Essay 4 - Allison Cuculich - Musicians Join Forces with Advertising

Musicians Join Forces with Advertising

As the channels through which music is spread around the globe are constantly changing, there comes the need to adapt to the popular medium of the moment.  Not only are the music industries worried about missing the current trend to gain world-wide appeal of their musicians, but that if they do miss that hot method that their music will be left high and dry without any audience.  Such pressure to keep on the medium that has the potential to make names out of these up and coming musicians has led to the pop successes we see globally and the dismemberment of the ones who did not jump aboard, and thus most of us have absolutely no idea who they are.  The Internet continues to be a strong force in the corner of the music industry, but there is the pessimism that the Internet is soon on its way out.  What is the next method that industries and musicians are turning to?  Commercials.

The thought of musicians using their songs and image to sell products was once thought of as the ?ultimate sellout? (Block, 1999, ¶ 3).  Most musicians are encouraged not to think about the idea of selling out, and this of course is stemming from their record label.  As of 1999, commercials first peaked its head into the music market as an untapped market to promote new albums (Block, ¶ 3).  That trend continued to fade, as most do, but is currently back on the rise.  Today, musicians are not confined to what products they agree to release their music to.  We hear these songs in the commercials for cars, mp3 players, brands of soda, and computers to name a few.  It would appear that the music industry has found a niche, if only for the time being.

The concept of power-geometry is important to how and why media companies make the decisions they do.  The record company along with their musician has the power, along with the company whose product they are licensing their music to, and are the ones who start the movement of the product and music hand-in-hand.  Although these are the groups that are distributing the communication, they are only as successful as the audience perceives them to be.  Power-geometry puts a heavy weight on the energy that happens as a result of the flow of the communication (Massey, 1993, p. 61).  This concept places the emphasis on the connection between the way audiences view these commercials and decide to judge the music. 

The correlation between the commercial and the audience?s feelings on the song, product, and even decision to lease their music to advertising all play into that power shift that occurs while transporting media.  This is very similar to the ?ideoscapes? that Appadurai discusses, except that the commercials these musicians are associating themselves with do not have any political agenda (1990, p. 300).  These decisions of the industry are trying to predict which medium audiences will be more likely to have a positive link (Appadurai, 1990, p. 300). 

While it is difficult (if not impossible) to guess which approach will spread music on a worldwide scale, that is exactly what music industries are attempting to do.  Connections are being made with almost every variety of media in hopes of profitable outcomes.  The major pursuit is to reach audiences that they did not anticipate to reach, and in multiple areas of the world (Dolfsma, 2005, ¶ 26).

References

Appadurai, A. (1990). Disjuncture and difference in the global economy. Public Culture,
    2(2) 1-24.
Block, V. (1999). Advertising ties embraced by music houses, artists. Advertising Age,
    70(27) 1-24.
Dolfsma, W. (2005). How will the music industry weather the globalization storm?
    Retrieved June 13, 2007 from the First Monday Web site:
    http://www.firstmonday.org/issues/issue5_5/dolfsma/
Massey, D. (1993). Power-geometry and a progressive sense of place. Ch. 4 in Bird,
    John, et al. (editors), Mapping the futures: Local cultures, global change. 59-69.

Posted at 10:01PM Jun 14, 2007 by CUCULICH, ALLISON in General  |  Comments[3]

Essay #3 - Jeff Jacobson - Will American Media Wipe Out British Culture?

One concern that gets raised at times about media globalization is that the newly global media will wipe out local cultures, creating a singular global culture. However, recent (and not-so-recent) work has not borne this out. It seems that local cultures shape the way people view the global media they receive. As I continue to look at British media, it becomes apparent that the British style of journalism is very different from America?s. British culture continues to cherish their traditional, more colorful brand of journalism over a more homogenized global style.

Our studies this week have shown that global media do not lead to a global culture. Mike Featherstone (1990) states that rather than instead of a single global culture developing, ?more and more people are now involved with more than one culture? (8). He later states, ?while particular television programmes, sport spectacles, music concerts, advertisements may rapidly transit the globe, this is not to say that the response of those viewing and listening within a variety of cultural contexts and practices will be anything like uniform? (10). A similar sentiment is shared by John Tomlinson (2003). He referred to Ien Ang?s study of the television drama Dallas among Dutch women. While the women (including Ang herself) did not often agree with the ?ideology? of Dallas, but they were able to come to a resolution that still allowed them to enjoy the show (Tomlinson, 123). Tomlinson later offered an explanation for why global media does not create a global culture: the way we understand something from the media ?is constantly influenced and shaped by whatever else is going on in our lives? (130). Thus, the media does not carry one standard interpretation that everyone understands, but everyone understands the media a little (or a lot) differently. With no uniform understanding, it is very difficult for a uniform culture to develop.

If we look to British journalism, we see that it has maintained a very different style from current American journalism. British journalism tends to be much more ?feisty? (Hansen, 2007, 27), willing to take a more adversarial tone to people in power. Gerald Baker, the London Times?s U.S. editor, told Susan Hansen that his fellow colleagues see American reporters as ??incredibly soft? and ?patsy-like?? in their treatment of American authority figures (27). Their print media also allies themselves openly with political parties, unlike the American ideal of neutrality (Hansen, 27). While some people find this refreshing, the British press can of course sometimes go too far in sensationalizing stories. During the airlift of children from Sarajevo in 1993, some badly wounded adults were evacuated as well, which led to an outraged British media railing against ?Muslim duplicity in ?tricking? the Western charities and doctors? (Morley & Robins, 1995, 145). Morley and Robins quote Sylvana Foa, a U.N. representative, from that time as responding to the British media in this way: ?Does this mean Britain only wants to help children? Maybe it only wants children under six, or blond children, or blue-eyed children?? (145). On the other hand, many have praised the British press for doing a much better job than the American press in the lead-up to the Iraq war, by questioning government claims rather than accepting them blindly (Hansen, 26). Regardless of the effect, for our consideration, the important point is that the British have been able to maintain their own unique style of journalism in the face of a globalizing media. In fact, they are thriving and attracting increasing numbers of Americans to their coverage (Hansen, 26).

Thus, the British media are supporting the concept that global media does not lead to a global culture. There are a variety of voices for some things, and a variety of interpretations, meaning there remain a variety of cultures around the world.

References
Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity (pp. 1?14). London; Newbury Park : Sage.
Hansen, S. (2007, May/June). Superiority complex: Why the Brits think they?re better. Columbia Journalism Review, 46(1), 26?27.
Morley, D., and Robins, K. (1995). Under Western eyes: Media, empire, and otherness. In D. Morley and K. Robbins, Spaces of identity: Global media, electronic landscapes, and cultural boundaries. London: Routledge.
Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV: A global television reader (pp. 113?134). New York and London: New York University Press.

Posted at 01:11PM Jun 08, 2007 by Jeff Jacobson in General  |  Comments[2]

David Speidel - Essay #3 - Economics of the Gaming World

Economics of the Gaming World

            While online games continue to grow and spread, players find more and more ways with which to experience them.  In many of these interactive games, users build characters that grow and develop with the worlds they live in growing internet economies.  While these worlds are virtual economies and not real, they have the ability to transfer over as players buy and sell in game possessions for real life money.  As the use of real money affects these games, many players in other countries, in particular China, use this to augment their yearly income in the real world.
             The transfer of real life funds for gaming purposes has continued to grow towards extreme levels.  As people continue to play these games at higher and higher rates worldwide, the desire to trade with others has become more apparent.  While playing a game their may be an item: a house, weapon, clothes, or a character itself; which someone else is interested in having.  In some of these games this trade is regulated through the game, and some frown upon it.  As such people will sell characters over internet sites such as EBay or websites designed specifically for the sale of virtual things.  In large games where this transfer is frowned upon such as World of Warcraft or Everquest 2, characters can regularly sell anywhere from $300 to over $1000.  As such, this is a sum of money that can have a strong effect on real income.  
             Perhaps the strongest influence of real life money is in the world of Second Life.  This world not only promotes spending real life money, it is an integral part of the game itself.  People design and create items that they sell to others for virtual money that is bought with money from the real world.  In the last day alone, as of this essay, there were over $1.6 Million worth of transactions.  A small number of these players, roughly 140, are now making over $5000 a month just from selling items in this game to others. (Linden Research Inc., 2007) A huge portion of real life income that could sustain a person in the United States let alone a poorer nation.
              As this phenomenon continues to grow, it can undoubtedly have an effect in a nation such as China.  Their communist government continues to liberalize their stances on capitalism and has not been seen to regulate the income people can build online.  The limitations are, of course, that those people must have the ability to access these games in the first place, which as seen by internet use in my previous article, is not a huge number as of yet.  China still has over 200 million people in poverty just in rural areas alone (Khan, 1998, p. 12).  The income that is evident from these games, even on a small scale, can have a huge impact on these people?s lives.  As stated by Hardt and Negri, goods and money ??move with increasing ease across national boundaries; hence the nation-state has less and less power to regulate these flows and impose its authority over the economy? (2000).  These movements continue to affect these people and can have real influence on the world we live in.
              As the spread of real world economy is evident in these games, their influences on players real lives have grown and could be used to affect poorer nations.  Of course it is difficult to see exactly how other cultures will treat this phenomenon, like Tomlinson said, based on their dependency on capitalism (Tomlinson, 2003).  While it is hard to place exactly how many players actually use these incomes as their sole incomes, it is a strong possibility in a game such as Second Life.  This trend has shown little signs of slowing and will more than likely continue to grow as more virtual communities are created and more people worldwide have access to them.  Perhaps in the future we may see governments regulate or tax this income but, for now, it is a free market with very little limitations for the world.

References:

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, MA, and London, England: Harvard University Press.

Khan, A.R., 1998, ?Poverty in China in the Period of Globalization. New Evidence on Trend and Pattern?, Issues in Development Discussion Paper No.22, ILO: Geneva.

Linden Research Inc., (2007, June 7). Economic Statistics. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from Second Life Web site: http://secondlife.com/whatis/economy_stats.php

Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV: A global television reader. Pp. 113-134. New York and London: New York University Press.

Posted at 12:32PM Jun 08, 2007 by SPEIDEL, DAVID in General  |  Comments[3]

Essay 3, Alicia Thomas - Native community responses to 'Empire'

Cultural imperialism in the context of the media inherits a new power when applied to the Native American audience.  The ideological background embedded in the way most view Native cultures is the catalyst for this. Are citizens of the world shaped by common socialization when it concerns Native people? My research would suggest yes.  Tomlinson suggests that media imperialism is happening, but that it is affected by many different channels. This assertion is not analogous to the ?space? that Native communities inhabit in the hermeneutic world of media.

Empire in the context of media still runs rampant and places Native people on the outsides/fringes of the ?nation-state?, denying them access into the universal constructs of globalization. For example, Mark Trahant, a noted Native journalist and historian, pointed out that it is easy to ignore tribal jurisdictions when ?we don't even teach the basics of why tribes are governments in our school system, let alone report them in the news media.? As a result, the concept is ?often framed from an outsider's perspective? with more weight given to the remarks of opposing groups because "their claims are something most readers can understand.? (Lowe, Mella, pg. 103).

It becomes impossible to talk about a common culture in the fuller sense without talking about who is defining it, within which set of interdependencies and power balances, for what purposes and with reference to which outside cultures have to be discarded, rejected or demonified in order to generate the sense of cultural identity.? (Featherstone, pg. 11).

How do Native communities begin to right the wrongs forced upon them by a denial of right of entry and cultural evolvement? Stereotypes and misperceptions still permeate the discourse within which this community is examined and analyzed.  ?Stories about Indians tend to fall into one of four categories: Indians on the Warpath [legal issues involving treaty rights]; Pretty Pow Wow Pictures [safe, romanticized Indians 'keeping tbeir traditions alive']; From Reservation Rags to Riches [the misrepresentation that all Indians are rich because of gaming]: and the Little Indian Who Could [stories highlighting successful Indians 'who have made it' in the white man's world].? (Lowe, Mella, pg. 103). Another example of cultural dominance in media form can be seen ?in mail order catalogues such as Coldwater Creek and others often use images of Indians to sell jewelry, blankets, artwork, and pottery.  While these images may seem harmless, they often ?freeze? the Native American culture in a space and time where they remain eternally subordinated and serve as nothing more than a means of commodification for the dominant culture. (Mare, 1999, pg 4).?

How do we start the process of stripping away the superficial layers of understanding and promote collaboration and mutual understanding after centuries of harmful dissemination? Thankfully, the logic and construction of empire in relation to Indian people is changing for the better.  The power structures are being rejected and rebuilt into new modes of thinking, reacting and transmitting patterns of truth. NVISION, the non-profit organization and grassroots movement that is redefining ?Native America? is a product of this resurgence of sovereignty and autonomy among the Native communities.  The new generation of Indian youth is one of modernity, tradition and leadership, ready to challenge the notion of empire. More radio stations and newspapers are also dotting the horizon in Indian country, and as more Native people redistribute to cities, the opportunities and reorganization efforts will continue to expand.

As Tomlinson notes, ?our lives are lived as representations to ourselves in terms of the representations present in our culture: our biographies are, partly, ?intertextual?. We can make matters less abstract by giving an illustration of each ?moment? in this interplay.

The outlook is positive for the future of discourse in relation to Native communities. The threat of empire can and its eventual removal are possible if these efforts in challenging and defeating the system/status quo are successful.

References:

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity. London; Newbury Park: Sage. Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/h6045.pdf.

Loew, Patty; Mella, Kelly (2005).Black Ink and the New Red Power: Native American Newspapers and Tribal Sovereignty. Journalism & Communication Monographs, Vol. 7 Issue 3, p99-142, 44p

Mare, Lesley Di (1999). Cultural Commodification. World Communication. Vol. 28 Issue 2, p3, 3p

Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV: A global television reader. pp. 113-134. New York and London: New York University Press. Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/b7030.pdf.

www.myspace.com/nvision1 (Retrieved May 31, 2007).

Posted at 12:10PM Jun 08, 2007 by alicia kathryn thomas in General  |  Comments[4]

Walt Disney Conglomerate

Earlier in the week, we discussed and disagreed with Featherstone?s theory of an emerging global culture. Many countries and cultures around the world are rejecting ideas and products from other regions, and particularly from Western cultures. However, that doesn?t seem to be stopping large, western corporations from forming global markets.

            Pieces of the Walt Disney Company can be found in almost every region of the world. Besides the many television, film, internet and cellular phone entities that Disney owns and controls, they?ve also built their Magic Kingdoms in numerous countries around the globe. It is not at all unusual to see children in Hong Kong, Mexico, or India wearing a T-shirt featuring any number of Disney characters ranging from Mickey Mouse to Pocahontas. ?American influence is growing, it's so easy to get access to US culture; there are no barriers. Disney is known worldwide now ( Rice-Oxley, 2004).?  No other cartoon character in the world is as recognizable as the seventy-nine year old mouse in little red shorts and big yellow shoes. Disney has even received awards from various nations around the globe. ?There are dozens of medals, citations, and plaques from appreciative governments attesting the international amity created by Disney?s make-believe characters? (De Roos, p. 48)?

            Disney has linked itself to countless cultures around the globe, and linking those cultures to each other, at least in that one respect, to form a global Disney culture. Even countries who cannot currently lay claim to their own Disneyland theme park, such as various African nations, are featured in the signature musical ride ?It?s a Small World After All.? However, Disney can also lay a meager claim to bringing world cultures to Americans. The Disney World theme park in Orlando, Florida features an attraction known as the World Showcase. Countries from Mexico to Morocco are represented, and tourists can sample the cultures? cuisine, watch informational videos, buy their imported products, learn their folklore, and interact with citizens of those countries. Every employee in the World Showcase is a citizen of the country they are representing at Disney World.

            By Hardt and Negri?s definition, Disney may not quite have formed a global Empire through their entertainment media conglomerate. Instead, they are more likely to create the type of imperial empire reminiscent of modern European nations. Their theme parks are their colonies. They ship their products to and from their colonies to various part of the globe, and few people in the developed word have not heard of Walt Disney.

           

References

 

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity. London; Newbury Park

 

De Roos, R. (1963). The magic worlds of Walt Disney. In E. Smoodin, Disney Discourse: Producing the Magic Kingdom. New York; Routledge

 

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, MA, and London, England: Harvard University Press.

Rice-Oxley, M. (2004). In 2000 years, will the world remember Disney or Plato? Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved June 6, 2007 from http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/analysis/2004/0115plato.htm

Posted at 12:00PM Jun 08, 2007 by COX, KATIE in General  |  Comments[4]

Essay 3: Tisha Buelto - Lost in Translation?

Tisha Buelto

Essay 3

06.08.07

Posted at 11:23AM Jun 08, 2007 by BUELTO, TISHA in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay# 3 Claire de Lespinois: WSF strikes the Empire back

    The alter-globalization movement headed by associations such as the WSF, is often challenged by the impeding idea of a global empire. In spite of efforts by pro-imperialists to market the philosophy of the empire as being a cultural integration, the reality is far closer to a domination of economic and political structure.

    The idea of an empire according to Hardt and Negri is seen as having a ?sovereign power that governs the world? (2000, paragraph 1). This means there would be a set of global rules that would govern everyone, implemented by an elected head. In strong opposition to this viewpoint, the WSF implements public summits in different locations around the globe, chosen without financial or political prejudice. Annually, a country and location is chosen by the WSF and announced over the internet, where then anyone who is interested is invited to go and partake in the discussion of various problems and views in an open forum. In spite of a nominal fee that is required to fund such exchanges, the number of attendees increases each year. The WSF has been overwhelmed by the interest that alter-globalization has garnered so far. As opposed to the idea of a governing head or governing body of dominant countries, the summits afford the possibility of every voice being heard and individual concerns being addressed. (WSF, 2007). There are no set rules that govern these meetings. The only want is that everyone is given an equal opportunity.

     One of the most potentially compelling factors in the progressing idea of imperialism and globalization is the media. In his exert Media Imperialism, Tomlinson challenges the idea that the media has a sole part to play in the manipulation of cultural and economic integration. Tomlinson believes that there are multiple factors contributing to the culture of our world today, and television should not be solely the blame. (2003, p. 127). While the internet, a form of media, is used at the primary tool for communication by the WSF, the annual forums rely heavily on the experiences of the people. They integrate the culture of various communities around the world, using various realms, not just the effects of the media. At the meetings it is understood that there are multiple factors to blame for certain people?s situations, not just the influences of the media as most western culture would like to believe.

    In response to this impeding threat of a global empire, there has been much resistance, especially by attendees of the WSF?s gatherings. As stated by Arundhati Roy at the closing rally of the WSF in Porto Alegre, Brazil, ?what people can do to stand against the idea of ?the Empire? is to ?continue to build public opinion until it becomes a deafening roar? (2003, p. 1). These means holding meetings and communicating in as many ways possible to make sure that each person?s message is heard.



    The expression of individualism is a direct opposition to the idea of a global empire whether it is through religion, art, speech or emotion. In Aldous Huxley?s ?A Brave New World?, he addresses an extreme form of the idea of an empire; where everyone is best suited to the work and thought process that they have been conditioned for; based on race, sex, and social class. Creativity is forbidden and the only emotion permitted is allocated by the empire. Only in the outside supposedly ?savage? settlements are the pages of Shakespeare still allowed to inspire. (Huxley, 1932). Although the imperialists do not advertise such a bleak reality, the underlying constitution remains the same. Some see alter-globalization as a defense against imperialism, against the empire. Others such as Roy see it as a way to fight back against oppression. He says we should provoke an outcry of rebellion ?With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness-and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we?re being brainwashed to believe. The corporate revolution will collapse.?(2003, p. 1).


Resources:

Arundhati, Roy. (2003). Confronting Empire. Vol. 276 Issue 9, p16-16, 1p, The Nation.

Huxley, Aldous (1932). Brave New World, First Perennial Classics ed., New York: HarperCollins Publishers.

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, MA, and London, England: Harvard University Press.

Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV: A global television reader. Pp. 113-134. New York and London: New York University Press.

WSF Common Space. Retrieved June 7, 2007, from the world wide web: http://wsfprocess.net/front-page?set_language=en&cl=en.

Posted at 11:23AM Jun 08, 2007 by DELESPINOIS, CATHERINE in General  |  Comments[2]

Patrick Bedics Apple Culture

Apple Culture

Apple is working to create a culture of its own, as compared to a global one. The company does not find itself caught up in researching what the consumers would be interested in the present, but what they are going to want and even need in the future (Elkin, Kim, & Stanley, 2003, p2). They are trying to build a culture that involves everyone that is willing and able to participate, but only a culture that allows Apple to be the mode of communication.

The means, through which Apple is attempting to achieve this connected culture, resembles that slightly of Empire. This may seem like a stretch to compare Apple to Empire, but there are some overlapping characteristics of both that are apparent. Apple is trying to guess ahead of what people will want, and direct all of their marketing to focus on how they will recognize that fact. Similar to the idea of Empire, because both are ultimately trying to have people?s thoughts on how they should act or what they need to become second nature (Hardt & Negri, 2000, pp31-32). Apple is already successful in this area, and that can be seen in devoted consumers of everything Apple. These people already have it instilled in their head that Apple makes the top products, and they will continually devote themselves and their money into the company as they see fit. This is not to say that Apple is creating zombie customers, but the thought of buying Apple has come all to naturally for them.

The idea of always thinking on a global scale rather than in a domestic state of mind is still placing an edge on how far you can take your company because you are seeing the world in a singular sense (Featherstone, 1990, p2). Apple appears to leap over this idea of broadcasting themselves as a globally driven company by pushing the idea that they are a lifestyle that can be adapted internationally (Elkin, Kim, & Stanley, p1). Consumers do not seem to look at Apple as a huge company as much as they see them as a company that seems to understand what they like and how to manufacture that. Alice Elkin, Tobi Kim, and Hank Stanley make a great point with their quote, "In a tech business where two or three giants have become global dominators, still the underdog Apple resonates with consumers across generations and international boundaries" (2003, p1).

In the International Herald Tribune, an opinion editorial was talking about the company and said, "If Apple succeeds in hooking millions of consumers to the iPod and retains them, then it can be the gatekeeper of global culture" (Tripathi, 2006). This kind of statement perfectly ties together the ideas that Apple is trying to get at. But instead of the idea of a global culture, they are working to establish the Apple Culture.

REFERENCES

Elkin, A., Kim, T., Stanley, H. (2003). Apple transcends as lifestyle brand, Advertising Age, 74(50) 1-2.

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global Culture: An introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.),

Global culture: Nationalism, globalization and modernity, 7, 1-14.

Hardt, M. & Negri, A. (2000). "Preface" (pp.x1-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, MA, and London, England: Harvard University Press.

Tripathi, S. (2006). Taking on the iGoliath, International Herald Tribune. Retrieved on June 6, 2007, from http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/07/opinion/edtripathi.php

Posted at 09:34AM Jun 08, 2007 by BEDICS, PATRICK in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #3 ? Will Long ? Radio Martí: American Media Bringing Democracy to Cuba

Essay #3 ? Will Long ? Radio/TV Martí: American Media Bringing Democracy to Cuba

 

Since Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, Cuban-American relations have been uneasy. Due to the Trading with the Enemy Act, United States? companies are banned from doing business in Cuba.  This has helped the Cuban government slow Americanization, seen by Schiller, Tunstall and others as engulfing the world, despite being located so close to the United States.  Although there are many factors that effect globalization, media has become one of the most important because of their ability to travel with great speed and reach.  The Cuban government has been relatively successful in blocking American media from being accessed by its citizens (Maggs, 2000, p. 1356). CNN does have a bureau in Havana; in fact it is the only American television network with a bureau in Havana. But to many Cuban Americans, who called the network the ?Castro News Network?, CNN is an ?organization that lends legitimacy to a corrupt regime and sneers at the exile community in Miami.? (Miller, 2003, p. 1). According to Miller a report by the Media Research Center concluded, ?CNN has allowed itself to become just another component of Fidel Castro's propaganda machine.? (2003).

 

            In order to ?provide uncensored news to the island and to promote the U.S. goal of a democratic Cuba?, President Ronald Reagan created Radio Martí in 1985. (Maggs, 2000, p. 543). The radio station, since joined by sister television station TV Martí, was strategically named after José Martí, a leader in Cuban independence, and is supported by the U.S. government. The government mainly relies on two of Appadurai?s five dimensions of global flows to reach the people of Cuba. Mediascapes, ?the repertoires of? information, the flows produced and distributed? by media and Ideoscapes, ?flows of images which are associated with? counter-state movement ideologies which are comprised of? images of democracy, freedom? [and] rights,? work together to sway the opinion of the Cuban people (Featherstone, 1990, p.7). The stations are ?meant to beam into Cuba irresistible images of the American way of life.? (Off the Screen, 1993, p. 28). Cuban leaders insist that Radio Martí is ?an ?explicit violation? of a 1987 accord aimed at preventing each nation from interfering with each other's broadcast signals? and consider it as ?propaganda outlets meant to stir dissent against Fidel Castro's government.? (Quill, 1998, p. 7).  While TV Martí is blocked by the Catro government, in 1998 Radio Martí was listened to by three-fourths of Cubans (Maggs, 2000, p. 543).

 

            However by 2001, the number of Cubans listening to Radio Martí dropped significantly to just 8 percent and nine of ten Cubans didn?t know TV Martí existed (Hickey, 2001, p. 13).  Many attribute the loss of listeners to the stations? move to Miami, ?where it fell completely under the influence of activist exiles.? (Hickey, 2001, p. 13). The drop condemns the hypodermic model theory of Shiller and Tunstall that assumes ?media products have direct and necessary cultural ?effects? on those who consume them.? (Morely & Robins, 1995, p.126). The study by Katz and Liebes shows that ?audiences are more active and critical, their responses more complex and reflective, and their cultural values more resistant to manipulation and ?invasion? that many critical theorists have assumed.? (Tomlinson, 2003, p. 125) Cubans seem to be unaffected by the programs that ?even some critics of Fidel Castro have labeled ?pathological propaganda?.? (Walker, 1999, p. 17); they simply turned off their radios. 

           

         While still on the air, a debate of whether or not to cancel Radio and TV Martí has been going on for several years. If the United States is outwardly attempting to affect the culture of a country so close, then hypodermic model of media effects would have to be completely rejected. As Katz and Liebes find, the message of media has different meanings in different cultural contexts (Tomlinson, 2003, p. 126). The radio and television created by Cubans in Miami who escaped the oppressive regime of the Cuban government, is not of interest to those Cubans who are still in Cuba.

 

 

Sources:

 

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global Culture: Nationalism, Globalization, and Modernity. London: Newbury Park.

          Hickey, N. (2001). TV Marti: Time To Go? Columbia Journalism Review, 40(1), 13.

Maggs, J. (2005). Air War Over Cuba Escalates. National Journal, 37(8), 543.

Maggs, J. (2000). Weakening Signal From Radio Marti. National Journal, 32(18), 1356.

Miller, J. (2003). The Castro News Network. National Review, 55(10), 19-20.

Morely, D., & Robins, K. (1995). Spaces of Identity: Global Media, Electronic Landscapes, and Cultural Boundaries. London: Routledge.

Off the Screen. (1993). Economist, 328(7818), 28.

TV Marti. (1998). Quill, 86(1), 7.

Walker, J. (1999). Hack Radio. Reason, 31(4), 17.

Posted at 01:14AM Jun 08, 2007 by William Long in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay #3 - Chris Bigelow - $100 Laptops

Cultural Responses to the XO-1

          So, the laptops are coming.  They have been ordered by the government of country "X" and are scheduled to be distributed to every 8-year-old student across the nation.  How will using Negroponte?s $100 toys change this nation?  Obviously, the computers will change the country economically.  Aside from the debt incurred from the initial investment that was made to purchase this technology, country "X" will soon have a new generation of "Xians" who possess knowledge and ideas beyond those of every generation of "Xians" to date.  This new army of tech-savvy countrymen (countrywomen) is now theoretically better equipped to thrive in the marketplace of a global economy.  In short, those 8-year-olds are supposed to make country "X" wealthier than is has been in the past.

          However, in addition to, or perhaps bundled with the economic change that is likely to occur, comes cultural change as well.  It seems to be the general consensus that cultural globalization will occur because of the introduction of this internet technology.  The question that remains to be answered is how and to what degree this will occur.  Many would suggest that "there is little prospect of a unified global culture, rather there are global cultures in the plural" (Featherstone, 1990, p. 10).  On the other hand, many would argue that globalization is inevitable when people have access to global products.  As Tomlinson might argue, with the internet come Coca-Cola and Disney, and with these products come the values of American consumer capitalism (2003, p. 121).  The fact that products like this "contain" ideas about what makes a good life, gives occasion for members of our country "X" to reconcile this mediated idea of reality with what Tomlinson calls "lived experience" (2003, p. 131). 

          According to many critics, something needs to be done to ensure that the $100 laptops are useful and relevant to the cultures in which they are to be used.  However, it is not often that concrete suggestions are offered to make this happen.  There are, of course, exceptions.  In an open letter on the $100 Laptop, leading researchers emphasize the need for this specific technology to "adapt to local needs."  The letter states that, "Some communities may want to develop their own software and teaching materials, others may need tools for communication and collaboration, such as voice conferencing over the internet. Local communities know their needs better than governments" (Global Researcher, 2005).   Suggestions such as this one should be considered further as the XO-1 laptops near completion and especially in the planning stages of future projects like this one.

Works Cited:

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity. London; Newbury Park: Sage. Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/h6045.pdf.

Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV: A global television reader. pp. 113-134. New York and London: New York University Press. Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/b7030.pdf.

Global Researcher and Testbed Network for 1:1 Technology Enhanced Learning. Learning with the $100 Laptop. http://www.g1to1.org/openletter.php.

Posted at 12:37AM Jun 08, 2007 by BIGELOW, CHRISTOPHER in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #3- Danielle Tibbetts- Privatization and the Failing Empire Logic

            Within Sub-Sahara Africa and one of the main areas of concern for the United Nations? MDGs plan, a dilemma has arisen.  Since the mid 80?s until now various African country officials, backed and persuaded by United Nation-based multinational groups, such a as the World Bank, have pushed the idea of privatization and deregulation as the most effective ?road? to reaching one of the main goals of the MDGs, ensuring environmental sustainability such as having safe drinking water and electricity. From the outside looking in, major capitalist societies would see this as a sure way of instilling strong competition, which would foster the best development of infrastructure and sustainability, yet for these various African countries this has yet to happen, and in fact the deregulation and privatization of utilities has actually done the exact opposite of what was predicted, it has caused those countries to worsen in these areas.

            The main reason behind the failure of privatization in these developing countries is that investors are not willing to invest in these areas where they see no profitable return (Bayliss, Mckinley, 2007, p. 26). Yet, U.N. supported groups such as the World Bank consistently defend the idea of privatization as the best way, and only push harder for stronger, more stable plans of privatization. ?Privatization and Alternative Public Sector Reform in sub-Saharan Africa confirm?despite years of trying to privatize utilities, public utilities remain?the dominant providers of water and electricity? (Bayliss, Mckinley, 2007, p.28). Even with this constant reminder that public control has consistently proven more effective, donors such as U.N. multinational groups, who provide the finances behind the plans, increased support of private investors from ?US $45 million to US $687 million, while decreasing their support of public infrastructure investment by 50%, within the time-span of 1990 to 2001 (Bayliss, Mckinley, 2007, p.26).  As Featherstone explained it, ?the Western Enlightenment world-view-images of democracy, freedom?? (1990, p.7) seem to be the ?fairyland? that many of the U.N. officials imagine when they constantly push a program that repeatedly shows no improvement in such a must-have necessity, and because of the drastic switch in capital, African countries virtually lost all support from both U.N. led donors and investors who are receiving the support to invest but have no interest in it.

                        Ironically many of the developed countries pushing for privatization and support of it in developing countries, have the opposite strategy for their own countries, in which their basic utilities are regulated through government agencies (Zaza, 2002, p.1). Of course African countries have had an unstable foundation. Since many of them became independent states their governments have been in the hands of militant power hungry leaders who ruled with corruption, but just as government can be corrupt, private contractors can also be; and this has been the case in many areas of Sub-Sahara Africa. Zaza points this out when he states, ?In particular, it?s common for private contractors to bid low to get the business, then push their prices up once the government force has been disbanded.? (2002, p.2), which creates an impossible barrier for the poorest and most in need of these basic utilities.

            In this simple example we see the ideological issues of empire and cultural imperialism at work, to what scale of each only research can point out. Obviously western views on capitalism and newly acclaimed privatization of all once government regulated areas is the new bandwagon that many believe will save the day, yet this western capitalistic view can not fit into all areas of the world as seen here. The U.N.?s steadfastness of a plan that does not seem to work shows us how the empire logic is at work, and as  Hardt and Negri stated, ? the capitalist project to bring together economic power and political power, to realize, in other words, a properly capitalist order? (2000, p.17), which seems to be one of pillars that the U.N. is holding on to.

 

References:

Bayliss, Kate; McKinley,Terry. Providing basic utilities in sub Saharan Africa: why has privatization failed? Environment, Vol. 49, 3, 2007, p.1-8.

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global culture: Nationalism, globalization, and modernity. London; Newbury Park: Sage.

Hardt, Micheal, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part 1 (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, Ma, and London, England: Harvard University Press.

ZaZa, J. Yanqui. Privatization and deregulation, or no aid: poor countries dilemma. The Perspective, GA, 2002. http://www.theperspective.org/deregulation.html

 

 

 

 

 

Posted at 12:15AM Jun 08, 2007 by TIBBETTS, DANIELLE in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay#3 - Jason Preston - Distant Education in a Global Society

        

            Here in the United States when the topic of globalization is brought up in a conversation, the subject matter is usually quickly shifted to the idea of a global economy.  The increase in economic interactions due to swift technological advancements, between the United States and other foreign nations is a ?hot topic?.  The United States has always been considered a capitalistic society, one that thrives on economic strength, some would even choose to label the United States imperialistic. ?Many locate the ultimate authority that rules over the processes of globalization and the new world order in the United States.  Proponents praise the United States as the world leader and sole superpower, and the detractors denounce it as an imperialist oppressor,? (Hardt, Negri pg 2). How ever, before people of the 21rst century get caught up in debates about money and imperialism, we should make a conscious effort to stop and redirect our attention to education.  We have all come to a basic understanding that the phenomenon of globalization is swiftly changing the way that we do business here in the United States, however, we must also address the issue that globalization will effect the way in which we handle education.  Distant education should play a major role in our global society.
        A global village is swiftly developing before our eyes. In order to function productively in the global village, an individual needs to be educated about globalization. An individual has the opportunity to be an even more productive member of our global society if they receive their education on a global level.  Basically, the point that the previous sentence is trying to make is that distant education on a worldwide level we become a necessity.  Driven by the Internet, distant learning on a national level has proven to be an effective and powerful tool here in the United States alone.   The Internet seemingly became a household communication technology overnight, and schools quickly adopted it as a tool for teaching and learning.  ? The Internet is the eight wonder of the world, it brings unlimited information, entire libraries, courses, and instructions to anywhere you have a modem and a server,? (Murray, pg1). 
        A perfect example of how distance education on a national level is being successfully deployed is Manning High School in Iowa.  Educators at Manning High have tapped the power of the Iowa Communication Network  (ICN), a statewide computer infrastructure designed specifically for use by public agencies, to deliver foreign language and upper-level mathematics courses via videoconferencing to students across the state.  Not only does distant education offer students a greater variety of courses to choose from, but also it is also economical.  ? Good teachers are hard to find.  Delivering courses via Internet provides a highly attractive, economically feasible alternative to hiring full time teachers, especially in rural areas.
        Distant education should play a major role in our global society.  At the rate at which globalization, fueled by advancements in communication technology, is seemingly creating a sort of homogenous global village, the spread of distance education on an international level appears inevitable.  ? Nation-States are not seen to interact but to constitute a world, a global context in which the world becomes a singular place with its own processes and forms of integration,? (Featherstone, pg. 5).  Distant learning has been successfully deployed on a national level to educate students.  Just as business and economics have expanded to better function in our global village, education appears to be the next to follow.
   


Electronic-school (2001, pg 2) www.electronic-school.com The World We Live In: Rural and urban board members alike recognize technologies importance today.

Featherstone, M. (1990).  ?Global Culture; Nationalism, globalization, and modernity?  Sage Publications.

Hardt, M. , Negri, A. (2000 preface).  ?Empire? Harvard University Press

Murray, C.  ESchools News (2005, pg1).  www.eschoolsnews.com Shared technology fortifies ed.


 

Posted at 11:45PM Jun 07, 2007 by PRESTON, JASON in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #3-Keitris Weathersbe-A Globalized Culture within a 'Subtle' Empire

A Globalized Culture within a ?Subtle? Empire

            Questions have been raised as to whether a global culture exists.  This single question was explored by Mike Featherstone in his article Global Culture: An Introduction.  In regards to New York City, several cultures are meshed together to form one entity; one city.  From this, we have a globalization of several cultures, meaning the various cultures of New York City influence other areas of the world.  These influences range from technological to mediated to cultural.  As supported by Featherstone, ?it therefore may be possible to point to trans-societal cultural process which take a variety of forms? (Featherstone, 1990, p. 1).  Featherstone characterized these processes as sustaining ?the exchange and flow of goods, people, information knowledge and images which give rise to communication processes which gain some autonomy on a global level? (Featherstone, 1990, p. 1).  To expand on Featherstone?s claim, New York City has adapted to globalization.  However, an overall ?global? culture does not exist.  Each city, state, nation, etcetera, has its own cultural identity; e.g. New York City.  Featherstone (1990) refers to King (1990) and Hannerz (1989) in regards to global cultural centers.  New York City functions as a political, financial and popular culture global center.  Being a global cultural center, New York City is placed in position where globalization is inevitable. 

            New York City could be considered a globalized culture within a subtle empire; the United States being the empire.   As discussed by Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri (2000), ?many locate the ultimate authority that rules over the process of globalization and the new world order in the United States? (p. xii).  A remaining question is whether or not the U.S. as an authority hinders or encourages the globalization processes of New York City.  For starters, since the large movement of over 20 million immigrants through Ellis Island from the 1890s to 1950s, New York City with the help of the U.S., has embraced diversity and cultural differences within its city borders (history.com ?Ellis Island?).  From this embrace comes an increasing population, an increase in scholars and technological innovators from different cultural and intellectual backgrounds to the city, and the opportunity for New York City?s influence on the rest of the world.  Ellis Island and what it once represented was disputed by the United States Supreme Court in 1998, in regards to its jurisdiction (Wikipedia ?Ellis Island?). 

Again, there was a question over sovereignty and the United State?s role in New York City affairs.  Hardt and Negri (2000) discuss a new ?global form of sovereignty? as an empire (p. xii).  According to the two authors, empire is seen as concept and its ?rule has no limits? (p. xiv).  In once an imperialistic form, the United States has for some time controlled several areas of its territories or states.  Each state, of course, has its own ?set of rules, or government, but it is the central authoritative power of the U.S. government that holds these "united states" together.  In relation to New York City and the rest of the world, the United States ?does indeed occupy a privileged position in Empire? (Hardt and Negri, 2000, p. xiv).  The U.S. as a ?free? nation provides its citizens and individual states the opportunity to network with other nations of the world, creating flows of global exchanges of culture, media, money and technology.

References

Featherstone, M.  (1990). Global Culture:  An Introduction.  In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global Culture:  Nationalism, Globalization and Modernity, 7, 1-14.

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000).  ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part I  (pp. 1-66), Empire.  Cambridge, MA and London, England:  Harvard University Press.  Online:  http://social.chass.ncsu.edu/~wiley/courses/447/hardtnegri2000.pdf.

http://www.history.com/minisites/ellisisland/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis_Island#Immigration

Posted at 09:15PM Jun 07, 2007 by WEATHERSBE, KEITRIS in General  |  Comments[3]

Essay 3 - Allison Cuculich - Music and Global Culture

Music and Global Culture

The debate is still out as to whether or not our world is moving in the direction of a global culture.  Even though (depending on who you ask) there is not a definite answer to this, the media industry has not put a halt to any gains that could be made in search of profits.  This is due to the fact that the idea of building a global culture is not necessarily on the agenda of money driven media corporations. 

Although this idea is of no importance to media, the outlook of a potential global culture is cloudy.  There are too many responses and understandings that people have when faced with globalization, that a singular culture is not very probable but rather a handful of cultures is more likely (Featherstone, 1990, p. 10).  This being said, the music industry continues in its pursuit to spread musicians that reach one if not multiple cultures that are present.  The process that is taken by the music industry to incorporate a number of cultures usually results in only reaching one that they set out to impact.  This is the idea known as transcultural music (Wallis & Malm, 2003, p. 376). 

Transcultural music appears to be a unifying idea, but this is only at the surface.  Deeper into this idea, there is the fact that musicians participate in this exchange of music whether they are fully aware or even want to (Wallis & Malm, 2003, p. 377).  Wallis and Malm give an example of this that a record producer, from the West for argument?s sake, travels across the sea to record music native to a specific tribe in Africa unbeknownst to them and then brings it back to the West and adds and tweaks the sound to resemble something that Westerners would recognize while still possessing a distinct quality about it (2003, p. 377).  So, even the plan to make music that transcends cultures ends up at the heart of the music industry, which is cut whoever you can to make top dollar.

Herbert Schiller makes the points that everything people are exposed to, will essentially become their new culture and that because Western culture extends to virtually every corner of the earth that we are living in a U.S. dominated view of world culture (Tomlinson, 2003, p. 116).  Tomlinson counteracts this by adding that transnational media can and will be separated from each other once people come in contact with it (2003, p. 117).  This opens up the idea that even though the U.S. has put itself out there on the music market, that there is still room for other countries that do not have the power that is tied to the U.S. to infiltrate our boundaries.  An example of this would be Jamaica, which is definitely not known for its extreme wealth as a nation, and the way reggae became a major part of music across the world.  Reggae has not generated nearly as much music as a few American pieces of media have, but the point is the impact that the music makes and the fact that ?people will be listening to and talking about Bob Marley and the Wailers long after they ever watch Titanic as an old classic? (Waring, 2001, ¶ 14). 

There is an infinite amount of ways that the globalization of music could be read.  There are some people within a nation that will always refuse the idea of foreign anything, whether it is media or not.  On the other hand, there will be the people within a nation that embrace these differences and look to build a common culture or music, economy, politics, etc.  I predict there will be a united culture that will encompass these ideas that are shared across the globe, but that culture will not be strong enough to reach the entire population.
   

References

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: An introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.),
    Global culture: Nationalism, globalization and modernity, 7, 1-14.
Tomlinson, J. (2003). Media imperialism. In L. Parks and S. Kumar (Eds.), Planet TV:
    A global television reader, 113-134.
Wallis, R., & Malm, K. (2003). The international music industry and transnational
    communication. In J. Lull (Ed.), Popular music in communication: Social and
    cultural perspectives, 375-377.
Waring, M. (2001). Will the world economy produce only world culture? Retrieved June
    7, 2007 from the International Society for the Performing Arts Foundation Web
    site: http://www.ispa.org/ideas/waring.html

Posted at 07:52PM Jun 07, 2007 by CUCULICH, ALLISON in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay # 3- Julia Tew - The Globalization of Human Rights

The Globalization of the Human Rights

While many aspects of globalization are constantly under scrutiny, 
with analysts evaluating infrastructure, outcomes, and barriers to 
the oft-touted one world village ideal, the common issue running 
under them all is that of culture.  The questions of how to
unify people of such diverse backgrounds supply the
backdrop for all the other questions that
globalization raises.  Can unity be established across cultures? 
Should it be?  And of course, with these come
questions of power.  There are those, like McChesney,
who claim that the world cultures are being slowly
homogenized, and into one that reflects modern
capitalist Western culture (2001).  But in Hardt and
Negri's article, a different theory is presented, one
which suggests that not only is a global culture
possible, but it can be desirable and additionally, it
cannot be controlled by any single nation (2000).  

The theory that Hardt and Negri describe is that of
empire.  It states that within an empire-styled
culture, the world is governed by a set of rules, or
particular logic, that is both "decenterd and
[deterritoialized]" (Hardt and Negri, 2000, p. 2). 
Under this theory in order to maintain membership in the
global community, all nations, governments, industry
and people must play by the rules.  No one is exempt-
not even the more powerful nations.  Embedded in this
rule structure is also an implicit system of rewards. 
Those nations, corporations and governments that can
play the game the best are likely to be the most
successful, the most powerful.   

The ability of the empire to create a world culture
with both rewards and sanctions still allows for the
existance of diversity among sub-cultures, while
drawing on a the new world order for the regulation
and governance of general rules (Hardt and Negri, 2000,
p. 14).  Featherstone (1990) provides one example of the overarching global culture
in noting that "a crucial point of unification" has
often been simply a common humanity (p. 4).  It is on
this point of commonality that human rights movements
and organization mobilize.

Amnesty International (AI) carries individual stories
of personal sufffering to a global audience, and
relies on a universal intrepretation of basic human
rights to carry its message across cultural borders. 
Most of its members and supporters have never been to
Afghanistan, and many have no first-hand experience or
knowledge of Middle Eastern or Islamic culture.  But
these differences are transcended through a mutal
understanding of humanity.  Drawing from the United
Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights, AI
campaigns for phyiscal, social, politcal, and economic
safety and security of women often using the women's
own words and cultural interpretations to situate
claims both within unique cultures and within a global
culture (UN, 1948, AI, 2007). This situated position
lends both form and support for their appeals.  In her
study of the globalization in Senegal, Fatou Sow (2003)
explains, "Women's claims to equality have been
strengthened by the international recognition of
universal human rights and by secrutiny of the extent
to which these rights are upheld in particular
contexts" (p. 73).  In this way, the particular
cultural issues are remain valuable while the
overarching empire's values are enforced. 

McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, neoliberalism,
and imperialism. Monthly
Review 52(10).
http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Featherstone, M. (1990). Global culture: an
introduction. In M. Featherstone (Ed.), Global
culture: Nationalism, 
globalization, and modernity. London; Newbury Park :
Sage.

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface?
(pp.xi-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge,
MA, 
and London, England: Harvard University Press. 
Online: 
http://social.chass.ncsu.edu/~wiley/courses/447/hardtnegri2000.pdf.


Amnesty International. (2007). About Amnesty
International. Retrieved May 31, 2007,
from http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-index-eng



Sow, F. (2003). Fundamentalisms, globalisations, and
women's human rights in Senegel. Gender and
Development. 11(1). p. 69-76.

Posted at 04:41PM Jun 07, 2007 by TEW, JULIA in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay #3 - Christina Kellmann - Americanization of Foreign Advertising

Research has shown that Americanization of advertisements do have an effect on other cultures by making them more aware of what is happening in the Western part of the world. Although people of all cultures have their own way of looking at things, there is no denying that advertisements, especially through television, have an effect on foreigners. First of all, language is a major part of achieving globalization. English is prevalent in many foreign countries and thus used in many overseas advertisements. Also, the fact that a majority of homes have televisions makes it easy for American owned corporations to get their products out there, globally.

            Language is what we use in which to understand the world around us. Hardt and Negri (2000) said, ?Language, as it communicates, produces commodities but moreover creates subjectivities, puts them in relation, and orders them? (p. 33). Without language, there would be no method of communication that is as precise or detailed. Specifically, the English language is the most widespread language globally. It is the basis for many forms of communication across cultures. With an estimates 300 million people worldwide that know how to speak English, it is the ?language spoken by the greatest number of non-native speakers? (vistawide.com, 2004). According to the same website, English is also the most published language in the world (2004). English is used in advertisements frequently in Japan. According to a study by R. Jeffrey Blair (1997), ?Studies of Japanese commercials and advertising demonstrate that commercial managers employ positive ethnocultural stereotypes, usually of white North Americans or Europeans in the advertising of numerous products? (¶ 8). English has a positive connotation in foreign cultures, in this case Japan. ?English language attracts much more general prestige than French or any other foreign language? (Blair, 1997, ¶ 8). Language definitely contributes to Americanization of foreign cultures because it adds a sense of prestige that is not attributed to the home language of a certain country.

            Television goes hand in hand with language as a huge factor in the Americanization of advertisements. Television is a major force in the world of advertising because it is a very common media outlet. Along with print journalism and radio, television?s presence in the daily life of global society is very large. For example, 98% of German households contain at least one television set (Kleinsteuber and Thomass, 2006). Even in countries like Russia, ?practically each?household owns at least one TV set? (Krasnoboka, 2007). If countries have such access to television, it makes it that much easier for American owned corporations to advertise through that medium. Morley and Robins (1995) said, ?Television thereby becomes the basis of common experiences and interactions? (p. 132). This being said, television creates a source of marketing information for people across the globe at any given time. The fact that television is so prevalent makes it a great outlet for advertising therefore American corporations can get into foreign markets easily.

 

Sources:

 

Hardt, Michael, and Negri, Antonio (2000). ?Preface? (pp.xi-xvii) and Part I (pp. 1-66), Empire. Cambridge, MA, and London, England: Harvard University Press. Online:

http://social.chass.ncsu.edu/~wiley/courses/447/hardtnegri2000.pdf

 

 

 

Morley, D., and Robins, K. (1995). Under Western eyes: Media, empire, and otherness. In D. Morley and K. Robbins, Spaces of identity: Global media, electronic landscapes, and cultural boundaries. London: Routledge.

Electronic reserve: Part 1: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/h5974.pdf. Part 2:

http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/h5975.pdf.

 

Blair, R. J. (1997). The role of English and other foreign languages in Japanese society. The Internet TESL Journal, 3(7), July 1997. Retrieved from: http://iteslj.org/Articles/Blair_EngJpn.html

 

Media Landscape of Germany. European Journalism Centre. 2006. http://www.ejc.net/media_language/article/germany/

 

Media Landscape of Russia. European Journalism Centre. 2007. http://www.ejc.net/media_language/article/russia/

 

 

 

Posted at 04:29PM Jun 07, 2007 by KELLMANN, CHRISTINA in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2 - Jeff Jacobson - British Media Ownership: Has America Taken Over?

A worldwide trend of media convergence and consolidation has been occurring for several years now. Many of these companies are US-based. As foreign governments de-regulate their broadcast media, American companies have carried their consolidation efforts overseas, as the American market has become very developed and no longer has room to expand (McChesney, 2001, ¶5). As part of my ongoing investigation into what impact American television and broadcasting are having on British television, this week I want to look at how American companies have made ownership inroads in the UK market. The surprising result is that they?ve hardly arrived at all.
As stated in the previous paragraph, media corporations are consolidating. This raises concerns about the quality of information received when it is coming from just a few sources (Wresch, 1996, 8). As the Labour Government began discussing its proposals for broad media reforms in 2002, this became a concern, particularly in a provision that changed rules regarding ownership of newspapers and television. Previous rules prohibited anyone who owned more than 20% of the UK newspaper market from owning a terrestrial Television channel as well (Media ownership, 2002, ¶30). A clause in the reform bill removed that restriction from the UK?s Channel 5. This bill seemed targeted squarely at Rupert Murdoch and his News Corporation, who owned 32% of the newspaper market (Media ownership, ¶29). Some even suggested that the provision might become known as the ?Murdoch Clause? (Media ownership, ¶35). Another controversial reform opened UK television ownership to non-EU companies, prompting fears that British TV would be ?flooded? with low-quality American imports (Doyle & Vick, 2005, 84). Now that the reforms have been implemented, have these predictions come to pass?
Somewhat surprisingly, neither of these really have. In fact, according to The Media Owners project, as of May 24, 2007, News International (News Corp) currently does not own an over-the-air station, as many detractors of the bill had feared would happen (http://www.londonfreelance.org/rates/owners/_ni.html). In fact, the same project (http://www.londonfreelance.org/owners/index.html) reports that of the major American corporations in broadcast television, only Disney has any television broadcasting interests in the UK, with a 25% stake in Good Morning Television. GE and Time-Warner currently have no broadcast interests whatsoever in the UK. There may be several reasons for this, according to Gillian Doyle and Douglas W. Vick (2005). They suggest that ?prevailing exchange rates, high UK company valuations and the early stage of US economic recovery? are important factors in the lack of US investment in UK broadcasters (84). And as I discovered last week, the UK has not become a ?dumping ground? (Doyle & Vick, 84) of low-quality American programming. If anything, the US has been a dumping ground of low-quality British programming.
Thus, it seems that so far an Americanization of British television broadcasting ownership has not really happened. However, this may be a situation unique to the UK, and may not reflect conditions in other recently liberalized economies. Further, changing market conditions could at some point in the future attract US companies to the British market. While the UK has thus far avoided this, the future is still up in the air.

References
Doyle, G. & Vick, D. W. (2005). The Communications Act 2003: A new regulatory framework in the UK. Convergence, 11(3), 75?95.
McChesney, Robert W. (2001). ?Global media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism.? Monthly Review, 52. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from: http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm
Media ownership laws to be relaxed. (2002, May 8). BBC. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1972519.stm
Wresch, William (1996). Information rich, information poor. In W. Wresch, Disconnected: Haves and Have-Nots in the Information Age. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.

Posted at 01:14PM Jun 01, 2007 by Jeff Jacobson in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay 2 - Alicia Thomas - Rethinking the Media - Strategies for Native inclusion

            Perceptions of Native people have always been portrayed inaccurately by the dominant culture. Today?s contemporary setting would suggest a kaleidoscope of constructive thoughts and viewpoints on this misunderstood community, but the dangerous reality is that inaccuracies and propaganda still perpetuate themselves, even on a global scale. From advertisements (i.e. Land O Lakes butter, Cherokee cigarettes) to sports mascots, this nation's indigenous peoples (as well as the broader community in the Western hemisphere) have been dehumanized and marginalized, and the news media continues to perpetuate these dangerous practices by their slanted depictions. 

            Nowhere is this more evident than the news media. While the forms may be subtle, the voice of the Native is still silenced and disregarded. In a study of the Boston Globe?s framing of American Indians across the media, ?Only one in six articles framed American Indians in neutral, empowered, or balanced ways. Thus, stereotypical or distorted depictions of American Indians dominated more than 80% of the coded stories. The three most frequent frames of American Indians in the Boston Globe were the generic outsider, the degraded Indian, and the historic relic? (Miller, Ross, 2004).

These skewed representations have done nothing to empower the Native communities in the digital age.  It has rather, denied them access and made it harder to bring them into the fold, if you will. Ethnocentric mentalities among those who rule the media world refuse to challenge these misrepresentations. Instead they (journalists, etc.) find ways to reinforce and emphasize them, compounding the problem even more. ?As cultural products, news media contain a limited range of content frames because the structure, norms, and practices of the media reflect and reinforce the elite group frame in which individual journalists and news organizations participate.? (Miller, Ross, 2004)  This is a direct correlation to McChesney?s view of global media where he asserts that, "the corporate media have the additional advantage of controlling the very news media that would be the place citizens would expect to find criticism and discussion of media policy in a free society" (McChesney, 2001).

There are opportunities for Native communities to become more engaged. In Hudson's Digital Divide, she highlights the K-Net program, a Smart Community Project serving remote Ojibway and Cree native communities in Ontario, Canada. This prototype model could be replicated in Native communities across the hemisphere, both rural and urban. It would enhance ?visibility? for the many that are disconnected.  ?Leaders of isolated communities should invite government and corporate leaders involved in telecommunications to visit their communities?, and she adds that this strategy  ?was very helpful for them to gain a better appreciation of the physical realities we face here, which in turn benefits us? (Hudson, 1996, p80). The NVISION project discussed in last week?s essay is continuing to gain momentum in its multi-media efforts, and is attracting more media coverage as well (NVISION, p 1).

Both of these projects are building on an inclusion model of news representation that has evolved over many years. ?In the late 1990s, about 25 radio stations, most public and nonprofit, served Native American communities in theUnited States and Canada. A daily national newscast. National Native News, and a national talk-radio program. Native America Calling, offered a voice and information. One of the Native American media's central characteristics has been fluidity of response to changing needs and conditions and to economic, social, and political pressures.? (Murphy, 1998, p. 422)

In a growing world of global connectivity, it is important more than ever for Native communities to engage and insert themselves into the domestic, international, and global representation agendas that affect them and that will ultimately decide how the entire world views, accepts and interacts with their people.

 References:

Hudson, H (2006).  Digital Divides: Gaps in Connectivity. Chapter 5 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunications for development in the infomation age, pp. 62-82.  

McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism. Monthly Review, 52(10).

Miller, Autumn (2004).  They Are Not Us: Framing of American Indians by the Boston Globe.  Ross, Susan. Howard Journal of Communications,  Vol. 15 Issue 4, p245-259

Murphy, Sharon M. (1998). Native American Media. History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia, p420-422

www.myspace.com/nvision1 (Retrieved May 30, 2007)

Posted at 12:48PM Jun 01, 2007 by alicia kathryn thomas in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay 2: Tisha Buelto- Blogging for Darfur

Tisha Buelto

Essay 2

1 June 2007

According to comScore Network's World Metrix Service, the Internet reaches nearly 747 million of the estimated 6.6 billion people worldwide (2007). These numbers hardly constitute universal access. Furthermore, Hudson notes in her article that universal access does not guarantee universal service, meaning that these Internet penetration estimations could potentially be even few (2006). And yet, a number of human rights blogging sites call upon the world to take action. This presents somewhat of a contradiction, as only the world's elite has access to the Internet. One cannot call upon a worldwide audience that does not exist.

GlobeforDarfur.org, a cross-posted blog, between itself and SaveDarfur.org, stands as a prime example of human rights blogging sites that contradictorily call upon the world to take action. Blogging in eight different languages, the audience that GlobeforDarfur.org targets, is an imaginary worldwide audience. McChesney discusses the notion that ?dominant media firms increasingly view themselves as global entities? (2001). Put another way, Herman discusses ?dominant players treating the media market as a single global market? (1997). These concepts can be applied to larger human rights blogging sites as well. By viewing themselves as ?global entities,? they are able blindly target imaginary Internet audiences.

The problem with targeting a non-existent worldwide audience is that one loses focus on what is really there. By targeting a real audience that can really make a difference, a human rights organization such as SaveDarfur.org or GlobeforDarfur.org is better able to set and meet its organizations goals.

References:

Herman, Edward S., and Robert W. McChesney. (1997a). ?The Global Media in the Late    
    1990s.?  Chapter 2 (pp. 41-69) in Herman and McChesney, The Global Media: The New    
    Missionaries of Corporate Capitalism. London and Washington: Cassell.
    http://social.chass.ncsu.edu/~wiley/courses/447/HermanMcChesney1997a.pdf

Hudson, H. (2006b). Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides.
    Chapter 6 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunications for   
    development in the information age, pp. 83-99.
    Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/b7029.pdf.

McChesney, Robert W., Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism. (2001, March).
    Retrieved May 31, 2007 from http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm

Worldwide Internet audience has grown 10 percent in last year, according to comScore    
    Networks. (2007, March 6). Retrieved June 1, 2007 from
    http://www.comscore.com/press/release.asp?press=1242

Posted at 12:24PM Jun 01, 2007 by BUELTO, TISHA in General  |  Comments[3]

ESSAY #2 - The Walt Disney Company Conglomerate

The Walt Disney Company is indisputably one of the largest and most powerful media corporations in the world. Owning film studios and the ESPN and ABC networks has helped to establish the company as the second largest media entertainment conglomerate in world. AOL Time Warner is the largest (BBC News, 2001).  In addition to its network holdings, Disney also has its hands in internet, radio, cellular phones, and of course, has theme parks planted around globe (Sacramento Business Journal, 2007). In 2002, Disney was listed amongst the world?s top 10 most valuable brands alongside Microsoft, McDonald?s, and Coca-Cola (Khermouch, 2002, p.74). What does this mean for the global media market?

Disney is well on its way to becoming an oligopoly. Adhering to the facets of a global oligopoly as defined by McChesney, Disney is quickly stretching its shadow farther and farther across the globe, targeting countries and regions with the highest potential for profit (McChesney, 2001). In fact, Disney earns sixty percent of its overseas profits from Europe, thirty-five percent from Asia, and only five percent from lesser developed Latin America (BBC News, 2001).  However, Disney is not deterred by economic struggles plaguing countries where it believes it may establish a stronghold. In 2001, Disney began planning to open a Hong Kong Disney theme park, despite the country?s economic depression (BBC News, 2001).

With firmly established markets in four continents, is there any place Disney can?t, or won?t go? At least for now, Africa may be the answer to that question. With so much poverty, war, famine, and disease, Disneyland Somalia isn?t likely to be constructed within our life times. Countries made up of cultures determined to push away western cultural products are not likely to be profitable for the Walt Disney Company. Radio Disney isn?t broadcast in Iran. ABC Family isn?t aired in Madagascar. However, if these countries weren?t plagued with terrorism, political wars and AIDS pandemics, who?s to say Mickey Mouse wouldn?t be seen on Radio Disney billboards in Fallujah? In another eighty-five years, if Disney continues to flourish globally as it is today, there is little doubt that The Walt Disney Company will have media holdings in every developed country in the world.

BBC NEWS. (2001, June 8). Disney in global push. Retrieved May 30, 2007.

       http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1379079.stm

Khermouch, G. (2002, August 5). The best global brands. Business Week, 74.

Mc Chesney, R. (2001, March). Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism. Monthly Review.

Sacramento Business Journal. (2007, May). The Walt Disney Company overview. Retrieved May 30, 2007.

    http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/gen/The_Walt_Disney_Co_3C4F8CC2C04848A4A9913D1DD00B6969.html

Posted at 12:04PM Jun 01, 2007 by COX, KATIE in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2 - David Speidel - Online Gaming in Asia

Spread of Online Gaming in Asia

            Interactive gaming over the internet is not a new trend or technology that has developed recently.  Even in Asia, there has been a large population playing online role playing games and other interactive models that allow for people to interact with others around the world simultaneously.  Yet, until recently, the spread of these online atmospheres has been centered mostly in Japan and Korea, but has now seen a large increase in China.  The spread of this type of gaming has roots simply with the ability to access these online environments and the fervent drive for profit.

            It is important to understand that when discussing online games, it is intended as the many gaming environments that connect through the internet.  They allow interaction between users which can take form of communication or competition.  They often take the form of online role playing games, World of Warcraft the largest of this type, but there are also environments, such as Second Life, that are much more communication tools where the creation and interaction process takes precedent. 

            When discussing any creation that is reliant on the internet, the availability of access is always an issue.  Areas such as Japan and South Korea have had a large influx of western influence and financial support which created strong infrastructures.  In the case of Japan, where global corporations like Sony originated, their economy is strong enough that many Japanese have access to their own personal computers that connect to the internet.  In 2002, the percentage of their populations that used the internet was 44.6% and growing (Miyata, 2005, p. 147).  China on the other hand, has grown much more recently into an economic force.  As such their internet use is much less common, only around 3%, or 22.5 million (Chen, 2002, p. 5).  While they have the largest population in the world, the percentage of people that have access is a good barometer of how casual their use can be.  Just as Wresch discussed, those people with access to technology and education are more easily connected globally (Wresch, 1996a).  Those that are able connect to the internet through their own computers are much more likely to use it in their spare time.  As that availability increases, their use of it for leisure will most likely continue to grow.

            Yet just as the media, the quest for profit in online entertainment is a driving force for expansion.  The companies yearn to gain advantage in markets that could be profitable.  As their availability has increased China?s population becomes targeted because of the immense amount of spending power.  The previously mentioned World of Warcraft, has over six million users worldwide, at least 1.4 million of which are Asian (Woodcock, 2006).  Sony, also a large contributor in the online gaming community, is also one of the 7 largest media companies and as such drives their markets based on profit margins as they do in all their business (McChesney, 2001).   This big business is easily able to spread their product globally.  The ability to sell games and subscriptions to billions of people is impossible to ignore and creates a sort of feeding frenzy trying to gain dominance in one more global market.

            The immersion of these markets grows more each year and should continue on this trend.  Both their growth in internet users and the profits they are capable of, make them an irresistible target for the gaming industry intent on users interacting globally.  Much like any other forms of globalization this is good for those wishing to interact with new countries, and should provide interesting dynamics in the future.

Chen, W., Boase, J., & Wellman, B. (2002). The global villagers: Comparing Internet users and uses around the world. In B. Wellman & C. Haythornthwaite (Eds.), The Internet in everyday life Oxford: Blackwell.

McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, neoliberalism, and imperialism. Monthly

Review 52(10). http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Miyata, K., Boase, J., Wellman, B., & Ikeda, K. (2005) The mobile-izing Japanese: Connecting to the Internet by PC and Webphone in Yamanashi [part 1] [part 2]. In M. Ito, D. Okabe, & M. Matsuda, (Eds.), Personal, Portable, Pedestrian: Mobile phones in japanese life (pp. 143-164). Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press.

Woodcock, Bruce, S. (2006). Asian Market Peak Concurrent Users. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from MMOCHART.COM Web site: http://www.mmogchart.com/

Wresch, W. (1996a). Information rich, information poor. In Disconnected: Haves and

Have-Nots in the Information Age (chap. 1).  Retrieved May 27, 2007, from

http://www.lib.ncsu.edu:2083/Details.aspx

Posted at 11:56AM Jun 01, 2007 by SPEIDEL, DAVID in General  |  Comments[6]

Essay #2 Claire de Lespinois WSF and Access

               Alter-globalization is a social movement that supports globalization nationally, but is seeking to find alternative means to do it. As mentioned in my first essay, I discussed the largest alter-globalization group the World Social Forum. The WSF is a virtual community where people can meet to discuss world topics of their concern. It is open to anyone who wishes to access the space. While the Internet seems to be an efficient way of connecting people globally, this is not always the case. Unfortunately not everyone around the world has access to the Internet. This can cause problems, especially for social movements such as the WSF that heavily rely on the Internet s their primary means of communication. If the Internet is made available to more areas, such as rural ones, then the WSF could have more of an impact around the world. This would give a voice to those who are now forced to remain silent.
             In 2007 60,000 people gathered in Kenya, Africa at the WSF?s sixth world meeting. There they discussed important world issues under the theme, ?People?s Struggles, People?s Alternatives: Another World is Possible.? (Solomon, 2007, paragraph 1). Going along with this WSF theme, if another world is created (Internet access for those who currently do not have it) then another world will in fact be possible. As stated by McChesney ?the current era seems less the result of uncontrollable forces and more as the newest stage of class struggle under capitalism? (2001, paragraph 4). This is proven true when it comes to those who have the Internet and those who do not. Efforts are currently being made to provide Internet to those in rural areas who do not have it. As of right now it costs more for those in rural areas to connect to the Internet, than those who live in urban cities (Hudson, 2006, p.66).There are many policies under debate, seeking to solve this issue. If more people can connect to the Internet, then more people will be able to contribute to the WSF. If more people are connected to the WSF, then more issues will be heard.
             The WSF relies on ?alternative models for people-centered and self-reliant progress.? (WSF India, 2007). One alternative model to providing people in rural areas Internet access would be the community access telecenters as described by Hudson. These centers would address the digital division by providing communities? access to the Internet. (Hudson 2001 p. 94). While it would not be available to people?s households, it would provide a common place where people could go and get on line. This would be a positive step for the WSF, allowing more voices to be heard, especially that of those in need. This is just one of the many suggestions out there for getting people connected.
             In conclusion I think the relationship between the WSF and getting people in rural areas connected to the Internet is significant. In fact, this issue is something that could be discussed at the on line forum and at the next WSF meeting that will take place in 2009. Also, once more people can get connected to the Internet, more issues can be discussed and more support can be offered. Another world is possible.


Resources:

Hudson, H. (2006a). Digital divides: Gaps in connectivity. Chapter 5 in H. Hudson, From rural village to globalvillage: Telecommunications fordevelopment in the information
age, pp. 62-82.

Hudson, H. (2006b). Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides. Chapter 6 in H. Hudson,From rural village to global village:
Telecommunications for development in the information age, pp. 83-99.

McChesney, Robert W. (2001). ?Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism.? Monthly Review 52(10). Online: http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Solomon, Alicia. Out of Africa. The Nation. March 5, 2007.

WSF India. Retrieved May 31, 2007 from the world wide web: http://www.wsfindia.org/?q=node/12

Posted at 11:51AM Jun 01, 2007 by DELESPINOIS, CATHERINE in General  |  Comments[5]

Essay 2-Collapse of the Music Industry

Since the 1950s, popular music has been the voice for cultural and social change in the world. It began when TV stations refused to show Elvis from the waist down during his performances. The protest songs of the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s and 70s followed. The 1980s and 90s saw the birth of rap music telling of racism and police corruption. Today, popular music is dominated with disgust of President Bush. But how much of an impact does the music industry really have when it comes to changing the world for the better? As the global media market becomes increasingly concentrated and consolidated, record labels are constantly falling under the control of large media firms. In his article ?Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism?, Robert McChesney (2001) names seven multinational corporations that have a firm grip on the media and information industries across the globe: Disney, AOL-Time Warner, Sony, News Corporation, Viacom, Vivendi, and Bertelsmann. In McChesney?s view, neoliberalism perpetuates existing social inequalities by ?calling for business domination of all social affairs with minimal countervailing force? (2001, 3). This is where I feel the problem lies. Popular music began as the voice of the lower class and those marginalized in their respective societies. How can this still be the case when the aforementioned corporations control ?80-85% of the global music market? (McChesney, 2001, 3) The best examples of the music industry speaking up for those without a voice are benefit and charity concerts. The Concert for Bangladesh in 1971 is generally recognized at the first charity/benefit concert. Former Beatle George Harrison, along with Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar, put together an amazing ensemble of 70s musicians and played two concerts at Madison Square Garden. The absence of large media firms is quite noticeable. Instead, a group of concerned musicians came together and introduced the world to the poverty and disease issues of the then unknown nation of Bangladesh. Their objective was to simply raise awareness in hopes that people would join their cause. Fast forward to 2005 when large media firms dominate the entertainment and information industries. In the summer of that year, the meeting of the G8 nations (the 8 most ?powerful? nations on the globe) was taking place in Scotland. Representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the US, and UK met to discuss global economic issues. In response to the G8 meeting, musicians and activists around the globe organized a global concert in hopes of convincing the G8 leaders to cancel the 40 billion dollar debt of 18 African nations. This is where things get tricky. The concert, Live 8, consisted of 10 simultaneous concerts around the globe. The locations for the performances happened to be all of the G8 nations, with the exception of South Africa (www.live8live.com). The aforementioned multinational media corporations were given the task of broadcasting this monumental event. According to Dr. Michel Chossudovsky, AOL-Time Warner licensed the broadcasting rights to ABC, which is a division Disney. MTV, VH1, and CMT, networks all operated by Viacom, broadcast the event on cable television. AOL was given the exclusive rights for radio broadcasting, and Britain?s EMI music group was given the rights to produce a DVD of the event (Chossudovsky, 2005, 2). It is also worth noting that the 7 largest media corporations are based in four of the G8 nations (the United States, Japan, France, and Germany) (McChesney, 2001). At the conclusion of the event, the major corporations behind the event made millions of dollars and the African debt and poverty situation has yet to improve. In an Issue of African Business, Tom Nevin (2005) says that President Bush opposed providing aid to these African nations because ? the initiative?s rules of disbursements for grants stipulates that aid goes only to low income countries that meet strict criteria on governance, human rights, and investment in education in health? (Nevin, 2005, 1). This is a prime example of McChesney?s idea that businesses and governments under neoliberalism are completely profit driven while they ignore the interests of the lower class. References Nevin, T. (2005). JUSTICE FOR AFRICA WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM AFRICA SUMMIT. African Business, (311), 19-20. Chossudovsky, M. (2005). Live 8: Corporate Media Bonanza. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories/s1119.htm McChesney, Robert W. (2001). ?Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism.? Monthly Review 52(10). Online: http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Posted at 11:42AM Jun 01, 2007 by FULTON, WILLIAM in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2 - Chris Bigelow - $100 Laptops

Is the XO-1 Moving Closer to Universal Access?

          The XO-1 laptop appears to be one possible solution to getting technology in place in developing countries.  This more affordable technology seems as though it will guarantee anyone anywhere the ability to get connected online.  The problem, some argue, is that simply giving people internet service is not enough.  Robert McChesney argues that although some feel that "All people need to do is sit back, shut up and shop, and let markets and technologies work their magical wonders," the end result will not be the democratic exchange of ideas (McChesney, 2001, pp. 1-2).  The OLPC has been working hard to provide everyone with the hardware to get online but the actual infrastructure of networks and connection points must still be provided by someone else.  Who provides these networks and for what price?  Will the huge corporations that control western internet access be the same ones that establish access points in countries that adopt the OLPC's strategy?  These are important questions that need to be answered during the early stages of this project, rather than after its completion.  Initially, the laptops were to be designed with a completely new operating system.  The project designers refused to pay for Windows and declined an offer from Apple Computer to use OS X on the machines for free (Stecklow, 2006).  The idea was to use an open-source system and reduce the branding that comes along with the big names.  However, the Wall Street Journal reports that "Mr. Negroponte [chairman of the project], after meeting with Mr. Gates, now says, 'The machine will run anything, including Windows'" (Stecklow, 2006).

          Heather Hudson also feels that programs such as the XO-1 should be concerned with more than just providing internet service to people.  She makes the distinction between providing service and providing access to the internet.  According to her article, providing access includes providing an infrastructure, a broad range of services beyond just the basics, affordable service, and reliable service (Hudson, 2006, p. 85).  The XO-1 does not promise anything beyond giving people the potential for access to the web.

          Additionally, the laptops are to be distributed by governments to their people.  This gives power to the governments of each country to decide exactly where and how much access is granted.  William Wresch cites an example from China's history when the government banned the sale and manufacture of satellite dishes because "Too many comrades were using the dishes to bring in 'decadent' news and entertainment shows. Decadent information might lead to decadent ideas and then to decadent actions. So the government stepped in and satellite access ended" (Wresch, 1996, p. 13).  It is likely that conservative governments will prevent, or at least limit, the access that can be gained using the XO-1.  So far, Argentina, Brazil, Libya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Thailand, and Uruguay are the only governments that have committed to purchasing these laptops from the OLPC (Nystedt, 2007).  

          In light of these difficulties in the communication process, the introduction of the XO-1 is a step in the right direction, but to be truly effective, the OLPC should seriously consider ways to address the other barriers to universal internet access worldwide.  Perhaps some requirements should be established that governments must meet in order to adopt this program, or maybe there is a better way to distribute these laptops.  At the very least, the OLPC should spend some time thinking about these issues.

Works Cited:

Stecklow, Steve. (2006). The $100 Laptop Moves Closer to Reality. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 31,
     2007, from http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB113193305149696140-442o71jo_IlBrLpyUeeOdsqDs7E_20061113.html

Nystedt, Dan. (2007). One million OLPC laptop orders confirmed. IDG News Service, 2/15/07. Retrieved May 31,
     2007, from http://www.itworld.com/Tech/2987/070215olpc

Wresch, William (1996). Information rich, information poor. In W. Wresch, Disconnected: Haves and Have-Nots in
     the Information Age. New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press.

Hudson, H. (2006). Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides. Chapter 6 in H. Hudson, From
     rural village to global village: Telecommunications for development in the information age, pp. 83-99.
     Electronic reserve: http://www.lib.ncsu.edu/eresdocs/files2/b7029.pdf

McChesney, Robert W. (2001). "Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism." Monthly Review 52(10). Online:
     http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Posted at 11:33AM Jun 01, 2007 by BIGELOW, CHRISTOPHER in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2-Keitris Weathersbe-The New York Times: Its Local and Global Markets

 

        Local residents of New York City have relied on the New York Times as one of their central forms of receiving news since 1851.   With early historical focus on news coverage of interest to local residents, the New York Times has more recently broadened its national and international news and features coverage.  The historical relations of the New York Times, New York City and the rest of the world can be supported with a point made by Robert W. McChesney.  McChesney points out that ?whereas previously media systems were primarily national, in the past few years a global commercial-media market has emerged.  To grasp media today and in the future, one must start with understanding the global system and then factor in differences at the national and local levels? (McChesney, 2001, p. 2).  The latter point is extremely relevant when referring to the New York Times, its local readers in New York City, and its attempt to globalize.  The differences at the national and local levels varies; from how the way local readers receive news from the Times differs from that of national readers, how the Times online plays a role in how quickly news from the Times is received across the globe, and so on.  In the article, Toward Universal Access:  Strategies for Bridging Digital Divide, Hudson discusses the significance of the Internet, as it relates to access.  Internet access is something to consider to discussing the New York Times is its availability in non-print forms across the globe.

The Times, as has globalization, has increased its circle of influence, which raises the question as to how local readers in New York City are adapting to these changes.  Is there still a generous amount of energy spent on covering local news as with national or international news?  Because of the New York Times? attempt to globalize, is there a concern about biases?  The New York Times has often been accused of creating stories or limiting coverage of topics to please certain corporations.  Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky discuss in Manufacturing Consent how the Times relations with ?corporate conglomerates? lead to possible bias.  According to the two authors, these biases occur ?by selection of topics, by distribution of concerns, by emphasis and framing of issues, by filtering of information, by bounding of debate within certain limits. They determine, they select, they shape, they control, they restrict?in order to serve the interests of dominant, elite groups in the society? (Herman, Chomsky, 1988, p.2).  The issue with these biases is adequate and fair coverage of news will not reach all readers.  Bias that occurs through framing issues, selecting topics, and filtering information could possible result in lack of information being evenly distributed to readers.  For example, if the New York Times decides to run an article on the War in Iraq, including interviews and personal accounts from service men and women from New York City; where is the bias?  The New York Times can be viewed in a historical context as a local newspaper, based in New York City, and evolving into a national and international publication in recent history.  However, to explain the earlier example, some national and international readers may still be concerned with the Times repeatedly choosing to focus on New York City servicemen for their coverage of the War in Iraq.  To conclude this example, a bias is present if the Times decided to routinely cover only New York City service men and women, and exclude the other possible topics available in other parts of the United States or the globe.  To avoid bias, the Times has covered the ?reach of war,? the British influence and how Britain has been affected by the War in Iraq, for example (Cave, 2007, p. 1).  This particular piece may have appealed to British readers of the New York Times.

 

References

1.  Cave, Damien.  (2007).  Search for Britons Continues in Baghdad.  The New York Times.  Retrieved on May, 31, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/pages/world/worldspecial/index.html

2.  Herman Edward, Noam Chomsky.  (1988).  Manufacturing Consent.

3.  Hudson, H. (2006). Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides. Chapter 6 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunications for development in the information age, pp. 83-99.

4.   McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism. Monthly Review, 52(10).

5.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times

 

 

 

 

Posted at 11:01AM Jun 01, 2007 by WEATHERSBE, KEITRIS in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay #2 - Christina Kellmann - Americanization of Foreign Advertising

    Global advertising is becoming more popular and more widespread, thanks to an increase in corporations reaching their grasp around the world. McChesney?s article does the best explaining why globalization has affected advertising as much as it has, but Hudson?s chapter on universal access and service also raise interesting thinking points about the topic. Other case studies about global advertising also contribute to the basic message that advertising is becoming global through worldwide corporate ownership and the internet.
    Globalization has begun to take over in the recent past. McChesney (2001) said, ??previously media systems were primarily national, in the past few years a global commercial-media market has emerged? (p. 2). This being said, it is easy to understand why the idea of Americanization is showing itself through advertisements in foreign countries. For example, we think of Times Square as a center for major advertisements. The same thing can be said for big cities across the world. Major advertisements are everywhere, and they are getting larger and more widespread. Stephen Freitas (2006) found, ?The rapid and sustained consolidation of media properties over the last decade, particularly within the outdoor segment, is leading toward simplified buying for advertisers across multi-media platforms.? Outdoor advertising is huge in big cities like Tokyo, where downtown looks like Times Square. Advertising is everywhere. A picture of a Japanese subway car shows ads all taking up nearly the entire wall and ceiling space in the car. It is a mix of Japanese characters and English. Another picture shows a Japanese woman reading a newspaper with English on the front and Japanese on the back. These two pictures show just how prevalent Americanization is. McChesney (2001) said, ?The dominant media firms increasingly view themselves as global entities? (p. 3). With this thought process, it is easy to see why putting an advertisement in a Japanese subway car is just as important to American corporations as putting up a billboard in New York City.
    Hudson (2006) discusses the importance of universal access to telecommunications. Universal access allows all people to have the opportunity to connect to the internet if they want to. It is a right to information. While the right to internet access is not guaranteed, it is growing (Hudson). Internet advertising has become a booming industry. According to the CEO of the Interactive Advertising Bureau, Greg Stuart, (2006), ?The steady growth of online advertising is a clear indication that marketers continue to believe in the opportunities and effectiveness that this medium delivers in reaching and engaging their consumers.? The internet is seen as a new tool for advertisement. ?Internet advertising revenues reached a new record of $3.9 billion for the first quarter of 2006. The 2006 first quarter revenues represent a 38 percent increase over Q1 2005 at $2.8 billion? (IAB, 2006). That increase shows a definite rise in interest of corporations and firms who use the internet to target specific audiences. This is important when it comes to advertising in foreign countries because different cultures may not view advertisements in the same way. Bulmer and Buchanan-Oliver (2006) point out, ?An advertising message should be processed differently by receivers reared in different cultures, which is at odds with the assumptions implicit in the advertising literature? (p. 57). This reinforces the fact that advertising to specific audiences using the internet is necessary for some cultures. Something must also be said for the ease in which global advertising is made possible by the internet. Using this telecommunication tool, advertisements can reach around the globe without any kind of manpower. While a billboard advertising Coca-Cola in downtown Tokyo requires actual labor and travel, an online advertisement by the same brand on a Japanese web site requires a programmer and a digital designer. The ease and specificity that the internet brings to advertising is phenomenal, and Hudson?s ideas about universal access show how important the internet is in globalization.
    Two of the most important factors of global advertising are worldwide corporations and the internet. It only makes sense that a huge, global corporation would be able to advertise everywhere, and that a tool like the internet would make advertisement even easier. These two things combined help speed up the rate of globalization through advertising.

 

 

Works Cited:

 

Bulmer, S. and Buchanan-Oliver, M. (2006). Advertising across cultures: Interpretations of visually complex advertising. Journal of Current Issues and Research in Advertising 28(1), pp. 57-71.

 

Freitas, S. (2006). The globalization of outdoor advertising. The Sideroad. Retrieved May 31, 2007 from http://www.sideroad.com/marketing/globalization-outdoor-advertising.html

 

Hudson, H. (2006). Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides. Chapter 6 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunications for development in the information age, pp. 83-99.

 

Interactive Advertising Bureau. (2006). Internet advertising revenues close to $4 billion for Q1 2006. New York, N.Y. Retrieved May 31, 2007 from http://www.iab.net/news/pr_2006_05_30.asp

 

McChesney, R. W. (2001). ?Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism.? Monthly Review 52(10).

 

Image from http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2682/html/061740.jpg

 

Image from www.joystiq.com/media/2006/09/tokyo_subway_adverts_all_over.jpg

 

 

 

 

Posted at 10:05AM Jun 01, 2007 by KELLMANN, CHRISTINA in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2 - Will Long - Cubans' Voice in America

Essay #2 ? Will Long ? Cubans? Voice in America

Under Fidel Castro, the Communist Party of Cuba effectively controls the lives of Cuba?s citizens, violating rights and silencing opposition (Montaner, 2007, p. 63). Each year many Cubans try to escape their homeland to coasts of South Florida.  As of 2000, Miami-Dade County was home to an estimated 650,000 Cuban-Americans (Boswell, 2000). Cubans, along with others from Latin America and the Caribbean, have created a market in Miami, much like Hispanic markets in Spanish-speaking hot spots across the United States, that media powers can not ignore. Five major media corporations have come to control most of the images seen on television or on film, the music heard on the radio or on CDs, and the words read in magazines, books and newspapers in the United States. (Stop Big Media, 2007). Many are concerned that without government intervention, these media companies, referred to as ?big media,? are ignoring diversity and neglecting local news.  While in the past Spanish-language media has been concentrated in the areas of large Hispanic populations, such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, big media are now showing interest in one of the nation?s fastest growing media markets.

           

           Cubans have been under the fist of Fidel Castro since he led the revolution overthrowing Fulgencio Batista in 1959.  The government controls the country with overwhelming efficiency. The country?s free education system emphasizes political and ideological views of the government (Gasperini, 2000).  The government has also severely limited the access to education of information from outside the country.  Cell phones require government permits. Private connections to the Internet are illegal, ?forcing most people into internet cafes where software monitors their every click,? and prices are usually too costly for the average Cuban (Pain, 2006).  While the newspapers of Cuba are not controlled by the government, the papers are published by a variety of political groups, all of which have ties to the communist party. Radio and television are also state-run in Cuba. All the information Cubans receive comes from one source, the government-not the people-to keep control; as Wresch puts it ?decadent information might lead to decadent ideas and then to decadent actions.? (1996, p.13). When Cubans make the trek to the Miami, they arrive to the United States, the media capital of the world, believing they will have the chance to share their voices.

           

             But Cubans that are living in the United States face a media system that is very different, yet peculiarly similar.  As the Hispanic population grows, big media are beginning to realize a potential profit. In 2001, General Electric, owner of NBC, bought Telemundo, the second-place Spanish-language television network, for $2 billion (Ballve, 2004, p. 23). This deal brought controversy and fears that it ?could erode Telemundo's links to the Latino community? because GE is an American corporation (Ballve, 2004, p. 23).  Two years later Univision, the United States? largest Spanish-language television network and Telemundo?s main competitor, bought the Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, the nation?s largest Spanish-Language radio network.  This allowed Univision Communication Inc. to control more than 70 percent of the national advertising money spent on Hispanic media (Gregor, 2003, p. 62).  The Univision empire also boasts Univision Music Group (Univision records and Fonovisa records), Telefutura television network, Galavision cable network and Univision online, ?the most visited Spanish-language Internet destination in the United States.? (Univision Online, 2007).  Cubans who come to Miami may find in expressing their voices, their options may be as limited as they are in Cuba. Univision and newly acquired HBC are mostly controlled by non-Hispanics and ?that may be the most regrettable thing about the deal for some Hispanic viewers and listeners --that the words may be in Spanish, but authentic Hispanic voices may eventually be drowned out altogether by those of non-Hispanic owners?

Although they escaped the censorship of information and of their own voice in Cuba, Cuban-Americans may be facing the similar problems in the United States.  As effective as the Cuban government is at blocking access to information, McChesney noted George Orwell when he wrote ?censorship in free societies is infinitely more sophisticated and thorough than in dictatorships, because ?unpopular ideas can be silenced, and inconvenient facts kept dark, without any need for an official ban?? (2001, ¶ 26).

Sources:

Ballve, M. (2004). The Battle for Latino Media. NACLA Report on the Americas, 37(4).

Boswell, T. D. (2000). A Demographic Profile of Cuban Americans. Miami, FL: Cuban

American National Council, Inc.

Gasperini, L. (2000). The Cuban Education System: Lessons and Dilemmas. Country Studies, 1(5).

Gregor, A. (2003). What's Spanish for 'Big Media'? Columbia Journalsim Review, 42(3).

McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism. Monthly Review, 52(10).

Montaner, C. A. (2007). Cuba Libre. Foreign Policy, 158, 63.

Stop Big Media.. (n.d.). What's at Stake. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from

http://www.stopbigmedia.com/=learn

Univision Communication Inc. (2007). Univision Online. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from

            http://www.univision.net/corp/en/uol.jsp

Wresch, W. (1996). Disconnected: Haves and Have-Nots in the Information Age. New

Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Posted at 09:18AM Jun 01, 2007 by William Long in General  |  Comments[2]

Essay #2- Julia Tew- AI, ICT and Women in Afghanistan

    Wresch?s compares a case-specific set of inequalities between the information rich and the information poor in Namibia (Wresch 1996a, p. 3).  Even a cursory evaluation of the circumstances indicates that these inequalities and struggles cannot be resolved solely through increased access to information and communication technologies.  Indeed, for individuals like Negumbo, while such technologies may offer promises of future quality of life improvement, other more pressing issues of surviving life exist as well.  According to Amnesty International (AI), many Afghani women share similar struggles.  While they occupy one of the most information-poor positions in the international community, their communication poverty cannot be fully attributed to a lack of access, nor can it be completely cured through increased infrastructure or service.  Important cultural and political customs create a social structure that places this large and important segment of the population at a tangible disadvantage.  Under such oppressive circumstances, as described in AI?s published research, changes in projects and policies, such as those described in Hudson?s (2006) work will be inconsequential for the short-term life improvement of Afghani women.  
    According to AI, Afghani women suffer atrocities such as rape, torture, abduction and persecution, often at the hands of state and police officials (Women in Afghanistan, 1995).  Despite the ability to create new policy or enforce existing policy to protect women, the execution of such law is rare.  Any move to limit ruling agencies? and class? control over the society is reluctant at best, non-existent at worst (Women in Afghanistan, 1995, p. 20).  But despite the hierarchal power structures within Afghanistan, in the international community even these ruling elites hold little power when compared with their Western counterparts.
    As McChesney describes, the globalization of media has resulted in a select set of key players who control the vast majority of the world?s mass media (McChesney 2001).  While local elites rule Afghanistan with an iron hand, their power cannot extend beyond their own borders.  In the new international society, information is king, and these Middle Eastern powers are left out of the royal court.  AI then uses its situated positioning to within the Western world to advocate for its broadly international agenda.
    Since the organization is based primarily in Westernized states, it has access to both advanced communication technologies and a tech savvy audience.  As a result, it has been able to take personal stories of international trauma and abuse and diffuse them to a global population through the use of electronic messages, websites, and widely disbursed press releases (Amnesty International, 2007, p. About AI).  In fostering a strong, positive reputation among the media and technological elites, AI is able to transmit messages of the information poor to the more influential members of the international community, thus hopefully, prompting policy change, spurred on by pressure from foreign governments?.
    This plan of action does not directly focus on supplying its beneficiaries, such as the oppressed and terrorized Afghani women, with access to information technology, but its own use of the technology is intended to create global awareness of the more urgent needs.  By seeking policy that allows equal opportunity for women to create healthy and safe lives, the agenda is easily extended to include policy that will build upon the basic rights, such as safety and freedom from torture, to include provisions likely to lead to increased information technology access and utilization.  Issues such as education or the ability to form women?s organizations later translate into populations that are aware, interested and capable of employing advanced communication technology.  A recent study of ICT use and expansion in developing countries made this important link.  In Ethiopia, for example, the development of high-level technology education programs has created a gateway for increased ?expertise/awareness? of ICT? (Gebretsadik, 2005, p. 1).  Such opportunities for education and networking could similarly be provided to marginalized segments of Afghani society, and but such changes cannot occur until basic human rights policy can be established and implemented.  



Amnesty International. (1995). Women in Afghanistan: A human rights catastrophe.
Retrieved May 31, 2007, from
www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/indiv/mideast/cuvlm/women.html

Amnesty International. (2007). About Amnesty International. Retrieved May 31, 2007,
from http://web.amnesty.org/pages/aboutai-index-eng

Gebretsadik, A. (2005, March).  Computer communications in developing countries.
Global Communications Newsletter.  Retrieved May 31, 2007, from
ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/35/30467/01404596.pdf

Hudson, H. (2006). Digital divides: Gaps in connectivity. In From rural village to
global village: Telecommunications for development in the information age (chap.
5, 6).

McChesney, R. W. (2001). Global Media, neoliberalism, and imperialism. Monthly
Review 52(10). http://www.monthlyreview.org/301rwm.htm.

Wresch, W. (1996a). Information rich, information poor. In Disconnected: Haves and
Have-Nots in the Information Age (chap. 1).  Retrieved May 27, 2007, from
http://www.lib.ncsu.edu:2083/Details.aspx

Posted at 09:00AM Jun 01, 2007 by TEW, JULIA in General  |  Comments[3]

Essay #1, Pat Bedics, Apple Makes Strides in Japan

                                          Apple Makes Strides in Japan

    Apple markets itself as an entity, rather than one single product, to international markets.  Without the spread of commercial media, McChesney makes the statement that ?economic and cultural globalization arguably would be impossible? (2001, p1).  Thinking globally is not a current trend among big business anymore, but a staple.  Agreeing with this point is Gerald Levin of AOL-Time Warner by declaring, ?We do not want to be viewed as an American company.  We think globally? (McChesney, 2001, p3).  It is almost thought of as a bad thing to want to sell domestically.  This is the mindset that is a must in order to bring great success into the big company?s pockets.  No company wants to be thought of as limited or restrained to the country in which they emerged, that would be thought of as suicide nowadays.  There are multiple markets to be explored from businesses, and that requires thinking internationally from the beginning.
    Although Apple has accomplished a lot outside of the U.S. in its existence, it was just recently that they took a giant leap to help them notch another dominant location in their quest for profit.  Apple opened its ?first retail outlet outside the U.S.? in Japan just 4 years ago (Media Asia, 2003).  This has proven to be a wise investment and expansion for Apple, as the store has seen over 20 million people come in the store in its short existence already (Media Asia, 2003).  Aside from just sticking the store in Japan, and completely walking away from it leaving all their products to sell and explain themselves to the Japanese, Apple is bringing not only systems but also education about them.  They instituted in upwards of 400 classes and workshops to take place in the Japan store to be a way in which the consumers can educate themselves on the product (Media Asia, 2003). 
    In a mission statement provided by the people at Apple they make it evident that they are, in fact, looking to reach potential buyers all over the world.  They state:
    ?Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience to
    students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around the world
    through its innovative hardware, software and Internet offerings? (Rauckhorst,
    J. & Weil, C., 2003).
It is the final addition to the list of people they are looking to reach, by expanding their demographic to include international consumers.  The spread of Apple in Tokyo, Japan, which has been classified as a top place to shop throughout the globe (Rauckhorst, J. & Weil, C., 2003), would not really be the equivalent of the service and access that is missing in other countries.  Tokyo is an incredibly sophisticated city within a highly developed country, and just because this is the first Apple store outside of the U.S. border does not mean they are attempting to help out Tokyo by spreading their products.  There is still the break in universal systems and universal access that Hudson discusses, that are not being mended in Apple?s expansion (Hudson, 2006). 
    Apple?s move to Japan is in efforts to establish a counterforce in the East, to their Western market that has prospered since the 1970s.  This is just another specific instance of big companies realizing the moves they need to make to not only stay on top of the market they are currently in, but also to continue to get their foot in the door of new ones.

     REFERENCES
Hudson, H. (2006).  Toward universal access: Strategies for bridging digital divides.
    Chapter 6 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunications
    For the development in the information age, pp. 83-89.

McChesney, R.W. (2001).  Global media, neoliberalism and imperialism, Monthly
    Review, 52(10).

Rauckhorst, J., & Weil, C. (2003).  Apple?s first retail store opens in tokyo this saturday.
    Retrieved May 31, 2007, from www.apple.com/pr/library/2003/nov/27ginza.html

(2003).  Hands-on feel at Apple?s new five-level japan store, Media Asia, p12.

Posted at 08:56AM Jun 01, 2007 by BEDICS, PATRICK in General  |  Comments[1]

Essay#2 - J. Preston - Rural Schools Need Technology.

    We live in a world of swiftly growing technological advances, and increasingly large shift of communicational and educational practices.   Due to the recent heightened awareness of globalization, we sometimes get caught up in the notion that we must distribute our technological assets across the globe evenly in order to achieve a more level worldwide playing field.  When we ponder this subject from this "global" point of view, it is easy to overlook that the distribution of communication technology is not sitting on a level playing field here in the United States.  As shocking as it seems, many of our rural schools lack basic communication technologies such as the Internet.  "The term digital divide was coined in the 1990's to describe the gap between ICT (haves) and (have nots) (i.e., those with and without access to telecommunications and Internet services)" (Hudson, 2006 pg 63).   More than one-fourth of U.S. public schools students attend school in rural areas, and nearly one-fifth, approximately 88 million students, attend school in the smallest communities with fewer than 2,5000 residents according to "Why Rural Matters," the third of a series of reports by the Rural Schools and Community Trust (ESchoolsNews, 2005, pg1).  When we compare educational issues such as poverty, socio-economical barriers, graduations rates, and test scores between urban and rural communities, it is conclusive that rural areas have a notable disadvantage.  Rural schools in the United States require technological advancements in order to level the educational playing field.
    Distance learning is one solution to help overcome the barriers that rural schools face, and to help them achieve despite their geographical limitations.  Distance learning via the Internet has proven to be effective at ensuring that rural schools are able to provide rich curriculum for students without having to uproot them into other communities.  Rural school systems across the nation are implementing distant education to provide more opportunities for their students.  The RSCT suggest that distant education works best when cluster of smaller, less funded schools, pool their resources in efforts to support staff, improve funding, and create more academic choices for ambitious students (electronic-schools, 2001, pg 2).
    The Internet is increasingly becoming a part of our media and telecommunication systems ( McChesney, 2001 p1). Without the internet, schools in rural areas have no starting point at which to begin implementing programs that will help place them on a more level playing field.  Therefore, it is imperative that new technological resources, such as the Internet, be distributed throughout all urban schools in the United States.
Rural schools in the United States require technological advancements in order to level the educational playing field. 
    Rural education faces the greatest challenge in predominantly urban states, where the needs of students in smaller, more remote systems are often overshadowed by the attention commanded by their urban counterparts.  We often speak or hear about the newly imposed no child left behind policy, but I believe that in order to successfully achieve this concept, we should redirect out attention to a no school left behind policy.





ESchools News (2005, pg1) www.eschoolsnews.com Shared technology fortifies ed.

Electronic-school (2001, pg 2) www.electronic-school.com The World We Live In: Rural and urban board members alike recognize technologies importance today.

Hudson, H. (2006a). Digital divides: Gaps in connectivity. Chapter 5 in H. Hudson, From rural village to global village: Telecommunication for development in the information age, pp. 62-82.

McChesney, Robert W. (2001). ? Global Media, Neoliberalism, and Imperialism.? Monthly Review, pp 1-18.

Posted at 08:40AM Jun 01, 2007 by PRESTON, JASON in General  |  Comments[2]