Kevin M. Otto
Art 309
Section 502
Globalization: A Process or Result
Globalization, as stated by Jan Nederveen Pieterse "Does globalization involve a trend towards human integration? Growing worldwide interconnectedness or the "shrinking world" and the trend toward the overall widening scale of human cooperation would point in this direction." (2) The works in discussion will show commendable ways of how globalization functions and how artist have responded. Through this it will become undeniably relevant that globalization functions differently due to boarders that limit migration of people and ideas. National borders are often meant to contest this concept of globalization; however, borders are often quite difficult to determine and enforce. One of the underlying forces that determines how globalization spreads in by way of how the boarder functions. Borders often move due to globalization; cultural influences, national citizens, and traditional values often transcend these national borders.
Boarders are not air tight and these items find their way through the boarders since the boarders cannot contain everything. Cultural influences can surpass boarders through the use of the media. Stated by Roland Robertson, "Globalization refers...[to the] conjunction of different forms of life." (1) The forms of life being religion, values and cultural differences that mix together. Often problematic, the blending of cultures, and different worldly ideals can lead to opposition in globalization and the false impression of defining borders. According to Jan Nederveen Pieterse, "...globalization and migration are twin subjects." (2) These two conditions are interdependent of one another; globalization influences migration and vice versa.
History has been built upon the distinction of national identity; shaping the individual through globalization, identity can now be separated from a nation. Distinct segregated groups of people have identified each other as separate nationalities; one would associate him/herself with those who share the same physical qualities. Historically famous individuals are associated with this national identities in order to place them in the correct situation and historical context. Globalization has forced people to look at these other cultures being distinctive, therefore associating or grouping the members of those cultures together. Settling across the globe, the cultures that were once originally isolated from each other are beginning to intermingle. Due to a rise in technological advancements regarding transportation and communication, nations are able to advance more swiftly. More commonly known as hybridization, this progression is less distinguishable in some individuals, yet more apparent in others.
Some people do classify themselves as having hybrid identities, unable to identify themselves with one particular culture. Looking at the film I'm British But... it becomes apparent that these individuals associate themselves with the culture or cultures of their choosing or not at all. This all comes down to an individual basis because the larger group of British Asian youth cannot decide how they treat their hybrid identities. People may choose to accept their hybrid identities and make it known while others seek to not stand out in that manner thus becoming less distinguishable within a crowd. According to Kemal Atatürk, "We should think of humanity as a body and of a nation as one of its limbs. Pain in the fingertip affects the whole system." (2) Metaphorically speaking, one nation in distress can affect the status of another nation at a given point of time.
Regarding the case of the British-Asian Youth, two cultures which are worlds apart have joined together through British imperialism going hand-in-hand with the presence of the East Indian Trading Company. The British colonization of India for over 100 years forced the two cultures to influence or in other words encroach upon one another. According to the Britannica Encyclopedia, "At its apogee, around 1920, the British empire was the largest ever known, reputed to cover a quarter of the world's land area, and a fifth of its population." (3) British imperialism and other colonial powers created a precedence for other nations to begin exchange of ideas, goods, and technological concepts. With regards to globalization: efficiency, effectiveness, and technological progression have improved over time.
The film I'm British, But... functions as "accented cinema" which references post-colonialism, the idea that individuals who were born in Britain, of who immigrated from India. Cultures must either come together to retain one's original cultural traditions, choose a single cultural identity, or choose not to conform to Britain's nationality. "My biggest fear about my culture is that it may fade out. The western culture comes in and dilutes it," (4) said a young British-Pakistani woman in the film I'm British, But.... There is a genuine interest in preserving the roots and cultural heritage aforementioned by this quote. However, the fear regarding the loss of diverse cultures after increased hybridization is becoming more prevalent across the world. The increase in the progression of globalization causes many to believe that the presence of a single homogenized culture will become a reality. This film raises awareness, and gives the British-Asian community a chance to have their voices heard.
The British-Asian youth sought out their own cultural identity by mixing their traditional music with the British and Western music. This blending of these two different forms of music was called Bhangra music. By combining the two kinds of music, the British-Asian Youth "[make] people appreciate, and force them to dance to...[their] music," (4) said a mixed-cultured Bhangra hybrid artist from the film I'm British, But.... Spliced into this film, a Bhangra band performed on top of a roof top. This was modeled after the final performance by the Beatles; ironically speaking, the band is speaking out against British imperialism by using an actual British band's performance style. Not only did this Bhangra band use the same performance style, but they also wore Western outfits. They are using their music as a form of expression to express their resistance to conforming to British imperialism to speak to new hybrid culture of the British and South Asian.
Mona Hatoum's Map of the World (1999-2007), created with marbles was placed upon a wooden floor to show the instability of the world. Due to the placement of the marbles on the wooden floor. With one fell swoop, the marbles or borders could be swept away. Mona Hatoum could have chosen a more stable surface, such as carpet. Instead, she chose to use a slick surface to allow for the movement of the marbles. The marbles are a metaphor for globalization taking place through migration. The flexibility of the marbles speaks towards the migration of people and ideas on a global scale. The fact that all of these marbles are uniform, they do not distinguish amongst national borders. Seeing as how there are no national borders distinguished, this Map of the World shows the world as a single unifying figure. (7)
Mona Hatoum's Globe (2007)
Mona Hatoum's Globe (2007), created a spherical grid representation of the world. The artist displayed this representation of the world on a tilt congruent with the actual tilt of the Earth. This tilt is what helps identify that it is a globe to the viewer. The grid represents longitude and latitude, which allows for a deeper understanding of the piece. Mona Hatoum chose not to represent any land masses, continents, or borders. Seeing as how there are no actual borders, the world is shown as a single unified entity. The art piece shows a theoretical representational result of extensive globalization, leaving a single amalgamated culture.
The question that arises from the representation regarding Mona Hatoum's Globe (2007), is whether or not uniform culture is positive or negative. A supplemental argument could be concluded from this question of what will be the driving force behind globalization that could lead to such an outcome. From a positive standpoint, this could be seen as a free movement of people, ideas, culture, and advancements. A worldwide community supporting each other making positive use of the principles of globalization, there would be an increase in the understanding and functionality of the world as a whole. Hybridization allows for dominant cultures to impose their beliefs on other cultures. An imperialistic culture who imposes their beliefs onto all other cultures would eliminate the diversity in the world. (8)
Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night, a film about outsourcing to a call center in India, speaks about identity and how globalization has the ability to influence gender roles. This film shows how call center workers have had to adapt their lives to suit the purpose of a global economy. Call centers are one of the most sought after jobs in India's society; they must go through extensive schooling in order to eliminate their accents. Such jobs are dependent upon eliminating accents to such an extent that they learn how to imitate accents of other languages from the countries they have been outsourced from. One case mentioned within the film showed a man with a strong North-Indian accent and was not hired due to his inability to eliminate his accent.
Call center workers have had to create new identities for themselves, which included new names and a back story to make the customers feel more comfortable with them. Giving the workers a transnational identity, the call center workers are able to interact with people throughout the world. The combination of technology with communication has made it possible for the call center workers to speak with people who they may never normally have met to conduct business transactions. Due to prior British occupation of India, the English language already had a foundation in India which made it easier for call centers to outsource to predominantly English speaking countries. The English language, being from a separate culture, has effectively influenced their culture.
Gender roles have been effectively influenced by globalization. The women of India are traditionally not allowed outside of their homes after dark. Globalization has allowed women to be out after dark in order to go to work in the call centers. This major cultural change has been made from the outsourcing that had taken place in India. The call centers in India actually have an advantage for calling their customers due to the time difference between India and the United States. This allows for a perfect 24 hour window for which the workers that are outsourced can pick up right where another worker has left off on the other side of the globe. According to one of the employees in the film Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night, "There is no time lag...there is almost a 12 hour difference." (5)
"Thus, hybridity is the antidote to essentialist notions of identity and ethnicity," (6) mentioned in Globalization as Hybridization. The aforementioned quote mentions how identity and ethnicity can be applied to globalization through the process of hybridization. Hybridization is a means for globalization to take place. National borders are not as clearly defined as one would expect in determining exact nationalities or cultures. Globalization transcends borders by bringing together multiple cultures.
Works Cited
(1) Robertson, Roland. "Globalization as a Problem."Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture (Published in association with Theory, Culture & Society). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications Ltd, 1992. 8-31. Print.
(2) Pieterse, J. N.. "Globalization and human integration: we are all migrants." Futures 32.5 (2000): 125-135. Print.
(3) "British Empire." Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1994-2010. 18 Mar. 2010.
(4) I'm British, But.... Gurinder, Chadha. 1990. DVD.
(5) Nalini by Day, Nancy by Night. Sonali, Gulati. 2005. DVD.
(6) Pieterse, J. N.. Globalization as Hybridization. Netherlands: Institute of Social Studies, 1993. Print.
(7) Hatoum, Mona, Globe, 2007
(8) Hatoum, Mona, Map of the World, 1999-2007
