Gradually, the world’s population is becoming integrated in to one community. Interaction between people from various continents and countries is bringing people together such that the national boundaries and racial differences are becoming of little significance. This process has been facilitated by the growing entertainment industry.
Prior to the modern communication and the internet, the major mode of interaction between people of different races from different geographical locations was through trade. Missionary work was also a significant contributor to this phenomenon. However, the recent developments in communication have elicited interest in different races in terms of cultural and social interaction. The major factors in this interaction are the internet and mobile telephony (Crothers, 2007).
One unique development that is a result of globalization is the popularity of the pop culture. Beginning with pop music, which has been in the market for a significant period, the pop lifestyle has become embedded into the lives of the majority of young Americans.
This culture has been promoted primarily by globalization of economy. Global entertainment industry is doing remarkably well due to the adoption of the culture in other countries (Bertho, 2008). The growing importance of the industry through globalization has a serious effect on the American youth.
Most of the prominent figures in the entertainment industry have grown immensely rich due to their worldwide sales. Consequently, the perception of the American people towards entertainment industry is overwhelmingly positive.
While the American customs are becoming more popular around the world, pop culture emerges as the most popular aspect of the said social customs. In turn, the American youth is becoming more inclined to emulating the leading proponents of the culture (Bertho, 2008).
The popular trend is enhanced by the concept of free trade that is being increasingly adopted by the world economies, with the United States being the chief campaigner for the liberalization of trade. American entertainment services dominate the European entertainment markets, and are also dominant in the developing nations.
Since the entertainment industry is an important sector of the economy, the United States government does not regulate its trend even with the increasing social concerns. Canadian media is also dominated by United States’ entertainment and information services such that the Canadian media is indistinguishable from United States’ broadcasts (Dunn, 1995).
The picture painted by the entertainment industry is not accurate. Entertainment art relies on exaggerated drama and fiction, which is primarily an imaginative field. However, the American youth seems to be indifferent to the fictitious natures of this illusion.
Although this industry has a positive effect on the economy, there is a growing concern that it is overwhelming other important areas of knowledge. Most children and young adults have been absorbed by the popularity of the American culture so that they have abandoned most of the important realms of knowledge that are crucial to the stability and wellbeing of future generations.
For example, rock music, which has preoccupied most young Americans due to its popularity around the world, advocates for abandoning of the concept of tradition, and adopting a more liberal approach to life (Crothers, 2007). This perception is more pervasive than helpful to the American people.
There is also fear that homogenization of the economy and the entertainment industry will eventually erode the American culture and identity.
Furthermore, the cultures of the world society are speculated to merge into one homogenous culture in the future. This way, the distinct identities of different cultures will be dissolved. Moreover, this has started manifesting in the adoption of a single pop culture in the entertainment industry.
References
Bertho, M. (2008). The impact of globalization on the United States. Westport, Conn.: Praeger.
Crothers, L. (2007). Globalization and American popular culture. Lanham, Md.: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Dunn, H. S. (1995). Globalization, communications, and Caribbean identity. New York: St. Martin’s Press.