GROUP 1

Global Media Cultures Presentation Overview

Definition of Terms

Culture

• Definition: A way of life manifested in both tangible objects and intangible ideas that individuals hold important.

Media Cultures

• Definition: Cultures that emerge due to the proliferation of mass media; represents the intersection of media and culture.

Introduction

• Global trade is significantly influenced by flows of information about markets, commodities, etc. (Jack Lule).

• Globalization boosts cultural exchange, impacting how societies interact and pursue their aspirations (Giddens et al., 2017).

• Culture includes:

  • Material Culture: Tangible objects like clothing and infrastructure.

  • Non-material Culture: Intangible aspects like beliefs and traditions.

Culture and Communication

• Expressed through symbols, language; aids communication among members of society.

• Encompasses values, beliefs, practices, and norms that establish roles and expectations.

Cultural Socialization

• Cultural Socialization: Learning from homes/communities through shared experiences.

• Cultural Exchange: Encountering new cultures through interactions with different groups.

  • Can lead to:

    • Acculturation: Adoption of new values/practices (accommodation vs. assimilation).

Globalization and Culture

• Globalization has always centered around humanity's desire to explore and expand.

• Cultural Hybridization: Combines global and local cultures through interaction.

• Appadurai's concept of scapes highlights unique cultural realities shaped by global flows:

  1. Ethnoscapes: Movement of people.

  2. Technoscapes: Interlinked global technology.

  3. Financescapes: Movement of money across nations.

  4. Mediascape: Rapid production & transfer of information.

  5. Ideoscapes: Movement of political ideas.

Cultural Integration

• Amid global flows, cultures integrate and interpenetrate, giving rise to hybrids ( glocalization).

• Cultural Convergence: Globalization leads to a more homogeneous global culture.

  • Cultural Imperialism: Dominant cultures influence others.

  • Deterritorialization: Cultures become less tied to their geographical origins.

Media Cultures

• Media defined as "a means of conveying something, a channel of communication" (Lule).

• Key Eras in Globalization and Media:

  1. Oral communication

  2. Script

  3. Printing press

  4. Electronic media

  5. Digital media

Globalization and Religion

Lesson Objectives for Religion

• Revisit the concept of religion.

• Explain globalization's influence on religious practices and beliefs.

• Analyze religion's relationship with global conflicts and peace.

Definitions of Religion

• Religion: A unified system of beliefs and practices associated with the sacred.

• Secularization: The diminishing role of religion in society.

• Globalization of Religion: The blending of universal and local religious beliefs.

Understanding Religion

• Over 84% of people worldwide identify with a religious group.

• Durkheim's view: Religion unites people into a single moral community.

• Three Essential Elements of Religion:

  1. Observable phenomena studied objectively.

  2. Organized and ordered systems.

  3. Sacredness as a collective social process.

Personal Perspectives on Religion

• Individuals may affiliate with religions for different reasons:

  • Seeking social connections or stress relief (Pargament).

  • Viewing religion as a means of moral behavior or spiritual experience.

Religion in the Age of Globalization

• Examining where religion fits within the fast-paced globalization of various forms.

• Debate on secularization vs. the active persistence of religious value.

Cultural Pluralism and Tolerance

• Cultural diversity arises from globalization as beliefs transverse borders.

• Cultural Pluralism: Smaller groups maintain cultural practices while coexisting with broader norms.

• Importance of tolerance for religious practices is crucial for societal peace.

Religious Fundamentalism

Definitions

• Defined as a belief in one religious truth, opposing opposing forces.

• Varies from non-violent intolerance to violent intolerance.

Inter-Civilizational Conflicts

• Huntington's theory: Post-Cold War conflicts may be driven by cultural differences rather than political or economic factors.

Glocalization of Religion

• Universal religions interact with local traditions leading to new forms.

• Historically, major religions spread through cultural exchanges; these processes now accelerate.

Forms of Glocalization

1. Vernacularization: Ties religious universalism to local languages.

2. Indigenization: Blends universal religious practices with local customs.

3. Nationalization: Integrates religious beliefs within national context.

4. Transnationalization: Religious practices spread globally.