Reader response

Hickman (2007) analyzed the impacts of media globalization in “The Effects of Media Globalization”. The article describes how media globalization brings numerous benefits such as allowing communication to take place worldwide. However, despite of its advantages, media globalization also has its drawbacks. Freedom of speech of local media is limited by media globalization, because only a few wealthy associations control most of the media. Media globalization has also heightened competition in the open market, which has shaped the media into pursuing profit instead of truth. Likewise, the free market principle applied to media proves to be detrimental when it is exposed to strong consumerist desires. Therefore, it is evident that media was created so powerfully that it has influenced its creators.

I strongly agree that the wealthy minority is dominating the majority individuals’ voices, which results in strong consumerist desires around the world. The article states that “The wealthiest countries have the resources to produce the most media; therefore, the media delivered to the global audience will promote the culture of the wealthiest countries.” and that “The media falls victim to strong consumerist desires, which they encourage American citizens to exhibit. Globalization has allowed us to share our culture of greed with the world”.

According to Sorren (2011), Disney’s productions became a major player in global consumerist culture, and the first targets of its dominance are children. Etzioni (2012) also indicated that consumption has turned into a social disease of consumerism, especially in America.

Similarly, I only realized the level of greed and consumerism in Singapore when I went to Cambodia. I realized how contented and happy the villagers (despite living in a less developed country) were as compared to the competitive and materialistic Singapore.

In conclusion, I hope that countries will be aware of how consumerist values are creeping in unconsciously into our cultures through the media, and will be able to make conscious efforts to constantly renew our minds and learn to appreciate the little things, instead of indulging in greed and materialism.

References

Etzioni, Amitai. (2012, 4 April). The crisis of American Consumerism. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amitai-etzioni/the-crisis-of-american-co_b_1855390.html

Hickman, Mary. (2007). The effects of media globalization. Radford University. Retrieved from http://www.radford.edu/mahickman/portfolio/The Effects of Media Globalization.doc

Sorren M. (2011, 26 August). How Disney instills greed and consumerism in babies as young as three months old. Retrieved from http://www.alternet.org/story/152190/how_disney_instills_greed_and_consumerism_in_babies_as_young_as_three_months_old

E-learning summary assignment: The effects of media globalisation (Final edited version)

Media globalisation brings numerous benefits such as allowing information to be shared and communication to take place worldwide. This helps to close cultural gaps but also worsens foreign relations. However, despite its advantages, media globalisation also has its drawbacks.

Freedom of speech of the local media is limited by media globalisation because only a few wealthy associations control most of the media. These associations maximise their profits greatly through media globalisation but the American middle class’s income still shows no improvement. Eventually, the wealthy minority’s lifestyle of consumerism is promoted and has influenced the world’s culture. The American government has also been reducing its control over the media, which will upset the democratic society because the media can diminish the voices of its people. 

Media globalisation has also heightened competition in the open market, which has shaped the media into pursuing profit instead of truth. As a result, public interest has been abandoned journalistically because of advertiser bias or interest in terms of media content. Media globalisation also produces changes in different roles of the society. In conclusion, it is evident that media was so powerfully created that it has influenced its creators.

Hickman, Mary. (2007). The effects of media globalization. Radford University. Retrieved from http://www.radford.edu/mahickman/portfolio/The Effects of Media Globalization.doc

Scary oil's summary

The highest risk in the present international economy is the inflation of oil prices. For instance, a barrel of Bent crude increased from $100 in 2010 to $125 now. The tension between Israel and Iran caused a significant increased in oil prices in 2008. Furthermore, the global recession that took place lately was worsened by the escalation of oil prices. Iran reacted to this by intensifying pressures in the Gulf. Iran’s development of nuclear weapons was inhibited by the latest attacks on Israeli embassies. In response to that, fails force was utilized. The US went against Iran by offering bunker-buster bombs and refueling planes to Israel. The two armies are also conducting combined military training. The influx of oil prices could potentially lead to US facing a global slowdown. This could be turned into a recession if a military conflict occurs, which is highly possible because tension in the middle east have not been declining.

Presently, oil is now above the 100 barrel. Oil prices will be pushed much higher, even though there is little growth in advancing countries and even if there is no military conflict. This might cause a global recession.

Tutorial Summary (Week 4)

Summary 1

In this short excerpt from David Crystal’s English as a Global Language, take note of the way that power relationships rather than the number of speakers influenced Latin   language use.

“Latin became an international language throughout the Roman Empire, but this was not because the Romans were more numerous than the peoples they subjugated. They were simply more powerful.”

My paraphrase

Latin became the main language used in Rome not because of the people’s size, but their dominance.

Summary 2

“In any one nation, there are both very wealthy and very poor individuals and families. When sociologists conduct research on these disparities, they frequently analyze secondary data that originally were collected by the World Bank and the United Nations. These data focus on quality-of-life indicators such as wealth; income; life expectancy; health; sanitation; the treatment of women; and education for high-income, middle-income and low income nations.”

Source: Kendall, D. (2004). Social problems in a diverse society (3^rd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

My summary

A research conducted by World Bank and the United Nations revealed that every nation has both rich and poor people.

Summary 3

“Why a language becomes a global language has little to do with the number of people who speak it. It is much more to do with who those speakers are. Latin became an international language throughout the Roman Empire, but this was not because the Romans were more numerous than the peoples they subjugated. They were simply more powerful. And later, when Roman military power declined, Latin remained for a millennium as the international language of education, thanks to a different sort of power – the ecclesiastical power of Roman Catholicism.”

Source: Crystal, D. (1997). English as a global language. Cambridge: Cambridge University

Press.

My Summary

Latin became the native language of Rome not because of the speakers’ numbers, but their influence. Latin remained as the main language because of Roman Catholicism, even though its military authority ceased.

Summary 4

Leake, J., & Warren, G. (2009, April 12). Facebook fans do worse in exams. The Sunday Times. Retrieved from http://www.timesonline.co.uk

My summary

The consequence of overusing Facebook is performing badly in school.