Globalization

Globalization--What is it? According to textbook definitions it is the lessening of cultural differences through the spread of media. Others might say that it is the a euphemism for world domination. Those extremists. But really, what globalization is is the unification of different cultures into a global culture through media. Thanks the the availability of media, the spread of different cultures is catalyzed into a more holistic concept of culture. 

Tied with this concept of a global culture is the undeniable fact of cultural domination. By cultural domination I don't mean the domination of others through culture, but the domination of one culture over others in this 'mix' of cultures that globalization is. This can be then related to the concept of cultural imperialism; cultural imperialism is the domination of one country over another one through media. I can not start this discussion without bringing the United States into it as the hub of globalization. Thanks to its status as a superpower, the United States is where a vast majority of media is originated and then distributed. Film, television, and music are some of the industries that are the leading cultural exports of the United States. 

Countries that are not as developed as the United States are very much dependent on the cultural exports of the United States. Many Latin American countries are dependent on the United States to define their own culture. I can attest to this myself; I was raised in Mexico but the presence of the United States was pervasive throughout the entire culture. iPods, TV shows, movies and more are some of the media that we received from the United States. The emergence of Mexican Cinema is gaining momentum, and slowly becoming an important outlet for movies, but before, movies were exclusively American imports. However, countries that do not possess technological developments to mirror the United States, such as poor Middle Eastern countries and East European ones are left with the media that reaches them from culturally dominant countries.