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Essay / The Effect of Globalization and Americanization on Mass Media
Even though the impacts of globalization on mass media can be viewed positively, not all of them can be considered beneficial. Skeptical globalists take a different perspective on globalization, believing that the process is not as global as we would like to think. They say the phenomenon is a myth covering up the imbalance in the world where some people have more control than others. Skeptics insist that the side effects of globalization on society are far greater than its positive impacts. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Globalization has made mass media a vehicle through which cultural imperialism can occur. Through media exports from dominant states, they have the ability to communicate their ideas and agendas to the rest of the world. Cultural imperialism manifests itself today through the media, particularly mainstream and mass media. This is the domination of one culture over another (less powerful society) and some suspect that this will "contribute to a one-way transmission of ideas and values that will result in the displacement of indigenous cultures." (Santos, 2001, pp. 43-48). The rest of the world will abandon its traditional values, fashions and styles and lose its cultural identity when exposed only to Western media. Furthermore, the media acts as a socialization agent helping to form and transmit social values and norms which, in fact, help unify society. For example, the spread of Western ideals of beauty, namely being blonde, light-eyed, tall and thin, with long legs, blond hair, large breasts and full lips, influenced the decline of the local idea of beauty. Using Kenya's curvaceous beauty ideals, the mass media has proven to be a catalyst in the cause of media imperialism which hinders national growth. Media imperialism goes hand in hand with cultural imperialism, in which developing countries believe that Western lifestyles and ideas are superior and therefore wish to imitate them. This belief, coupled with the over-concentration of Western media, results in locals consuming most of their content from the West. As a result, they leave out their own artists and programs. By not promoting their own media and providing minimal support to local artists, it hinders the development of the country's film, publishing and music industries. This could also have economic consequences for the country, as companies in developed countries earn higher revenues from the sale of their media products in developing countries. All this while nothing contributes to their economy. Media imperialism can change real life and manipulate the image of other countries in the eyes of society. Media imperialism advances agendas using agenda framing theory, framing certain elements in a way that encourages certain interpretations while discouraging others. This is reinforced by the constant and frequent linking of specific characteristics, behaviors and histories to certain countries/cultures. For example, take Hollywood, the dominant player in the film industry. Films like SALT, Air Force One and Rocky IV are good examples of how Hollywood frequently resorts to national stereotypes to represent..