Chapter IV.

A World of Ideas

Lesson 1 . Global Media Culture

a. Evolution of Media and Globalization

Lesson 2 . The Globalization of Religion

a. Effects of Globalization to Religion

______________________________________________________________________________

Lesson 1 . Global Media Culture

a.Evolution of Media and Globalization
Lesson 2 . The Globalization of Religion
a.Effects of Globalization to Religion

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the chapter, you should be able to:

1.1Explain the evolution of media

1.2Examine how globalization affects religious practices and beliefs

New Global Media

The rise of the “new” global media (e.g. Apple’s
iTunes, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Microsoft), with
great power to impose their systems on large portions
of the world (McChesney 1999: 11 – 15). While the
major players change over time, especially through
mergers of various types, the global media (this
applies to traditional media such as newspapers, TV,
and movies, as well as to the newly emerging media
on, or related to, the Internet) are increasingly
dominated by a relatively small number of huge
corporations.
In virtually all sectors the goal is to produce a relatively noncompetitive global
environment in order to maximize profits. This process is fairly well advanced in the “old
media” and it is ongoing in the case of the “new media.” There, competition continues, but
largely because the process is so new and the dust has yet to settle. Thus, for example,
Facebook and MySpace succeeded in vanquishing a number of early competitors (e.g.
Friendster) for the position of dominant social - networking site, but they continue to compete
with each other, with the possibility of new competitors arising in this relatively new arena.
Furthermore, giants in the industry such as Newscorp, Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo
are either seeking to create their own versions of successful new media, especially on the
Internet, or they are seeking to buy into, or gain control over, already successful websites
(Microsoft purchased a small share of Facebook in late 2007 and has been seeking,
unsuccessfully so far, to gain control of Yahoo), as well as those that show signs of being
successful. In terms of the former, in late 2007 Google announced plans to compete more
effectively with Facebook by forming an alliance with various other companies to advance its
own social network, Orkut, as well as others such as LinkedIn, hi5, Friendster, Plaxo, and Ning
(Helft and Stone 2007: C1 – C8). While control over the new Internet media is far from clear or
resolved, it seems clear that in the long run they, too, will succumb and the world of Internet
media will become increasingly less competitive.

The impact of the global media order is complex as reception of these cultural products is
never uniform. The world is complex and we have only begun to theorize about it. Media flows
and contra-flows create part of the wider struggle over information flows which define power
relations in the global information economy.

Cultural Imperialism

The idea of cultural imperialism (Tomlinson, forthcoming a) indicates that one or more cultures
are imposing themselves, more or less consciously, on other cultures thereby destroying local
culture, in whole, or more likely in part. There are many examples of cultural imperialism in the
world today, with local cultural practices being threatened, or even being destroyed, by the
flow of culture from other parts of the world, especially from the North to the South.

Cultural imperialism occurs when the traditions and way of life of a group of people, whether
an ethnic minority or an entire nation, are displaced by those of another. This may be a
conscious process, in which a dominant group intentionally suppresses another culture by
suppressing its language, music, religion, symbols, or other practices. More often, however, it
results from global market capitalism’s drive to increase profits through rationality,
homogeneity, and parsimony.(Ritzer, 2011)
 Core concept of Cultural imperialism:

Based on theory of cultural imperialism the less

Examples of Cultural Imperialism
economically prominent cultures essentially import
examples of culture from wealthier countries mainly
from Western countries, which have the economic
means necessary to produce a majority of the world's
cultural media mostly via the global transmission of
media. As one society exerts cultural influence over
another, the latter society adopts its customs,
philosophies, worldviews and general ways of life.
Under the imposition of another culture, the “lesser”
culture is thought to lose some of its own cultural
identity in the process.

An examples of American cultural imperialism include brand name products, mass-produced

food and, perhaps of primary importance, video media. While this have some positive effects
showing women's rights or racial equality, potentially exerting a negative effect on the viewer's
perception of his own country or other non-American cultures.

Herbert Schiller's book “Communication and Cultural Domination” first coined the phrase in
1976, the concept of cultural imperialism is often used to refer to the idea of America exerting
cultural influence over the rest of the world, with a particularly powerful imposition on Third
World countries.

Critiques of Cultural Imperialism

The concept assumes that human beings lack of free will, describing them as mindlessly
assimilating what they absorb through media without retaining their own personal frame of
reference. Other critics note that while economic aspects of cultural imperialism can be
concretely measured, the cultural component is subjective and difficult or impossible to
quantify.

Suggested link:

https://www.theclassroom.com/meaning-cultural-imperialism-7841.html
Activity:

Write your answer based on your daily experience.

1.How global media affects your daily life?

2.Which is more beneficial to you ,the community without technology or community with
technology? Briefly explain your answer.

QUIZ: Complete Sentences

1.Media flows and contra-flows create part of the wider struggle over information flows which
define _________ in the global information economy.

2Control over the new Internet media is far from clear or resolved, it seems clear that in the
long run they, too, will succumb and the world of Internet media will become increasingly
_________________.

3. Under the imposition of another culture, the _______ culture is thought to lose some of its
own cultural identity in the process.

4. Economic aspects of cultural imperialism can be concretely measured, the ________ is

subjective and difficult or impossible to quantify.
Lesson 2 . The Globalization of Religion

b. Effects of Globalization to Religion

What is Globalization and Religion?

Globalization refers to the historical process by

which all the world's people increasingly come to live
in a single social unit. It implicates religion and
religions in several ways. From religious or
theological perspectives, globalization calls forth
religious response and interpretation. Yet religion
and religions have also played important roles in
bringing about and characterizing globalization.
Among the consequences of this implication for
religion have been that globalization encourages
religious pluralism. Religions identify themselves in
relation to one another, and they become less rooted
in particular places because of diasporas and
transnational ties. Globalization further provides
fertile ground for a variety of noninstitutionalized
religious manifestations and for the development of
religion as a political and cultural resource.

There are three paradigms regarding the role of religion in the globalization process:

The modernist

the post-modernist

the pre-modernist
EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION TO RELIGION

Many of the religions have crossed many boundaries, having been spread by immigrants,
refugees, aggressors, or by the founders of this country. Finally, cultural differences have
changed religious beliefs and traditions within religious practices. Our group simulation will
attempt to examine the globalization of religion by considering whether and how it might be
possible to improve the understanding and acceptance of diverse religious beliefs and cultural
differences. We will attempt to leverage such opportunities by engaging the advancement of
technology, communications, organizational strategies, economics, and sustainability in an
interdisciplinary approach. Four world religions have been selected for this simulation, and
although names have been changed, the religious profiles are from real world religions. The
issues intend to explore through this simulation are the cultural, political, economic, and
technological influences on the globalization of religion. Blanco., et.al,2006

Source:

Religion and its effects on Globalization . (2017, May 18). Retrieved June 16, 2020 from
https://phdessay.com/religion-effects-globalization/

The five major world religions are Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Judaism.

More than 70 percent of the world's population identify with one of these five religions around
the world. All of these religions have their own religious books and believe in life after death.

Eventually , Christianity is the world's biggest religion, with over 2.1 billion followers
worldwide. Christians follow the teachings of Jesus Christ in the Bible, and Christian holy days
include Easter and Christmas. The religion played an important role in the development of
Western civilization, and the three largest branches are the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox
Church and Protestantism.

Next is Islam , the second largest religion, with over 1.5 billion followers. The Islamic religion is
based on the teachings of the prophet of Muhammad in their holy book the Quran. Followers
of Islam are based primarily in the Asia Pacific region and in the Middle East.

Then , Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world and is the world's third largest
religion, boasting almost one billion followers. The Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita are
its most important religious scriptures.

And then the Buddhism has more than 350 million followers worldwide, and its followers
believe attaining nirvana is the ultimate goal.

Lastly, Judaism is one of the oldest monotheistic religions, and the religion's texts have
influenced Christianity and Islam.

Further reading:

https://www.reference.com/world-view/five-major-world-religions-9359711f4b5bc703 retrieved
June 16, 2020

The graph shows the major religions with the numbers of members as of 2017 -2019.
How distinct are these major religions?

In looking at these major belief systems and their views of God, we find tremendous diversity:

 Hindus acknowledge multitudes of gods and goddesses.

 Buddhists say there is no deity.
 New Age Spirituality followers believe they are God.
 Muslims believe in a powerful but unknowable God.
 Christians believe a loving God who created us to know him.

Suggested Link:
https://www.everystudent.com/features/connecting