In my final I’m going to explore the interactions and concepts (businesses, philosophies, products, popular media, etc) that are components of imperialism, and ultimately globalization. However, this influence this isn’t a one-way street; there isn’t an uncompromising imposition of one's ideas on the other. It's a process of (mutual) adaptation that melds everything (imperial/colonial force, colonized, opposing forces, etc) into an entity that is more akin to the colonizing force than not.
Throughout the semester we've read stories about exchanges and conflict. Ultimately this leads to strengthened resistance or capitulation on one side. Regardless of the path, this results in adaptation. Either the "invading" force learns from this situation and adapts or the "invaded" party begins a process of adaptation. This system is less obvious than violent conflict, but it can be argued that cultural influence and adaptation is more effective in establishing imperialism/colonization and globalization. Through successive waves of adaptation, not "Wave of Mutilation [youtube.com]," interconnected global communities and identities take shape.
Works Cited
Jin, Ha. "After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town." The Bridegroom. New York: Pantheon Books, 2000. Print.
Naipaul, V. The Mimic Men. New York: Vintage International, 2001. Print.
Kraidy, Marwan. "Hybridity in Cultural Globalization." Communication Theory. 12.3 (2002): 316-39. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.
This article touches on several topics outside the scope of my argument, but it does touch on how Western culture influence other cultures and those non-Western cultures influence Western Culture
Power, Carla, et al. "Not the Queen's ENGLISH. (cover story)." Newsweek (Atlantic Edition) 145.10 (2005): 62. MasterFILE Premier. EBSCO. Web. 4 Dec. 2009.
This article explores how English is seen as a necessity for success; however, there are more non-native English speakers than native and the non-native speakers are having an influence on the evolution (adaptation) of the English Language. Adoption of English and eventual influence on original force.
