Blog 2: Cultural globalization - Jiwoo Jung

  1. Summary of the Reading

In “Cultural Globalization,” John Tomlinson explains that globalization is a growing network of connections among people and societies. These connections involve the economy, politics, technology, the environment, and culture. He argues that culture is not simply affected by globalization. Culture also helps create it. People make choices based on what they value and how they understand themselves, and many individual choices together can shape global markets and relationships.

Tomlinson questions the idea that globalization will produce one uniform world culture. The spread of the same brands or entertainment across countries does not mean that everyone accepts the same values. People interpret cultural products through their own experiences. He also introduces “deterritorialization”: culture is becoming less tightly tied to one geographical place. Through travel and media, distant events and ideas enter everyday local life. This changes how people experience their surroundings, but it does not mean that local cultures disappear.

Finally, Tomlinson considers how people can develop a wider sense of responsibility while respecting cultural differences. Global connections may help us understand lives beyond our own communities, but we should be careful not to treat the values of one culture as universal.

  1. My Thoughts

The most interesting point for me was Tomlinson’s distinction between sharing a cultural product and sharing its meaning. If people in different countries watch the same Korean drama, they are connected through that experience. However, they may notice different themes or understand the characters in different ways. This example helped me see why greater cultural exchange does not automatically make cultures identical.

I was also interested in his discussion of media. It is easy to encounter news, music, and conversations from other countries without leaving home. This can widen our understanding of the world. At the same time, Tomlinson’s discussion of the speed of communication made me wonder whether quick access always leads to careful understanding. Seeing a short video from another country is not the same as knowing the context behind it.

To me, the relationship between culture and globalization works in both directions. Global connections change what people encounter in daily life, while people’s cultural values shape how they respond to those connections.

  1. Question for Discussion

If global media makes it easier to encounter other cultures, what would help us understand those cultures more deeply rather than judge them from brief or incomplete information?

  1. Use of AI

I wrote and revised the final post in my own words. I used AI to help organize the structure and improve some wording.

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