Reader Response (2nd draft)

In the article, Kraidy(2002) states that the globalization of culture has molded the entire world in the image of Western, mainly American culture, and this globalization of culture is chiefly represented by international mass media. The embrace of Western lifestyles globally has led to the cultural imperialism theory in international communication theory and research, which argues that audiences across the globe are heavily affected by media messages emanating from the Western industrialized countries.

I agree with him that the globalization of culture is chiefly represented by Western, mainly American culture as English is commonly studied most countries of the world, and America is arguably the most powerful country at the moment. Many well-known broadcasters are American and also, American popular culture and its elements are seen as desirable and worthy to be emulated. However, every non-Western country has its own unique culture and society that their inhabitants conform to, and practices such as religion may be strongly ingrained, therefore there would always be taboos and superstitions that contradict Western cultural values. Simple control of global media by Western countries cannot impose their values on others.

Kraidy also mentions that cultural hybridity or hybridization provides the understanding of the interface of globalization and hybridization as a dynamic process and hybrid process of mixed traditions and cultural forms. This view states that it "does not give rise to globalization as a homogenizing force, or does it believe in localization as a resistive force opposed to globalization".

I agree with this view as cultures have always absorbed outside influences and over time, the absorbed influences became integral parts of the cultures. Sometimes, the fact that the influences were originally foreign was subsequently disregarded by the subsequent generations and/or the influences even reinvented. For example, trains and cars were invented by the West but Japan is known for its bullet train and good quality reasonably priced automobiles.  Although Western influence is strong mostly due to the economic power of the Western industrialized countries, the Western countries are also influenced by the other countries of the world, whether developed or developing.

The advent of convenient global travel has allowed people to experience the cultures of different countries. With more global travel, people are less likely to be insular and look only through the paradigm of their own culture. They would also be able to evaluate the differences and good and bad points of cultures. In this way, the domination of culture by the West is likely to be counter-balanced due to the better mutual understanding of people from both Western and other countries  .