Imported Culture/Importance of Culture/Cultural
Implications
Overall Question:
Could the Internet become a tool for cultural imperialism by one dominant culture and
how could it be used instead as a tool for the expression, enrichment of and
communication between a diversity of cultures?
Limitations that the Technology Leans Towards:
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The Internet is increasingly leaning towards becoming a vehicle for
commercial purposes
These commercial uses tend to promote the dominant American “Coca Cola”
culture across the globe.
This form of the dominant culture is threatening to take over older and diverse
cultures and languages across the globe, especially as it seeks out and appeals
to the youth.
Because the commercial interests build upon and disseminate through older
cultural technologies such as TV, film, magazines, computer games, music,
etc., as well as through the Internet, the overall effect builds up a greater
intensity and momentum.
Because the Internet technology is widespread and is disseminated through a
web format, there is no one broadcast channel, which means that it is more
difficult to promote critical thinking and analysis through one source.
The variety of the Net can also lean toward dangerous and racist modes of
knowledge that can be accessed by young students without supervision.
Benefits that the technology provides
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Because there is no one “broadcaster”, varied cultures and voices can be found on
the Net.
This allows other cultures, countries and languages to speak for themselves and to
provide voice to their own cultural heritages and viewpoints.
Because the Net is not based on a single broadcast model, and acquiring access is
relatively inexpensive, it is possible for almost all (except those without the basic
technology) to be equal partners. This provides unique opportunities for cultures
and schools across the globe to communicate and learn about each other thus
promoting inter-cultural understanding and ultimately peace.
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Because of the interactivity of the technology, people can communicate by e-mail
with older media technologies i.e. TV, newspapers, etc. thus having an
opportunity to ensure that varied cultural perspectives are covered.
Because the technology is not limited to schools and businesses, students can now
explore learning about other cultures and perspectives from their own homes: this
means that they are not limited to the teachers’ views and knowledge.
The technology allows people from different countries of the world (especially
those in former communist and present day communist) to access vast resources
of information and to interact with others, thus enriching their own cultures and
political systems.
Recommendations
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It is important to remember that the dominant “Coca Cola” culture discussed
above, does not reflect the American culture, where there is also a diversity of
cultures and viewpoints: it is important to encourage the dominant media to
reflect this diversity and to use its resources to promote cultural diversity across
the globe.
It is vital that as educators, we use the resources of the Net to encourage
intercultural understanding and international communication amongst young
people across the globe.
We need to provide support for poor countries so that they might use this
technology to improve education and also participate in this international forum.
It is vital that we do everything possible to retain and enrich existing cultures and
languages, despite the dominant culture influence of the new medias. It is
important to retain a historical perspective, where for centuries cultures of the
world have communicated and been enriched by knowledge from other cultures.
We must not lose this traditional knowledge and must do all to retain this rich
resource. New media technologies should be used to help us in this endeavour.