In "Globalisation of culture through the media (2002)", Kraidy presented the debatable issue that media has been used as a platform to promote globalisation which is a basis of cultural imperialism. Kraidy provided a few perspectives of globalisation, which included some researchers’ concerns over how the West has unfairly propagated her own culture. Kriady concluded that the globalised world is a hybrid of all different cultures and the media has further enhanced it.
Kraidy draws the conclusion that "media is not a process of complete homogenisation, but rather one where cohesion and fragmentation coexist". He mentions media is a main tool used to strengthened culture hybridisation. I agree with his assertions because I recognise the importance of media in binding the world as one as we get increasingly integrated and connected.
Language is an example of cultural hybridisation. Many argued that half of the 7,000 languages spoken would extinct in the next century as English gradually becomes the common language around the world. (Moore, 2014) However, I feel that while some native languages disappear, we should not neglect the new languages that have emerged. For instance, languages such as Hinglish, Chinglish, Japlish have been introduced and they all stemmed from a mixture of English and their respective native languages. This is also evident in Singapore, where we have our local version known as 'Singlish' - a hybrid of local dialects, Chinese and English. Singaporean prefers to use this language to communicate and it is seen as integral to our identity. (BBC News, 2001)
Kraidy fails to address the reason behind culture imperialism, which is useful in explaining why developing countries are concerned that globalisation of cultures is unjust due to western dominance. I would elaborate further than him as i think globalisation is not all about westernisation but also retaining one's traditions. Emerging countries such as India has been are not blindly adopting Western ideas as they seek to modernise its country. (Modi, N. Chief Minister, 2013) I suggest that developing nations while aspiring to be like the West economically, they should still preserve its culture; its identity.
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References
Moore, O. (2014, January 23). Thinking globalisation. The Royal Gazette. Retrieved from http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140123/ISLAND07/140129896
Singapore attack on 'Singlish'. (2001, April 01). BBC News. Retrieved from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/1261986.stm
Modi, N. Chief Minister, (2013). We need modernisation, not westernisation. Retrieved from website: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/we-need-modernisation-not-westernisation-narendra-modi-391967
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