Ch. 3
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Chapter 3: Identity, the Media, and Communication Technology
Guiding Question: How is Identity Affected by Opportunities to Communicate with People
around the World?
1) Have a look at the Cartoon on page 66 (Fig3-1) of your textbook and answer the following
questions:
a) What communication technologies are represented by the plugs and cords used in the
cartoon? How do people use these technologies to connect to other people around the
world?
b) How are the technologies shown already becoming out of date?
c) Why do you suppose the cartoonist left out geographic features such as land masses
and oceans?
d) How do you think interconnected communication technologies are affecting cultural
diversity and people’s cultural identity?
2) Record your ideas:
Have your ideas on globalization changed since the beginning of the course?
If so, why? How?
3) What are some ways that people use communication technology to stay in touch?
4)
a) Read the FYI on page 68. What is one consequence of this information?
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b) Read page 68 of Exploring Globalization, including “Voices’ and “FYI”. When finished
reading, create a web diagram of all the people with whom you communicate using
various forms of technology. Use a different color to show each kind of connection and
longer lines to indicate longer distances.
5) Complete the following chart after reading page 69.
The Digital Divide
How communication technologies
are widening the digital divide
How communication technologies
are narrowing the digital divide
Effects of Internet Use on Identity
Positive
Negative
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6) Based on your reading of pages 70 and 71 why do you think APTN has been successful? Try
to connect this to the idea of identity.
7) Briefly summarize the following ideas of Marshall McLuhan.
Medium is the message
Global village
8) Have a look at the cartoon on page 73, answer the questions below the cartoon with a
partner and record your discussion.
9) Read about Techno-Isolation on page 75. Do you think technology promotes social isolation
or actually helps you to interact with others?
10) Overall what do you think the effect of technology has been on cultural diversity? Has it
been generally positive or negative?
11) Where have you got most of your information about the events of September 11, 2001?
Be specific.
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12) Read the headlines at the bottom of page 77. How might these headlines have influenced
readers’ point of view on Arar’s identity?
13) What were the goals of the Make Poverty History-Live 8 concert?
14) Read Angelique Kidjo’s point of view on page 80. Do you agree with her assessment of the
situation? If it was up to you, would you have had more African entertainers at Live 8?
Explain.
15) What is the cartoonist (figure 3-16) saying about how media coverage affects aid to disaster
victims?
16) What does his comment say about the people receiving the media messages? Is it a fair
comment?
17) Give a specific example of how the universalization of pop culture can lead to cultural
homogenization.
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18)
19) Does the dominance of the American media exert a positive or negative influence on
diversity?
Positive (+)
Negative (-)
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20) Read page 84 on manga and anime culture and values. In what ways might these products
influence diversity and shape identity?
21) To what extent do they reflect diversity – and a collective identity- among fans of anime
and manga?
22) What do you think about the laws to protect Korean culture described on page 85? Are
they a good idea?
23) How does what you choose to watch on television affect your point of view on diversity?