Diffusion of Pop CultureDiffusion of Pop Culture

Domination of the West?Domination of the West?

Threat to Folk CultureThreat to Folk Culture

Increase in income leads to Increase in income leads to increase in desire for possessionsincrease in desire for possessions

Diffusion of popular culture can Diffusion of popular culture can lead to dominance of Western lead to dominance of Western perspectives; people may turn perspectives; people may turn away from their society’s away from their society’s traditional valuestraditional values

Loss of Traditional ValuesLoss of Traditional Values

Clothing—rural vs. urban, western Clothing—rural vs. urban, western clothing a symbolclothing a symbol

Western clothing is controversial in Western clothing is controversial in many Middle Eastern Countriesmany Middle Eastern Countries

1997 presidential election in Iran 1997 presidential election in Iran between Nateq-Nouri and Khatamibetween Nateq-Nouri and Khatami

Changing role of women—Changing role of women—good and badgood and bad

Diffusion of popular culture threatens Diffusion of popular culture threatens subservience of women that is subservience of women that is prevalent in many folk societiesprevalent in many folk societies

Women are seen as the homemakersWomen are seen as the homemakers The negative side is the increase of The negative side is the increase of

prostitution in many LDCs, the vast prostitution in many LDCs, the vast majority of customers are men from majority of customers are men from MDCs who may even purchase “sex” MDCs who may even purchase “sex” tours. The principle destinations are: tours. The principle destinations are: Thailand, the Philippines and South Thailand, the Philippines and South Korea.Korea.

The irony?The irony?

Foreign Media ImperialismForeign Media Imperialism

US, UK and Japan dominate TVUS, UK and Japan dominate TV Japan—South and East Asia--Japan—South and East Asia--

equipmentequipment UK—Africa—broadcastingUK—Africa—broadcasting US—Latin AmericaUS—Latin America And programs, US import 2/3 of And programs, US import 2/3 of

European programmingEuropean programming

Western Control of News Western Control of News MediaMedia

Because news gathering and reporting Because news gathering and reporting is so expensive, the world’s largest new is so expensive, the world’s largest new organizations AP and Reuters supply the organizations AP and Reuters supply the world with news video and photographsworld with news video and photographs..

In LDCs, news programs are controlled In LDCs, news programs are controlled by the governmentby the government..

American “freedom of the press” is American “freedom of the press” is criticized in many countries who say it criticized in many countries who say it focuses on “sensational storiesfocuses on “sensational stories””

In many parts of the world, the only In many parts of the world, the only unbiased and accurate news available is unbiased and accurate news available is BBC news on a shortwave radio.BBC news on a shortwave radio.

Environmental Impact of Environmental Impact of Popular CulturePopular Culture

Popular culture imposes itself on Popular culture imposes itself on the environment rather than the environment rather than springing forth from itspringing forth from it

For many pop customs the built For many pop customs the built environment, though it may look environment, though it may look natural is something a deliberate natural is something a deliberate creationcreation

Golf CoursesGolf Courses

Pop culture can modify or Pop culture can modify or control the environmentcontrol the environment

Nearly 200 courses have been Nearly 200 courses have been built in the US in the last 20 built in the US in the last 20

years—geography John years—geography John Rooney attributes this to Rooney attributes this to

more money and leisure time.more money and leisure time.

Distribution of pop culture Distribution of pop culture around the world tends to around the world tends to

produce uniform landscapesproduce uniform landscapes promoters of pop culture want a uniform promoters of pop culture want a uniform

appearance to generate product recognitionappearance to generate product recognition Fast food restaurants are a good example of Fast food restaurants are a good example of

this. Franchises: corporations or multinational this. Franchises: corporations or multinational corporations sell their brand, architecture, corporations sell their brand, architecture, supplies for a fee. supplies for a fee.

What other places?What other places? Global diffusion of uniform landscapes has Global diffusion of uniform landscapes has

increased as space-time compression has increased as space-time compression has allowed for the faster and easier diffusion of allowed for the faster and easier diffusion of products and ideasproducts and ideas

Negative environmental Negative environmental impactimpact

Diffusion of popular culture increases demand Diffusion of popular culture increases demand for natural resources for natural resources

Increased consumption of meat has Increased consumption of meat has detrimental environmental effects and strains detrimental environmental effects and strains the carrying capacity of the environment. (2.2 the carrying capacity of the environment. (2.2 pounds of beef require 22 pounds of grain!)pounds of beef require 22 pounds of grain!)

Pollution is also a part of pop culture. Pop Pollution is also a part of pop culture. Pop culture generates a high volume of gas, liquid culture generates a high volume of gas, liquid and solid waste. Solid waste is the most and solid waste. Solid waste is the most obvious although the others are just as bad.obvious although the others are just as bad.

Bostan—gardens in Istanbul, TurkeyBostan—gardens in Istanbul, Turkey