Reading Analysis #6 "The Case of Contamination" (10/16/2011)

A)
It is not a surprise that people want to globalize while not losing their cultural identity. However, a society cannot pick and chose which elements to assimilate into their culture, globalization must be embrace as a whole- for its net benefits and net costs. Appiah addresses an interesting paradox "....Globalization can produce homogeneity. But Globalization is also a threat to homogeneity". However, societies respond to the homogeneity globalization produces by inventing new forms of difference. He also makes an extremely counter intuitive argument that cultures can and will flourish with globalization. He uses the example of globally watched television series. Unlike what many people think, empirical evidence shows that these global television shows do not impress foreign values/concepts on cultures. In fact each culture pulls different lessons from the same exact show to relate to their own culture.

B)

1. What elements of American culture have been influenced by globalization?
2. What is the difference between cosmopolitans and neofundamentalists?
3. Evaluate this argument: I think that it is true that a globalize persons somehow tends to loose part of their culture. (I argue this way since I live in China for 14 months and now I have come to the USA and I have been loosing things from my culture and getting used to new trends)

C)
This article explains the different effects of globalization on different cultures. It also defends globalization against claims that is destroys cultures, and moves us to toward homogeneity.