Many experts admit that the contemporary world has changed greatly due to the process of globalization. Some of them admit that one of the reasons for globalization was the rapid development of the technology and media world. ‘Contemporary social theory recognizes the importance of both mass media and information technology in the process o transformation, typically, in interaction with globalization processes’1. The phenomenon of globalization shifted not only cultural boundaries but also served to broaden the market. As a result, contemporary media offers great opportunities and uncovered fields for further development.
There are different theories concerning globalization. The majority of people tend to think that globalization in this aspect means the increase and widening of interconnection. The phenomenon presupposes far more complicated processes. Still, it is obvious that globalization and communication are closely connected, and communication is the basis of media: if there is no communication, there would not be the necessity of mass media. That is why some experts tend to think that the main mechanism of globalization and its development is communication. Nevertheless, it is rather difficult to state what provides the basis for development: communication (media) for globalization, or globalization for communication. The thing is that the number of signs, linguistic and of other nature, increases every day because of the interconnection of a different culture. It is the aspect of globalization. Still, as has been mentioned above, without communication there would not be globalization. In other words, globalization and media are two phenomena that influence each other. Such interconnection and interrelation offer new possibilities for the field of marketing, and, in many aspects, mass media became influenced not only by globalization but also by customer demand as a result of globalization.
Such phenomenon as censorship is usually presupposed by various cultural, political, historical, religious, and other kinds of reasons. Censorship is not a completely negative aspect of mass-media control. It is just a necessary tool that may be used for good or bad purposes.
During force, in major situations, media censorship is often used as a tool of controlling people and calming them down. For example, the German government broadcasted messages which contained data about German victories even when the advancement of German forces stopped. Disinformation and censorship kept people’s spirits high. It is obvious, that censorship of news continues up to now, still, in some way it is dictated by political necessities. From another point of view, it is also guided by some selfish interests.
Religious censorship is also widespread, as long as viewers of this or that religious group may find some facts offensive.
It may be impossible to present this or that kind of video for some certain part of an auditorium without its editing. For example, episodes that contain violent or erotic scenes should be edited if they are to be presented to underaged viewers. Vulgar lexis is also often eliminated or deafened as it is fulfilled by such channels as ABC, CBS, and NBC. Still, episodes with abuse are intentionally included in some movies, for example, Snatch by Guy Ritchie. Nowadays several main ethical guidelines should be observed during movies demonstration: vulgar actions, sins, and crime scenes should not be presented as positive acts. Moral models of life should be praised in the movies industry. As well as a movie should not promote criminals’ actions and make watchers like them. Still, very often these aims are achieved by contradictory methods.
Bibliography
Hjarvard, S. ‘Media in a globalized society. Museum Tusculanum Press, Copenhagen, 2003, p. 27.