Globalization's affect upon culture is definitely one of the more interesting points on the subject for me. I think that's because its easier to find examples in everyday life, and it seems to have a larger impact on us than things we don't necessarily notice.
As I've previously mentioned, with the forthcoming of technology our world has become more closely linked than ever before, and different nation's culture is allowed to cross borders. Today i'll be looking specifically into the song 'Gangnam Style' something everyone has heard of, yet a year before its release, the knowledge of K-pop in the western world was very minimal.
As i'm writing this, Gangnam Style has over 2.3billion views on YouTube. That's right, it has eclipsed everything else on the video sharing website in just 2 years. It became a global phenomenon overnight, and has sold over 4 million copies in South Korea; it's birthplace. What's interesting is that it's sold nearly the same amount of copies in the US. In a country on the complete over side of the world there are children singing Korean lyrics, rather than their native English.
Some people would attribute this to its catchy nature, and whilst it's true, I think there is more to it. K-pop or Korean Pop is a genre of music which has been becoming more and more popular in the western world. Along with other Asian music types like J-pop (Japan pop), they've become known for funky beats and soft vocals. This is a fantastic example of how globalization is actively effecting the world we live in, and it also strikes a little closer to home. You can hear or see these things everyday, and I think thats an important thing to note, globalization isn't always about corporations, it changes whats playing on your radio, or your TV.
As someone who didn't know much of K-pop before Gangnam Style, i'm constantly appreciative of how our world is closer than ever, and I can now experience other's culture through mediums like the internet.
http://www.academia.edu/3602351/Understanding_the_Global_Appeal_of_Gangnam_Style
http://www.academia.edu/4732546/The_Globalization_of_K-pop_Koreas_Place_in_the_Global_Music_Industry
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