American cultural imperialism.
Have you ever missed the newest episode of MTV's The Real World or the latest American idol season and SIGHHHHH so loudly, start complaining to the person beside you and start rolling on the floor to vent your frustrations?
If yes, it is normal. Don't worry. You are not the only one feeling this way!
Well, Singaporeans today tend to feel this way due to the process of American cultural imperialism which in my opinion is largely a byproduct of an inevitable globalization.
Sometimes I see young people huddling in flurry of baggy combat pants, skateboards, and slang along Orchard road. Be it be posers or kids that want to act cool, I believe that American culture has sipped into them and influence their perception of what's cool, thus resulting in the act above. Previously, skating was not that very popular in Singapore compared to today.
Popular fast food joints such as McDonalds are practically situated almost every corner of our island. Not forgetting Coca-Cola and Starbucks. We often patronise these franchises originated from America. Then, how can our local food franchises compete against these giants?
Also, I am studying an American degree programme and I feel that there is a need to learn the American culture and pick up their communcation techniques and various slangs as well as jargons. Perhaps this is also due to the American culural imperialism?
So what do you guys think? Should we embrace American cultural imperialism with all our hearts?
If yes, it is normal. Don't worry. You are not the only one feeling this way!
Well, Singaporeans today tend to feel this way due to the process of American cultural imperialism which in my opinion is largely a byproduct of an inevitable globalization.
Sometimes I see young people huddling in flurry of baggy combat pants, skateboards, and slang along Orchard road. Be it be posers or kids that want to act cool, I believe that American culture has sipped into them and influence their perception of what's cool, thus resulting in the act above. Previously, skating was not that very popular in Singapore compared to today.
Popular fast food joints such as McDonalds are practically situated almost every corner of our island. Not forgetting Coca-Cola and Starbucks. We often patronise these franchises originated from America. Then, how can our local food franchises compete against these giants?
Also, I am studying an American degree programme and I feel that there is a need to learn the American culture and pick up their communcation techniques and various slangs as well as jargons. Perhaps this is also due to the American culural imperialism?
So what do you guys think? Should we embrace American cultural imperialism with all our hearts?
posted by Matthew at
9:47 PM
6 Comments:
Since globalization in this time and age seeks to 'unify' people around the world into a single entity/society that functions together, there is no doubt that we will have a taste of what different cultures have to offer, be it through media, an individual etc. The contribution of "American culture" is just one among the many.On the contrary,I still do believe that there are people who value their roots. So its not all lost.
Ultimately, it is one's own will to either 'go with the flow' or be strong characters in values/beliefs.It is an individual choice, each having its pros and cons.
i believe the integration of the western cultures, such as the american culture, into our lives has become inevitable as the younger generations are increasingly exposed to those western ideals and practices through the media, especially well-established organisations such as Hollywood which provides western movies for vast amount of audiences worldwide.
However we should preserve our Asian culture and traditions as they are our roots and gives us our identity. I believe we should adopt the positive influences of the western culture and modify them to fit into our own ideals since one of the aim of globalisation seeks to allow cutural exchange.
As a cosmopolitan city, it's natural for us to embrace certain acceptable cultures. American culture seems to be the leading culture in Singapore. One reason is that it is being primarily accentuated by the local media by broadcasting numerous TV productions from the US compared to other cultures. Hence, we assimilate such foreign culture easily due to consistent exposure to it.
I believe that majority of the Singaporeans are being "Americanised" but we are not totally embracing that as our absolute culture. We are still practicing our own cultures according to our races. It would be quite impossible to let American culture take over our society, if it concerns about our limited public holidays allocated for different races and religions.
Indeed the influx of American brand and tv shows have resulted in Singapore to be moving towards the American culture. Agreeing with you totally Matt, youths nowadays are having this slang that they are trying to adopt. However, I do not reckon that we should actually be behaving in this manner. Despite being overseas, i'm still very much proud to be a Singaporean and refusing my every right to actually change and adopt the culture of "American-ised". It's a good thing for these youth to be actually speaking proper English, however there is a limit to the slang they use during conversation. I reckon some of them are actually trying to hard to slang, and in which have resulted in them being inaudible.
I agree that perhaps because of the amount of american brands and tv shows that are coming into Singapre, we have in turn become such that we want to be like that. However, I believe that Singaporeans still retain some of their own cultures. We have our very own Singlish and slang as well...
I think Singapore straddles in a unique position where its economy and cultural influences through media is influenced by the West and yet, it still has its eastern roots.
As such, we should keep our perspective in context, such that we keep what is deemed 'good' (such as the western ideals of democracy and freedom) while keeping our heritage despite globalization.
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