The risis of Public Values in the Age of the New Media - Assignment Example

Cultural Studies Cultural Studies 5. What are some of the changing cultural/geographical/political/economic conditions and “crises” that currently confront cultural studies and cultural studies practitioners? ANS- Cultural study is the field that largely involves making researches on and about the traditions, values and notable demarcations within a group in particular and a society as a whole. However, recent changes in the geographical, political, cultural and economic conditions have paved the way for more modernized and advanced ways of life, which as a result has affected the standing and scope of cultural studies and its practitioners. This paper will argue that cultural hybridity due to the growing influence of Information Technology, racial-mixing, rapidly transforming political and socio-political interests and deteriorating economic conditions have served as crises situations for cultural studies. The fact cannot be negated that cultural approaches and influences are changing radically due to technological advancements and media intrusion. Jennifer Wemigwans pointed out that “notions of a radically changed environment are further tested when thinking of cyberspace and its potential.” (2008) It is true that the Internet has proven to be helpful in preserving cultural heritage and traditions of indigenous communities by providing them an opportunity of “economic and social renewal” (Wemigwans, 2008) However, it is also a fact that the cultural hybridity that is encouraged by social media and cyberspace is an aspect that has made it difficult for cultural studies practitioners to research more on traditions of a society and identifying its cultural orientation. With the growing trend of cultural homogenization it is becoming a problem to differentiate one culture from the other and this has imposed an obstacle for future researches. A culture is primarily the distinction of values, norms and lifestyle that makes a section of people appear dissimilar from the other and due to the influence of cultural mixing in almost every aspect of everyday life from dining, music and/or relationships, the very spirit of culture and its study is at stake and hugely compromised. There are positive outcomes of this cultural hybridity such as extensive knowledge and acceptance about other cultures becomes possible but as a result people start adjusting their own norms to those they prefer from the other cultures and this adjustment will prove to be catastrophic for future generations. Another issue that is strictly culture-oriented is of racial hybridity or mixed-race that is actually a fruit of the colonial times but in the contemporary cosmopolitan society it has become somewhat indispensable. Racial disparity has seen its fair share of alienation and isolation however; it has now evolved tremendously as society turns race-free. Today, people hailing from different parentage are not considered “the degenerate monsters” but instead, they have been entitled as the “super-citizens of the new global world,” affirms Jin Haritaworn (2009). Nowadays, mixed-race couples are a common sight and according to Haritaworn, “ethnic ambiguity has been declared the ‘hot’ embodiment of a post-race west” (2009). This aspect has also enabled difficulties for cultural practitioners because when people from distinct racial or ethnic lineage receive acceptance in a society, the probability of adopting and adapting to the foreign culture becomes highly likely, which ultimately jeopardizes their own cultural practices. Apparently, the inflexible relationship shared by interracial kinship of the past and classed discourse of the present created a confusion for people and in neutrality was the solution found, which ultimately reached an extent that currently pose a threat to cultural studies. The economic upturns in the recent past (especially the 2008 economic depression) most likely has affected the scope of cultural studies. Celine-Marie Pascale believes that “in fundamentally important ways, sociology and cultural studies have been divided by their respective emphases on economic and cultural analyses regarding the production of class” (2005). Today, the issue of poverty and homelessness is of highest importance as well as prominence all over the world even in modernized and developed regions like the United States. Scholars tend to become divisive over the subject of homelessness and poverty where sociologists are concerned with the “social construction” whereas cultural theorists focus on its “economic explanations” (Pascale, 2005). The culture of homelessness both in abstract (that is, for immigrants) and literal forms (that is for poor and deprived sections of society) has acted as a critical issue that has deteriorated the research scope of cultural studies. The debate regarding the true definition and outline of homelessness is a heated one; whether it denotes homesickness, identity formation and/or condition generated by economic processes has become an issue of concern as well as diaspora. Henry Giroux believes that privatization, commodification, and unbridled individualism, which are the fruits of market fundamentalism and Neoliberalism, have “severely undermined and excised from public discourse” the vital components of culture such as social relations and values (2011). Due to these approaches the formative parts of culture that are responsible for democratic polity have been overlooked or ignored not just by the politicians but by public as well. If political aspects that serve as crises for cultural researches are analyzed then the dramatic geo-political and socio-political changes prompted by the debacle of September 9, 2001can be termed as a defining incident that brought forth various issues. Antonia Darder and Luis F. MirOn opine that in the US, uncertainty has taken over the “unchallenged ideological, economic and military dominance of national certainty” post the devastating 9/11 attacks, which has sabotaged the collective harmony and fear has emerged as the dominating force (2006). In the name of democracy United States waged war against Afghanistan and Iraq, which seriously affected the psyche of an ordinary citizen whether it was an American or Iraqi or from those regions where the fear of attacks presides such as Iran. Due to the abrupt political changes, overwhelming inequality in economic and social fronts has been witnessed and this has generated a plethora of issues that has hugely expanded the scope of cultural studies and alternatively made researching all the more complex. People are afraid of terrorism and war but at the same time due to the economic depression there are other critical issues such as inflation, substandard living, unemployment and job insecurities, expensive health care and transportation, etc. (Darder and Miron, 2006) This untimely breeding of uncertainty throughout the world has not just encouraged economic inequity but numerous other problems of critical importance has gained prominence such as “the plight of Muslims, Middle-Eastern women, and oppressed population around the globe” (Darder and Miron, 2006). Therefore, it can be stated that fear has emerged as a domineering force that plagues the psyche of people around the world nowadays. When this fear gets coupled with the battle for survival in the financially trying times of this age and people are forced to leave their homeland in search of a better future, then cultural identity takes a backseat which affects cultural studies. 9. What do James and Razack reveal about the continuing significance of race and the politics of racism at present? ANS- The issue of race, racism and discrimination on the base of color and ethnicity has plagued every society since colonial times. However, lately resentment against discriminatory practices was witnessed in every society as people became aware about their fundamental human and civil rights. The election of Barack Obama as the president of United States is a proof of that considering that it is the same society where terror and slavery encompassed African-American community during the 19th century. On the other hand racial discrimination or racism is still evident at many levels as well. In this paper, two articles from Sherene H. Razack and Staline M. James on the issue of racism and politics of racism in present age will be analyzed. Sherene H. Razack’s article titled “Stealing the Pain of Others” (2007) was written after the Rwandan genocide, which took place during 1994 (from April to July). During this period around 500,000-1,000,000 members of the Rwandan Tutsi and moderate Hutu communities were slaughtered by the powerful members of Hutu community who observed unparalleled majority in Rwanda. To understand the point made by Razack, it is important to highlight the main reason behind the occurrence of this mass slaughter at the beginning of 21st century. This mass murder was planned by the members of Rwanda’s most prominent political party Akazu and this incident wiped out over 70% of Tutsis and approx. 20% of the regions total populace. The conflict between the government (led by Hutus) and the emerging party of the Rwandan refugees called Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) was over the agreement that entitled RPF for sharing power with the government. This shows that political interests in this age and time as well play a vital role in regulating racial discrimination and human rights violation. Razack in this article proclaims that “ethnic hatred” is one of the primary reasons behind the incident of such enmity, the others being of political, social and economic nature. However, the main point that Razack tried to put forth is the change in the perspective of what is assumed as “others” or people from different parts of the world. The way protests all over England were observed against the massacre and loss of innocent lives for maintaining political hegemony on Rwanda is indeed a significant change. Existence of political racism, although, was evident from Rwanda genocide that reminded of the colonial times, but Razack asserts that the eruption of such humongous outrage over protecting the rights of “people from another color” was unimaginable especially from a country where Whites were in majority (2007). Razack highlights the fact that the act of protests may appear empathetic outwardly but a closer inspection reveals that today, people need such “images and stories to confirm [their] own humanitarian character;” protests have become a mode of “stealing the pain of others,” since it “reinstall us as morally superior” in relation to those who are suffering (2007) Staline M. James in his article “Barack Obama: Coalitions of a Purple Mandate” (2009) reveals the other side of the coin by highlighting the election of a member from African-American community as the president of United States (the highest possible honor). However, James also believe that despite this surprising turn of perceptions the fact persists that America society is plagued by two key issues: “historical myopia and dichotomized thinking towards race and gender” (2009). James asserts that back in 1969 even after the success of the Civil Rights Movement, the prospect of having a government headed or opposed by a member of the Black community was unthinkable. James believes that developed societies are opening up to the issue of equality as far as race and gender are concerned and configures the election of Barack Obama in 2008 as an “audacity of hope.” (2009) However, James affirms that “we have yet to move beyond the quintessential black/white dichotomy in a manner that accurately and clearly begins to delineate the many shades of race.” (2009) In American society, according to James, Black is like an umbrella term that is used to differentiate members that do not belong to the White community, which is an indecent practice. This sort of thinking has largely compromised the identity of other groups because in the US multiple races are residing but all these groups whether Negro, Afro-American, Haitian or Nigerian are broadly identified as black. The only difference is that multiple races are identified in two groups of blacks: the descendants of “Old African Diaspora or slavery diaspora” of the 15th -19th centuries and the “New African Diaspora” that largely comprise of immigrants who entered America after the termination of Transatlantic Slave Trade (James, 2009). From both these articles one aspect of racism that becomes obvious is that it is still a matter of conflict, confusion and alienation. If Rwanda Genocide stirred the emotions of whites in England, then the reason was not purely sentimental but it was actually the urge of showing the strength of their moral character that triggered the protests. Similarly, in America although Obama got elected as the president but the gap between whites and blacks still persists and it is a reality that cannot be denied. Obama’s election is a ray of hope undoubtedly but it is like the first step towards sustainment of a society where everyone is treated equally. Race is still a primary perpetrator of decision-making processes at political front. It is a fact that is highlighted by both James and Razack in their respective articles. James asserts that race was certainly a main factor in the presidential campaign of Barack Obama, which ultimately became a fight between the whites and blacks. Republicans could not afford to criticize the involvement of Obama in the race of empowerment because this would have entitled them as “Racists” (James, 2009) Whereas, Razack highlights that western world has engaged itself in what seems like is a process of consumption, which acts like an opposition of outrage and an attempt to gain superiority. As a result racial conflict is still in action despite the fact that whites are protesting for the blacks. Razack is perplexed over the honesty and purity of sympathetic emotions that people tend to show whenever images of hostility and injustice towards those from a different race circulate on the media. Razack cannot evaluate with surety if people really are feeling the pain of others (the aboriginal in this context not just the Rwandans) or is this just a gesture of dehumanizing them even more. From a broader perspective it can be concluded that Razack and James share similar opinions regarding the status of racial identity and disparity in present times. Razack feels that the incident of Rwanda genocide exposed the true face of the government towards people of its own color. On the other hand James feel that American society is also prone to discrimination however, for the sake of maintaining a positive repute worldwide, those in power need to maintain a tactful silence over the matter. Nonetheless, racism even in this century is a reality and plays a central role in altering the political, economic and social scenarios both within a region and at a global level. References Darder, A. & MirOn, L. F. (2006). Critical pedagogy in a time of uncertainty: a call to action. Cultural Studies Critical Methodologies, 6 (1), pp. 5--20. Giroux, H. A. (2011). The crisis of public values in the age of the new media. Critical Studies In Media Communication, 28 (1), pp. 8--29. Haritaworn, J. (2009). Caucasian and Thai make a good mix gender, ambivalence and the mixed-race body. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 12 (1), pp. 59--78. James, S. M. (2009). Barack Obama: coalitions of a purple mandate. Souls: A Critical Journal of Black Politics, Culture, and Society, 11 (1), pp. 51--59. Pascale, C. (2005). There’s no place like home: the discursive creation of homelessness. Cultural Studies↔ Critical Methodologies, 5 (2), pp. 250--268. Razack, S. H. (2007). Stealing the pain of others: reflections on Canadian humanitarian responses. The Review of Education, Pedagogy, And Cultural Studies, 29 (4), pp. 375--394. Wemigwans, J. (2008). Indigenous worldviews: cultural expression on the world wide web. Canadian Woman Studies, 26 (3). Read More