Globalisationing

I am still quite unsure about what globalisation actually is, finding something missing from the definitions is quite difficult.

I find an appropriate thought about globalisation is by Beck (2000) who states, “however the word is understood- implies the weakening state sovereignty and structures.” I agree with this, as when you ultimately think about globalisation it the weakening of boundaries, as people are closer together in today’s society. Bringing everybody ‘closer’ increases the connectivity of the world, such that for any political or sporting events happening overseas or interstate, we are provided with immediate information.

I believe that globalisation has not occurred just because of the media, but government and public willingness to make the world smaller.

By doing this, everybody receives instant information from wherever the story is happening thereby what seems a much simpler, quicker life.

Giddens (1990:64) defined globalisation as “the intensification of world-wide social relations, which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa”

The definition is a clear one, which helps me in understanding the effects of globalisation. What is happening elsewhere can shape our own events. Who cannot say that looking at what fashions, sports and technology are shown from overseas has persuaded them to do the same here at home!??

The further I have researched about globalisation the more clearer is has become, yet I still feel it is a concept that will continue to change.

References:

http://www.beerkens.info/files/globalisation.pdf

Rantanen, T 2005, ‘Theorizing media globalization’, The media and globalization, Sage, London, p 6.

Are the Olympics global?

The games bring the worlds greatest athletes together as the world watches on, so what is more global that that? Or are the Olympics really about the athletes?

As the London Olympics are in full flight I am getting the feeling its becoming less about the athletes and more about exposure.  

Coca-Cola has paid more than £150 million ($221 Million AUD) to have their name as the ‘official drink’ of the games, Omega, Samsung, McDonalds, Visa and Panasonic the same.

As I watched Michael Phelps win his 18^th gold medal he celebrated in the pool with a giant Omega sign behind his head, then a McDonalds commercial followed, then a Visa ad, then Harvey Norman and so forth.

I spent more time watching commercials from sponsors than the event itself.

So while the sponsors shove hundreds of millions into having their product next to Usain Bolt, Kobe Bryant and Stephanie Rice; it is predicted the London 2012 games are costing $11 Billion, $43 million on the opening ceremony alone.

The Olympic games are an event that now only so few countries will be able to hold in future years. Even the founders of the games, Greece who last hosted in 2004, will struggle to host again due to their current bankruptcy. 1992 hosts Spain are facing a similar crisis as their economy is sliding.

If only countries with a strong economy and no risk of future debt with suitable resources can only host the games, is it really a global event?

References:

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/367609/20120727/london-2012-opening-ceremony-cost-tickets.htm

http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2012/08/10/1226447/204597-david-rudisha.jpg

http://timeolympics.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/olympics-mcdonalds.jpg?w=600&h=400&crop=1 

What is Globalisation?

Globalisation? What?

Understanding what globalisation is may be difficult for most people, so while it is a relatively new term, globalisation includes the political, social and product communications throughout the world.

Jan Nederveen Pieterse (2004) mentions three separate definitions of globalisation for the economic, sociology and history; anthropology disciplines however can be very broad.

The simplest definition to understand globalisation comes from Tony Chalkley who states that globalisation is “a process whereby industries are operating increasingly on an international basis as a result of the deregulation of communications industries and improved communication technologies.”

The process of globalisation making the world a smaller place through communication technologies has peaked in recent times through the development of Facebook and Skype. These social media technologies allow the instant communication from one side of the world to the other whether that is for business, our social lives or for political gain, ultimately providing a world closer together.  

With global events like the Tour de France, Wimbledon and the Olympic Games scheduled at this time of the year, the audience on this side of the world are always provided with the immediate news updates.

Immediate updates through television, radio, telephone and the Internet means that the days of waiting for the results in tomorrow’s paper are long gone.

I find that the simplest way to understand globalisation is the world ever getting ‘smaller’ through the modern technologies we are used to today.

Maybe when teleportation is amongst us globalisation will be something of the past. 

References:

Chalkley, T 2012, 'Communication, New Media and Everyday Life', Oxford University Press, South Melbourne

Nederveen Pieterse, J 2004, ‘Globalization: consensus and controversies’, Globalization and culture: global mélange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., p 17.

http://www.dokisoft.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Slow-Down-Technology-Youre-Moving-too-Fast.jpg

Global Empire

“For better or for worse, our company (The News Corporation Ltd.) is a reflection of my thinking, my character, my values.” Rupert Murdoch

Would my global empire would it also reflect my thinking, my character and my values? Would my thinking, character and values be different to what they previously were? Hopefully my mass media outlet reaches everybody to gain the maximum exposure, however not invading the public’s privacy for that contact.

Peter Steven (2003) comments that ‘mass media’ is the industries of film, radio and television; and yet “this huge market for media forums includes people from most social and economical groups. The mass media created today is reaching everybody in the social media world, though at times being the public we can occasionally feel like we are being saturated from the amount of media being put upon us.

I’d like to believe in the view that money doesn’t change a person. The view that everything I stand for right now, such as, everybody deserves his or her own privacy. I’d hope this would remain in my Global Media Empire.

So if I own Viacom, the mass media giant that owns MTV, Paramount pictures, and many massive Internet pages I would try to expose the Viacom divisions without the public being aware of my mass media control which hopefully represents my thinking, character and values.

I think that through the power that many of the mass media giants have, the exposure an outlet like Viacom can is enough to alter the opinions of the public. Opinions that reflect the media mogul.

References: 

Steven, P 2003, ‘Political economy: the howling, brawling, global market place’, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, pp. 37


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