Cultural Convergence

Cultural ConvergenceHow has an American company, like

McDonald's, dealt with these differing cultures?

Cultural Convergence – increasing similarities between cultures, which is not limited to beliefs, consumer brands, and media.

Taboo – when action is forbidden by religious or cultural beliefs.

Cultural Divergence - decreasing similarities between cultures

Globalization – the forming of a global culture through increased connectivity.

Definitions

Cultural Divergence May happen when the cultures move in different

directions compared to another part of the cultures. Usually because they have been exposed to new

ideas.

Physical barriers Mountains that are impassable cause similar cultures

to follow a new path and develop different.

Examples of Cultural Divergence

Roman Empire Their empire was most of the Middle East, almost the

entirety of Europe, and small parts of Briton. Germanic tribes attacked the western part of the empire

and they introduced new cultural elements. When the empire split (somewhat before as well)

the Eastern portion took on Greek aspects, while the Western empire took on Germanic cultural traits.

The divergence led to clashes in political ideas, religions, and eventually languages. Thus the empire split.

India Aryan India was once a unified

Hindu nation, but when Muslim invaders arrived, the nation was split into two volatile states.

Aztecs and Yaquis of Mexico –Rumor has it that they spoke the

same language and they held the same religious beliefs. Once they split up, they were starkly different from each other.

How globalization works

Columbian Exchange

Brought new ideas and customs to the Native Americans. Catholicism Land holding Spanish Language Royal Government

Gave new ideas and traditions to the Europeans Tobacco Eating corn, tomatoes, chocolate, and squash.

Created a new Latin American culture.

Recent Examples Democracy

Much of Southeast Asia and eastern Europe were communist in the 1980s

Democracy began to gain more and more power in the world during the 1990s.

Many of the communist countries fell to democracy once the dictators were deposed.

English language English has become the second language of the

world. Almost a billion people speak English as their first or

second language. The rise of the Internet has given way to the spread

of English. Globalization is one of the causes of English’s

increasing popularity.

New technology Prior to technology, most people had no idea about

the cultures of the world. Most cultures use computers, cell phones,

automobiles, and music devices. This creates a common culture.

Global Sports The Olympics and World Cup Soccer make the whole

planet come together during a time of mutual pride and competition.

Soccer (Futbol) is the worlds most popular sport. It is even getting more attention in America.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUD3l4cGkmk

McDonald’s expanded its market to India, but it is taboo there to eat cattle. (what is their most popular sandwich?)

Hindus see the cow as their holy animal, so to eat one would be to eat an object of their worship.

Without infringing on their religious rights, McDonald’s created a vegetarian menu, as well as some of their classics, like McNuggets.

American Companies

When the first settlers of America landed, they did not know how to farm, what to farm, or what to hunt.

The entire colony almost starved and froze to death.

If the Native Americans had not introduced these new types of food like corn, the colony would have died in a matter of weeks.

We give thanks to cultural convergence.

Native Americans and Pilgrims

Economic Convergence

Is the horizontal integration of the entertainment industry. Companies such as Sony and (the former) AOL-TimeWarner now have interests in film, TV, books, games, the internet, music, real estate, etc.

This is resulting in the transmedia exploitation of branded properties including Star Wars, Pokémon and Harry Potter (to mention just a few). All have other forms of media associated with the original product, in order to expand the potential audience and saturate the market.

Global Convergence The cultural hybridity that develops from the

international circulation of media content. Cinema – the global circulation of Asian Popular Cinema

profoundly shapes Hollywood entertainment. Many well-known Asian Actors often crossover to Western Cinema, including Chow Yun-Fat (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon & Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End see below), Zhang Ziyi (House of Flying Daggers & Rush Hour 2 see below) and Jackie Chan (Drunken Master & also Rush Hour 2)

Give an example of the experience of being a citizen of the 'global village'.

Make a rap or rock about how different companies deal with other cultures.