Globalization is a multifaceted process involving many aspects of life. One of the most controversial aspects of this process is culture, including the spheres of leisure and entertainment, the concept of consumption, philosophy and way of life. The main advantage of this process is the dissemination of information and knowledge within the global information space (Steger 42). Many countries and civilizations are no longer isolated from other parts of the world, making cultural exchange and, consequently, the establishment of interstate relations possible. In the end, this can lead to the formation of a global culture, allowing people to feel unity and to organize effective cooperation.
The negative side of globalization is that the resulting mass culture becomes dominant. Elite, high levels of perception of music, fine arts, and cinema are losing their relevance (Iveta Silova and Sarfaroz Niyozov 26). Moreover, the process of mass culture blurs the boundaries of national and ethnic identity in many countries of the world (Pieterse 54 ). Ultimately, many researchers remain concerned about the risk of creating an excessively homogeneous society in which the individual characteristics of national cultures are not taken into account (Young & Restless in China. Season 2008. Episode 9). In many countries, such a process is often referred to as universal Westernization, but the significance of this phenomenon remains debatable.
Thus, the processes of globalization need to be carefully monitored and studied. Globalization in the above spheres has many advantages and disadvantages, compensating sufficiently for each other. This will enable national authorities to regulate and restrain the displacement of elitist and national cultures while spreading mass culture. A well-developed system of checks and balances must be in place to allow humanity to benefit only from the positive aspects of globalization.
Works Cited
Iveta Silova, and Sarfaroz Niyozov. Globalization on the Margins. IAP, 2020.
Pieterse, Jan. Globalization and Culture: Global Mélange. Rowman & Littlefield, 2020.
Steger, Manfred B. Globalization: A Very Short Introduction. 5th ed., Oxford Univ Press, 2020.
“Young & Restless in China. Season 2008. Episode 9.”. Web.