Key Issue #4: Why Does Globalization
of Popular Culture Cause Problems?
• Threat to Folk Culture
o Fear loss of folk culture
o Increased income = greater ability to buy materials of popular culture
o Loss of traditional values & increase of Western values (US, Western
Europe, etc. are the sources of pop culture)
o Cultural imperialism – dominance of one culture over another
① Loss of Traditional Values
• Asia & Africa – contrast of urban business/gov’t workers and rural farmers in terms
of clothing
• MDC clothing controversial in Middle East (wary of ties to West & impact on
traditional Islamic values, especially with women’s clothing)
• Young people in Middle East generally more moderate (jeans, tolerate Western
practices) – Ex. 1997 Iran election
② Changing Role of Women
• Male dominance & women subservience (raise kids, cook, clean)
• 1990s Taliban in Afghanistan – women could not work outside home, attend school,
drive car, seek health care, leave home unless fully covered and escorted by male
relative (beaten or killed if behaving “Western”)
• MDC more equitable to women (still some discrimination)
• Exploitation of women in LDCs by men in MDCs (paid marriages, prostitution)
Key Issue #4: Why Does Globalization
of Popular Culture Cause Problems?
• Threat to Folk Culture
③ Threats of Foreign Media Imperialism
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LDCs may perceive threat to autonomy b/c of media/news from foreign countries
dominate TV in LDCs (US news in Latin America, UK news in Africa, Japan news in
South & East Asia)
U.S. is source of 2/3 of entertainment programs in Europe
LDCs view as economic & cultural imperialism (display & promote Western
values/beliefs/customs)
1. Women’s roles
2. Social/economic progress
3. Sexual freedom & choice
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4. Glorification of youth
5. Stylized violence
Many Asian countries don’t carry MTV or they censor videos
Many LDCs prefer to emphasize family values and avoid controversy
④ Western Control of News Media
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Associated Press (AP) in US & Reuters in UK – supply most news & video coverage
worldwide
Expensive to gather news worldwide
LDCs – gov’t dominated news to control message, propaganda, bias
Many African & Asian countries do not support freedom of the press
U.S. – sensationalism, drama, focus on crime/disasters/war
BBC – considered most reliable, unbiased news source in world
Key Issue #4: Why Does Globalization
of Popular Culture Cause Problems?
• Environmental Impact of Popular Culture
① Modifying Nature
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Folk often grows out of environment but popular often modifies or controls
it
Golf – large courses; popular in FL & AZ due to retirees & vacationers
② Uniform Landscapes
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Pop culture landscapes look the same (product recognition & greater
consumption)
Fast food
o Franchises – same product, logos, advertising, architecture, practices
(recognition, low-cost, convenience, good for mobility, made for automobile)
o Buildings now more subdued & signs are free standing to facilitate re-use
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Uniformity in gas stations, motels, supermarkets, etc.
Clustering of stores/restaurants (malls, strip centers, interstate exit, major
roads/intersections, suburbs) – suburban sprawl, lack of local diversity
Global Diffusion of Uniform Landscapes
o U.S. chains around world (U.S. travelers, locals who wish to sample U.S.
culture)
o Japanese electronics & automobiles – car models similar worldwide since
1970s (used to vary by country/continent)
Key Issue #4: Why Does Globalization
of Popular Culture Cause Problems?
• Environmental Impact of Popular Culture
③ Negative Environment Impact
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Depletion of Natural Resources (Increased Demand)
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Petroleum/oil
Animal species (extinction due to skins, hunting for food or sport,
loss of habitat)
Meat consumption – strain on environment
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Inefficient – 2.2 lbs of beef needs 22 lbs of grain & 2.2 lbs of
chicken needs 6.6 lbs of grain
Pollution
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Solid, liquid, & gas waste must be absorbed by environment
Most visible is solid form (affects the landscape)
Folk culture can also harm environment (Ex. Native Americans
pre-Columbus – burning grasslands for hunting/farming,
deforestation, overhunting of species, high soil erosion)
MDCs have technologic ability in MDCs to control damage done
to environment (expensive & time-consuming)