Imperialism vs Influence .

One needs to distinguish between cultural imperialism and cultural influence, which is sometimes extremely difficult. If one uses a definition of Cultural imperialism as - (from Wiki)

"the practice of promoting, distinguishing, separating, or artificially injecting the culture or language of one nation into another."

,then almost any kind of interaction between one nation and another could be construed as such. Again, following this definition, the list is almost endless. The English language (eg IT systems), Disney, Pepsi, Coke, denim jeans, etc. . Of course, there is a recipient and a 'giver', and usually the more powerful nation is the giver. Remember the outcry the French made when the first MacDonalds opened in Paris. I'm not a fan, so I can see their point, but French culinary culture won't sink into a hole because of it.Same thing happened with the Chinese and Starbucks.I can't blame them.


KFC and Coffee Bean are so much better. =D

Anyway ,there are some areas where I think we need to be a bit careful. Air traffic control uses English as it's language all over the world - is this imperialism or influence? I'd say the latter, because there seems to be no direct benefit to corporations (there may be indirect ones) or nations - and presumably a very real benefit to individuals who fly. If speaking the same language stops more 'planes falling out of the sky, then I'm all for it.

The BBC is, I think, an example of both imperialism and influence. The World Service, although recently cut back (and one reason for this I think has been given as a desire to limit cultural imperialism) would qualify as an influence, since many people in many countries benefit, and the only 'loser' is the British taxpayer who funds the corporation.

Ultimately, there are different ways of doing almost anything, from dress to food to language. Cultures which receive nothing from others run a risk of becoming somewhat stagnant - unique, but prone to prejudices and narrow thinking. I believe it is possible to take from others and still keep one's identity, but for this to happen, restraint from the giver must be exercised, and I'll admit we're unlikely to see this from most major corporations.



I would like to include,personally,my favorite example of Cultural Imperialism.It has crossed all boundaries of language and cultural so much so that one can hardly trace to a single origin/source anymore.

STAR WARS !

The Tour De force of the Imperial March of the Stormtroopers in our present world can't be more obvious enough with the examples below!





















1. Helloween would be a perfect example and recently Darth Vader started to take a slightly more female approach to things...

http://www.trendhunter.com/photos/27478



















2.Star Wars Anime Porn.....Seriously?

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/10/ive_seen_it_all_now_freaky_sta.php

















3.A Vegetarian Death Star
http://www.cinematical.com/2008/10/10/fan-made-an-edible-and-healthy-death-star/






















4.Star Wars Alphabet

http://tweedlebop.typepad.com/photos/starwarsabc/ackbar_tweedlebop.html




And this is my last entry! Thanks all for visiting and commenting on my pointless ramblings.Seeya all!

Emotional Vampires.

Source :http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread393698/pg1

Date Posted : 22/9/08

And I have been thinking about something. Why isn't there a channel or news network, which would broadcast just GOOD or GREAT news every day? Or at least, why isn't there on any network, once a day the Good Hour and there are lots of Good Kind of news, which people would like to see? I mean, I am sure some good things have happened today, which people would just love to see and smile and be happy with! Why do we have the need to fill our energy on other peoples misery? I mean, if you watch news today it's just, war, famine, airplane crash, murder, death, kill, rape, slaughter, satanists, terrorists, suicide bombers, disease, drugs, protests, anger, hate...

Where ARE THE GOOD NEWS?!?!

Why hasn't this kind of network or news already been made?



Interesting thought isn't it?The idea of a news network broadcasting only the happiest and uplifting news possible is a rather curious thought.

I mean,in all honesty,what the person posted does hold some truth.The mainstream media today is pretty depressing in my humble opinion.Hell,be it the news or newspaper,there is usually majority of really terrible things going on ,here on this planet.Maybe thats the reason I try not to watch the news or read the papers all too often.I rather get my daily dose of information from the Internet.

But anyway,back to the topic,another poster replied with the following.


"There sure is.

Basically any newspaper from any communist/socialist country will provide a flood of good news.

Take China's Xinhua news page for instance:

www.xinhuanet.com...

Sure, there's thousands of babies with kidney stones from bad milk, but who cares? They're putting some chaps into space!

It's the nature of the beast - Western news, it's all bad. The bad news goes first. In the East, it's presented as nothing to worry about, business as usual, and the government is doing everything perfectly.

It's good to have a balance, but I prefer the bad news first."



Its interesting how the poster mentions that a country with a different political system can instill its own set of agendas.The poster maintains,that the gatekeepers in a Communist/Socialist state set the media agenda and that of a country,China,progressing scientifically and economically.The melanin state of affairs has truly dampened the image of China and interestingly there is a major story on how the dairy produces sales are starting to go up again.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/17/content_10206496.htm
HOHHOT, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Two major Chinese dairy producers said on Thursday sales have recovered to 80 percent of the normal level before the tainted milk scandal.

The companies of Yili and Mengniu, both based in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and each realized more than 20 billion yuan (2.9 billion U.S. dollars) in sales revenue last year, made the remarks here on Thursday during a group interview by domestic and foreign journalists.

Now take http://www.cnn.com/

Plastered right at the front page is a breaking news story about a kidnapping of a young kid and generally more depressing news.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/10/16/nevada.boy.kidnapped.ap/index.html

Especially another, one involving a father naming his newborn "Sarah McCain Palin behind his wife's back.Dear God,that sure is going to haunt that poor kid till kingdom comes and I can smell a divorce coming.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/10/16/baby.named.sarah.cnn





Maybe it is just the human nature but someone ,maybe we do enjoy hearing bad news in some sick subconscious way.Another poster replied the following,

In my humble opinion, the majority of the people FEED on other people's misery. They NEED to see others suffer in order to tell themselves, their own life is not so bad at all. They watch the news, as suicide bombers blow themselves up in the middle of Baghdad city and tell themselves: "Hey! Isn't it cool I can go to the store and not be blow up by a terrorist?" People today do not need any news about love, harmony, peace, friendship, happiness, joy, life - they need to hear the other way around. That will make them feel better - not to see, that some people actually live in peace and harmony, while they do not. And that is what I find scary and pathetic.


Does the Western mass media have an agenda going on here or are they just giving what the people want?

Is the cultivation theory of gradually influencing the people into being a fearful populace in the western side of the world?

Do you agree that there is a spiral of silence in Chinese media,where unpopular views and bad news are refrained from being discussed or is it a byproduct of the Chinese culture ?

Metallimessu - Metal Mass

Source:http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jxbfNT6wiN2oOOgxeuNf-As3fvpQ

15th Sept 2008

MAENTSAELAE, Finland (AFP) — Most teens may not get excited about church, but in Finland they go out of their way to attend in the latest testimony to the country's infatuation with heavy metal music: Metal Mass.

Inside, Pallaskari and her classmates squash together on packed pews, belting out hymns as a lead singer moshes wildly onstage to his band's earsplitting tones.

When the music stops, the students burst into ecstatic applause and whistles -- to smiling approval from Pastor Haka Kekaelaeinen. It's Metal Mass -- or Metallimessu -- and it's okay to be loud.

Not everyone is happy with the mix. Some churchgoers feel loud rock music has no place in a house of God, and some pure metal fans accuse the Lutheran Church of co-opting their music to lure young people.

If it has a niche audience elsewhere, heavy metal is now mainstream in Finland. Helsinki alone abounds with heavy metal karaoke bars, dedicated metal clubs and regular gigs, adding to the dozens of summertime heavy metal festivals held around the Nordic country.

Some say the answer lies in the Finnish character.

"Finns are known to be reserved, serious and very honest ... Somehow heavy metal fits into this as it is no-nonsense, honest, straightforward and quite gloomy," Mikko Saari, a co-founder of Metallimessu, tells AFP.

The Metal culture has always been at ends with the world and being a highly individualistic one,more so with the highly conservative culture of that with religion.Although,as society moves forward ,a change is about to brew in those 2 very different worlds.

For a long time,since the early 1980s,heavy metal has always been considered a less valid form of music,the sort only the socially less inclined would lend their allegiance too.It has been called the Devil's music(like so many other music styles before it including The Blues and even Classical Music).The music censorship laws that many listeners from all genres of music tolerate was first inn acted because of the lyrical insanity that could stem from some metal songs.It was feared back then,and even now because people thought it bred violence amongst teens and adults.The fashion style of metal heads has always been in question as with its attitude that it portrays.In short,it was a culture that obviously did not belong in that of any popular culture then.

Truth is though,things are starting to change.Yes,we still enjoy the gloomy yet comforting feel of wearing black and leather .Many of us are still hedonist at heart and enjoy the sense of freedom that Metal music brings to us.However,society itself is starting to be a little less negative about it.More bands are touring various cities all over the world,where they were previously banned.Various sub-genres of metal has spawned ranging from old school

Heavy Metal(Metallica)

all the way to

Melodic Death(Scar Symmetry)

More commercial like genres have also popped out including

Rap /Nu Metal.(Limp Bizkit/System of a Down)

And finally ending with the

Black Metal (Rotting Christ)



and the latest trend in Metal...Christian Bands.(Demon Hunter)



It is interesting to note how more Christian bands are starting to integrate the aggressive and low context culture with that of increasingly high context society,especially with religion.However,Finnish bands ,as stated in the article are doing just that.Europe has always been the premier continent for Metal Bands/Music and culture and ironically,so because of its vast classical music roots.However Finland seems to be the breeding ground for anything thats Metal these days.They have metal clubs,karaoke,metal music schools and the best bands from metal are usually always from Finland for some bizarre reason.Must be something in the water...

And all this coming from a country with a strong Christian background.In 2006, the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland had more than 4.3 million members, that is 82% of the population, registered with a parish. The Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Finland is an Episcopal Church with a very strong tradition of parish autonomy.It is quite amazing how two different worlds are collide and create such a perfect union when nobody thought possible.


I think therein lies to the solution to the many problems that we face in the world.And that is how we in society are able to tack the problems of mis-communication between cultures and the individual self.I feel that society needs to make a constant push into integrating cultures together a unity of sorts.I feel,in my opinion,the many problems of this world is the segregation of cultures and communication .Individualism can be a good thing but its not when one is completely cut off from the world ,that can create problems.Be it music or religion or even politics,the world needs to work together to find some sort of middleground without compromising they individualistic sense of cultures.Only then,can we truly progress.

Beer Beer!

Heineken - Disturbance from Dinh Pham on Vimeo.



That commercial was both sad and hilarious at the same time.Talk about being emotional over broken beer bottles...

Anyways,what I really wanted to explore were the Non Verbal methods in which communication of "sadness" and "shock" was portrayed in this short piece.

Right off the bat,you can see the entire piece using chronemics ,the use of time to convey meaning.The way the bottle fall and break in the beginning and then completing their destruction at the end.

Personally the use of oculesics is very strong in this advertisement.The true meaning of the emotion showed in the eyes at first,its not readily known until the end of the clip.Still,one can still sense a bit a of sadness and disbelief from their expressions.


Haptics ,the study of touch in communication ,springs forth into a couple of scenes.The most obvious would the the boxing scene and the other the one with the couples in bed.When his partner tries to comfort him,he recoils at her touch.Interesting ins't it? =D



What other Non verbal communication did you guys spot ?