Global Technology and Global Culture in 21st Century - Essay Example

Introduction The effects of globalization and the Internet technological advancements could be observed at a global scale in the 21st century. Because of the multinational corporations' worldwide operations and the Internet's ability to bring people closer, different cultures are intermingling with each other. Companies like McDonalds, Coca Cola and Microsoft etc are removing differences in eating habits, life styles and consumption elements existing in different societies. Now Eastern and Western nations are coming closer to each other and as a result, there have been a lot of concerns that the advancements in global technology and globalization would be detrimental to local cultures which would collectively emerge as one global culture. This paper investigates into the extent to which the Internet technology and globalization are paving way for the development of a global culture. It also sheds light on how multinational corporations and the technology are causing cultures to blend into one another. Global Technology and Global Culture in 21st Century Advancement in technology and globalization has led to the creation of a global culture where people around world taste the same food, enjoy the same music and drive the same cars. Globalization in the form of multinationals entering into new markets has caused the global dispersion of products and services. Youngelson-Neal, Neal, and Fried propound that "multinational enterprises and sophistical forms of technology are the locomotive forces driving these dramatic changes." (31) The changes that have occurred in the world due to the vast operations of multinational corporations for the last several decades are now being termed as promoters of a culture that is experienced by people globally. Multinational corporations have been the main drivers of this cultural revolution because of these companies' ever expanding global activities. The Internet has played a great role in the creation of global culture by removing the distance virtually. The latest developments in the form of virtual communities, social networks and cybernetics have caused people to come together and influence each other. McDonald's and the Internet have fetched the world towards an experience of a global culture, which is experienced in the same manner throughout the world (Misa 228) Since Internet has been introduced it has made its vide impact on the people of all fields and class, the people of various places are coming closer due to the communities like Internet Relay Chat (IRC), Multi-User Dungeons (MUDs) etc. Numbers of interesting games are played on Internet i.e. chess and go poker etc. Those are entertaining for both kids and elder people. Increasing in the effectiveness of organizations resulted in the form of better traditional farming. It has become an art to have own web page that people usually make in their free time. As the translation software has been introduced many people who were strangers to each other because they were unfamiliar with the each other languages have become friends (Cooper). Internet has developed its own culture and people of different countries are becoming a part of it. People from various place are developing their own community in which they come and chat with each other even if they don't know each other's language. . Because of the success of Internet technologies and globalization, the American culture has been spreading far and wide. The American fast food, music, dresses, lifestyle, movies and cold drinks can be spotted anywhere in the world. Misa asserts that "today, the worldwide spread of MTV, American Television, and American fast food is said to drive out local cultural productions and destroy cultural diversity." (227) Companies like Mc Donald's and MTV have global presence and people around the world experience these products. Holton also suggests that multinational corporations including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Microsoft, Benetton, Nokia, Ericsson, Bertellsman have the same image around the world (142) Increasing popularity of Hollywood and American movies throughout the world has also been acting as a factor bringing changes to lifestyles in different societies. It has been criticized that such changes could be detrimental to the global cultural diversity. It is said that creation of a global culture is causing the local cultures to diminish and lose vigor. Furthermore, advancement in transportation methods as well as new technologies like cellular services act as facilitators of communication. Youngelson-Neal, Neal, and Fried suggest that "the new transportation and information technologies connect people in ways that were not possible before." (35) People have been communicating with each other in newer ways and through quicker channels. This lack of barriers at a global scale is opening new dimensions for mingling of different cultures. People especially the younger generation are adopting the elements of new cultures in an increasing manner. With lot of interaction, communication and transfer of opinions, the world is becoming a global village having single global culture. The Internet pundits and experts are increasingly raising their voices on the issue of global culture. It is because of the fact that Internet is responsible for quick and easy communication and intermingling among people from different cultures (Hongladarom). The world is becoming smaller with the passage of time due to Internet as its usage has increased during last couple of years. Internet has the power that can remove all the obstacles as it has become popular in all over the world. Internet has removed the distances and now information can be sent in a matter of seconds. Internet works without any restrictions and the day will come when all cultural differences will be eliminated and only one culture will exist. Conclusion This paper discusses the ways through which globalization and advancements in technology are leading to the creation of a global culture where people around the world experience the same products, share similar views and enjoy standardized lifestyles. McDonald's, Coca Cola, Hollywood and American music are increasingly leading to harmonization of culture and lifestyle throughout the world. The younger generation is demonstrating a great tendency to adopt the elements of different cultures, in particular, the American culture. This has been the major reason causing the pundits to raise concerns that this might lead to the removal of cultural diversity. Works Cited Cooper, Wesley. Information Technology and Internet Culture", The University of Alberta, 2000, 01 May 2007 Holton, Robert, Globalization's Cultural Consequences, The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 2000, 570: 140-152 Hongladarom, Soraj. Negotiating the Global and the Local: How Thai culture Co-opts the Internet (2000), 01 May 2007 Misa, Thomas J. Leonardo to the Internet: Technology & Culture from the Renaissance to the Present. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2004 Youngelson-Neal, Helen, Neal Arthur G., and Fried, Jacob. Global and Local Culture in the 21st Century. Journal of American and Comparative Cultures, Fall/Winter, 2001, 24(3-4): 31-36 Read More