Reader Response Draft 2

In the article of "Globalisation of Culture Through the Media", Kraidy (2002) has evaluated the highly debated issue on cultural imperialism and its alternatives. He mentions about a debate if the West is unfairly imposing their culture on Asian countries through the media. The inequality of the flow of information exists and is due to initiation of new media technologies intensify the debate. Kraidy (2002) stated that globalisation is seen to be a better alternative than cultural imperialism as it depicts the ever-changing complex environment which includes the different stakeholders would weaken individual nation’s cultural unity.

In the article, Kraidy (2002) stated the different views of how free flow of information is more advantageous to the Western countries.

This is mainly due to the difference in the values and priorities held by Asian countries and the Western countries. For example, in the film-making industries, there have been clearly more bans in Asian countries such as Singapore and China as compared to western countries such as America. Majority of the reasons that these movies were banned was due to explicit and controversial images, violence and ideas that threatened the Asian’s more conservative values. With the promotion of free flow of information, this would encourage more Asian countries to lift movie bans and censorships facilitating the flow of information from the Western countries to Asian countries. This may seem to be advantageous to the West, as this would allow movies to not be restricted in anyway, allowing it to be marketed globally. However, I beg to differ.

The flow of information neutral and goes both ways, with the increased flow of information, Asian culture would be able to extend its influence and be encouraged in the West instead. Successful Asian classics such as Akira and Godzilla has been adapted and remade in the Western film-making scene. This may in turn help promote and strengthen Asian culture on a long-term basis. Therefore, it is one-sided to think that the free flow of information would only help expand the West influence on Asian countries. 

Reference:

Kraidy, M. M. (2002). Globalization Through the Media. Retrieved from

http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1333&context=asc_papers 

Krai

Reader Response Draft 1

In the article of "Globalisation of Culture Through the Media", Kraidy (2002) has evaluated the highly debated issue on cultural imperialism and its alternatives. He mentions about a debate if the West is unfairly imposing their culture on Asian countries through the media. The inequality of the flow of information exists and is due to initiation of new media technologies intensify the debate. Kraidy stated that globalisation is seen to be a better alternative than cultural imperialism as it depicts the ever-changing complex environment which includes the different stakeholders would weaken individual nation’s cultural unity.

In the article, Kraidy stated the different views of how free flow of information is more advantageous to the Western countries. This is mainly due to the difference in the values and priorities held by Asian countries and the Western countries. For example, in the film-making industries, there have been clearly more bans in Asian countries such as Singapore and China as compared to western countries such as America. Majority of the reasons that these movies were banned was due to explicit and controversial images, violence and ideas that threatened the Asian’s more conservative values. With the promotion of free flow of information, this would encourage more Asian countries to lift movie bans and facilitate the flow of ideas from Western countries to Asian countries. This would be seen advantageous to the West as the Western countries have already been exposed to many open ideas and thus being able to handle it better. Even though I may agree that the initial increased flow of information may help the western countries, both economically and politically, but this may in turn help promote and strengthen Asian values on a long-term basis and may in turn influence Western countries to adopt some Asian values.

Therefore, having the argument that globalisation is better as it reflects a weakening of the individual nation’s states is indeed valid and substantial. The hybridisation and exchanging of cultures and values from different countries would form a “global culture” which will weaken any culture, and the free flow of information will only increase the pace of globalisation.

(353 words) 

Summary (Reader's Response)

In the article of "Globalisation of Culture Through the Media", Kraidy (2002) has evaluated the highly debated issue on cultural imperialism and its alternatives. He mentions about a debate if the West is unfairly imposing their culture on Asian countries through the media. The inequality of the flow of information exists and is due to the initiation of new media technologies intensify the debate. Kraidy stated that globalisation is seen to be a better alternative than cultural imperialism as it depicts the ever-changing complex environment including the different stakeholders weakening cultural unity.

87 words

an event that has shaped my life...

From what I can remember, I have been volunteering since the age of 11. I started volunteering just like any Singaporean under the school's compulsory "Community Involvement Programme" (CIP).

Without having a real purpose in mind, I did volunteering because I had to. From picking up litter at Sungai Buloh Wetlands Reserve to clearing out weeds at Alexandra Hospital, I have always thought that volunteering was just limited to these activities. Even though I did not mind doing so, but I never really felt the joy of volunteering.

My views and attitude towards volunteering slowly changed over the years, but there was one particularly incident that changed my attitude towards volunteering.

I was assigned to the beneficiary, Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), during my term in Interact Club in Junior College. I was not sure of what to expect or how to communicate with this group of people as it was my first time.

When I visited the centre for the first time I was warmly greeted with smiles and cheers. Although it was the first meeting, the clients were filled with enthusiasm and joy with our presence. I was surprised that they were able to interact with strangers with such ease even though they had difficulties expressing themselves through speech. We visited them on a weekly basis, and they never failed to make my week better. Their optimistic spirit taught me to be more appreciative of those around me and to live every day courageously. It was their attitude towards living that motivated me to continue serving the community and to encourage people around me to do the same.

(273 words)