Georgina Gonsalves- Core Post #5

Globalization- referencing 'Thinking Globally' by Michael Curtin

I found Curtin's analysis really interesting and eye-opening. Given that I am not majoring in cinema studies, I have not given much thought to the globalization of media and what elements contribute to the media industries tendencies across other cultures. I felt this article really encouraged me to think broadly, outside of the box of Hollywood media I have been immersed in my entire life as an American. It was really an interesting article that expanded my thinking and gave me a better understanding of other cultures and their involvement in media and why some cultures gravitate toward American media while others create their own and the different reasons that contribute to each cultures media preferences. 

I did not find it surprising that American media oversaturated the media industry in the past. Hollywood media is becoming less dominant overtime as cultures, including our own here in America, increase exposure to other cultures, incorporate diversity, and transform politically overtime. As Curtin said in his article, there are no pure cultures, dynamic adaptations are made through culmination of interactions with other cultures and create hybrid forms of media.  

I was particularly interested and agree with Chin-Chuan Lee, referenced by Curtin in his analysis of correspondence between economic domination and media domination. His example of Canada, Taiwan and the People's Republic of China's media provided me with a very strong and in-depth understanding of different circumstantial elements that play into each countries' media. One reason I found very interesting why Hollywood media may be favored in some countries was because of Hollywood's "emphasis on aspiration and agency" in narratives that may have "positive effects among audiences living in oppressive societies." The theme of freedom is associated with America, as we operate on a democracy, so it is understandable why some countries may favor this media to serve as inspiration. This is what Curtin means when he questions "Is Hollywood media 'against the grain?", as it does not reflect values and life of their own country but is favored for other reasons. (Before reading further I did not fully understand this question, with this I realized it is difficult to think outside of this box we are in in American media culture  and it is truly a much bigger world than we realize, I have only known American culture so exposure to outside perspectives and media cultures is really eye-opening for me.) In contrast to 'against the grain' media, as a country PRC is less developed, yet is most detached from American media, though they rely the least on American media, the country is authoritarian. This supports the concept that Curtin concludes, that globalization should not be thought of in superficial terms of Western hegemony, but is much more complex than that, with contributing and dependent elements such as interactivity with other cultures, political preferences, locality; and most importantly "economic, institutional, technological and ideological elements."

This article was very helpful in terms of broadening my understanding of elements that contribute to a countries media industry and how the dynamic adaptations from cultural interactivity contribute to globalization.