected (place)
* Who is responsible for the spread (power)
Record your notes on this Google Doc.
Note: Given that this is a YouTube task, you are using a tool that is very much at the centre of this topic. Check out the number of views that your video has too, and if necessary, make reference to this under the relevant section above.
March Break 2024
Cultural Imperialism
Cultural imperialism: The practice of promoting the culture values or language of one nation in another.
Starter: In a new google doc, write down the definition of cultural imperialism (see above) and watch the video below. How does it illustrate cultural imperialism?
In the past cultural imperialism has been associated with colonialism. When the U.K colonized large parts of the world they took with them their language (English), their sports (rugby and cricket), their forms of transport (railways), their dress (suits), their legal system, police system etc. and imposed it upon their colonies. Now cultural imperialism is more associated with economic forces, although former colonial powers often have some influence over many of their former colonies e.g. The Queen is still head of state for many Commonwealth countries including Australia, Jamaica, Canada, Belize and New Zealand.
The U.S currently has the World’s largest economy and has been able to export its control and influence through the commodities of its TNCs e.g. Google, Ford, McDonald’s, Walmart. America’s cultural imperialism has sometimes be described as Westernization and/or Americanization. Cultural imperialism may also take place via global institutions like the IMF, WTO and World Bank (many of which are heavily influenced by the US and Western Europe).
Task 1. Note down a summary of the following five areas when looking at the impacts of cultural imperialism in your notes.
Five common areas that are often studied to look at the impacts of cultural imperialism are:
1. Language: There are currently over 6,000 languages spoken around the World, but half my disappear by 2100. Although Mandarin is spoken by the most people, English is becoming the dominant international language.
2. Tourism: Tourism is one of the World’s largest industries and at the moment it is mainly citizens from developed countries (US, UK, Germany, Japan) that can afford to travel internationally and spread their culture (although they also experience new foreign cultures).
3. Global Brands: Apple, Google, TIK-TOK, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are all brands recognised and used around the World.
4. The Media: Disney, Time Warner, HBO, BBC , CNN, FOX etc. all have enormous influence in terms of the television programmes made and aired as well as the music played and the news reported.
5. Democracy: The US as well as organisations like the World Bank and the UN have often promoted Democratic Capitalist systems instead of systems like Communism.
As well as controlling culture through the economy and media, it has also been suggested that some countries impose culture and ideas through their military and/or electronically. This maybe through occupation, many people claim that the US and its allies are trying to impose their ideals of Afghanistan and Iraq through occupation. China has also been accused of imposing its ideas through its military presence in Tibet and its state wide censorship of the media.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Cultural Imperialism
Task 2. Sort the following statements into a table with two columns according to whether it is an advantage or disadvantage of cultural imperialism.
- There may be a greater variety of commodities available
- Places around the World become increasingly homogenized (the same)
- It may mean new technologies are introduced
- Language skills may increase
- Local cultures are lost or diluted (language, dress, food, music, etc.)
- Local businesses maybe forced out of business they can’t compete with large international TNCs
- Economic development may take place as trade increases between two locations
- Economic and political exploitation e.g. resources may be stripped, taxes not paid.
Case Studies of Cultural Imperialism
Task 3. Choose two of the case studies from the three listed below. For each, there is a video and an associated written article. Take notes on how the process of cultural imperialism is potentially being undertaken. Your notes should enable you to answer this question:
“Explain what is meant by the term cultural imperialism and give a modern-day example of this process.“
TOK – Imperialism or Misadventure?
You may have heard the recent story of John Allen Chau, a Chrisian Missionary who was killed by a remote tribe as he tried to make contact with them.
The story can be seen as a video story here with the response from Survival International here.
Glocalization of branded commodities…
Glocalization: The adaptation of a global product for a local market place. The word comes from an amalgamation of the words globalisation and localisation.
Globalization: The spread of economic, cultural and social ideas across the world.
Localization: The act of operating locally in terms of employees, product, supply of raw materials, etc.
Open this Google Doc and complete all of the tasks using the information below.
BBC Article – How has McDonalds Conquered India?
Boy: No.
Girl: Why?
Boy: Because girlfriends are too demanding, ” I want this, I want that”, doesn’t suit well.
Girl: But all i want is Mc Aloo Tikki
Boy: is it?
Girl: Yes
Boy: Then its ok.
Click here to be taken to the McDonalds world website. Here you can visit the regional sites of McDonalds around the world and watch their current publicity videos etc.
Click on your home country and see if you can find any evidence of the product being glocalized to meet local tastes.
Click on the website link for India and start exploring the menu options.
Be mindful that a majority of India’s population do not eat beef products. Click here to find out why.
i. Comment on the types of food available and the level to which they have been glocalized.
ii. Comment on children promotions and their socio-cultural impacts on the target audience.
Cultural Hybridity – K Pop…
Hybrid: Something of mixed origin or composition, such as a word whose elements are derived from different languages.
Cultural hybridity: Constitutes the effort to maintain a sense of balance among practices, values, and customs of two or more different cultures. In cultural hybridization, one constructs a new identity that reflects a dual sense of being, which resides both within and beyond the margins of nationality, race, ethnicity, class, and linguistic diversity. Many immigrants, for instance, face this process as they attempt to accommodate new environments and experiences, while holding on to their indigenous socio cultural principles or beliefs. An important resource is language, which may be used to construct an identity, to adapt to new cultural environments, and to make sense of new experiences or some combination of these features (Encyclopedia of Diversity in Education, Edited by: James A. Banks)
Task 1. Watch this BBC Radio 1 Documentary and take notes on how cultural hybridity is developing through the K-Pop music scene.
March Break 2024
How diasporas influence cultural diversity & identity…
What is a Diaspora?
- A population of a country who have migrated abroad and keep strong identity ties with the homeland.
- A permanently displaced and relocated collective.
- The forced or voluntary dispersal of any population sharing common racial, ethnic or cultural identity, after leaving their settled territory and migrating to new areas.
Task 1. Choose from ONE of the following diasporas and complete the two graphic organisers which indicate how the diaspora culture has been preserved, and how the new culture has been adopted.
Task 2. Read this article: The Magic of Diasporas.
Answer the following questions:
- Why are diasporas currently quite a topical issue?
- What is the general thought about diasporas?
- Why should we embrace diasporas in our society? Ie: What benefits do they bring?
Task 3. Watch this TEDEd and answer the following question: Why is the African diaspora crucial to the continent’s future?