Week 2: International vs. Intercultural

This course is about International Communication. Most often the term is used to describe the study of different media systems and media cultures around the word. But even that concept is not simple. Often the analysis of International Communication has been very much based on Western models. That can be contested (as one of your readings for today notes.)

Intercultural Communication, then, refers to interpersonal communication, directly between people, and how patters of interaction differ from country to country. But in these times of mediatization of all communication, there clearly is some overlap. So this week we will explore the interaction of the two.

To start on a light note – “Diversity Day”:

We will also prepare for the Mid Term.

Assignment

1. Readings

Please read 3 short texts available in our Dropbox. One highlights the core aspects of Asian International Communication; two focus on Intercultural Communication (a general overview, and an example: Negotiating Across Cultures). The texts will help you to answer the last part of today’s assignment.

2. Choose YOUR Country (in Asia)

The idea is that, in the course of this semester, you will become an expert in a country in Asia. You will be asked in different assignments to dig deeper into that country and teach the rest of us about it.

Please mark your choice of country in this Google Map.

Create your tag, with your name_the name of the country. 

Note that only 3 people can choose the same country. If you see that 3 others have already chosen a country you want, you need to find another one that interests you. (There is a time code in the map so it’s easy to determine who has posted first.)

The country I have chosen is off limits as it’s geographically partly Europe, partly Asia. See the map — and I mean Turkey, of course.

(I took this picture in Istanbul, of the bridge that connects the European and Asian parts of the city. I don’t know the happy newlyweds.):

The Mid Term Connection: As a part of the Mid Term, you will be asked to create a short “Country Brief” on your country, from the perspective of media systems and markets, so you may want to keep that in mind already now.)

3. Make Intercultural Comparisons

This week, you will explore a Culture Comparison tool by an intercultural communication consultancy company. The link above and in the questionnaire will lead you to choose a country from the drop-down menu — see the example:

Choose a country in Asia. (If YOUR country is not listed by the Hofstede Centre, choose a country that you think might resemble yours.)

Explore the dimensions of the comparison, as well as the results of the country of your choice vs the US.

(If interested take a look at the other tools as well (although, to get any country reports, you’d need to pay for the other tools…)

4. Write a mini report

Compose a short account of what you learned about your country/a country in Asia vs. the US, in terms of intercultural communication.

1. Basic similarities and differences?
2. How might this manifest in a real life situation?
   1. Between people (intercultural communication, and
   2. As reflected in media contents (news or fiction).
3. Do you personally believe in these kinds of analyses, categorizations, and comparisons? (The good folks at the Hofstede Centre have been criticized about their simplified  approach that seems to reinforce stereotypes.) Are these kinds of analyses and tools useful? Or, are we all getting closer to universal culture (especially online)?

1-3 paragraphs, total. Post below as a comment to this post. You may want to write this first as a word doc or equivalent, in case there are connectivity issues and your comment isn’t saved. Due Fri 2/5 at midnight.

Week 1: Introductions.

Again, welcome!

The goal of this introductory session is to get to know the elusive concept of globalization and the roles of the media and communication technologies in the process.  This session is also about us getting to know one another.

This first session is to ease us into the routine of online course schedule. Studying online gives you some freedom and flexibility, but also requires some self-discipline and scheduling, so that you can keep up with the weekly assignments.

My suggestion is that you will check out the weekly post/lecture/briefing and assignment soon after it’s been posted here and then earmark a time in your schedule to do the readings and the assignment. You will always have a week (or sometimes more time) to complete the weekly assignments.

But now to the introduction to core concepts:

1. Globalization – an elusive issue with three dimensions

What is globalization? Chinese restaurants in Flushing? A Pizza Hut in China?  The most watched YouTube video of all time, and its unexpected variants, like this one? A Buddha statue in Monroe, NY (picture on the left)?

As all of these examples show, globalization is not an easy idea/l to define neatly and comprehensively. But we have the entire semester, so let’s start from the beginning and try to develop some common definitions, plus map some dimensions of that elusive concept.

There are distinctions between international, transnational, and global; but in everyday language globalization most often refers to the process of growth to a global scale. Or, as one of the famous scholars of the topic, Joseph Nye, has explained:

Globalism attempts to understand all the inter-connections of the modern world — and to highlight patterns that underlie (and explain) them.

In contrast, globalization refers to the increase or decline in the degree of globalism. It focuses on the forces, the dynamism or speed of these changes.

And most often globalization is given three dimensions:

1. Political globalization — interplay and interconnectedness of national/local politics in different regions and nations. “No country is an island”.
2. Economic globalization — interplay and interconnectedness of national economies, as well as global financial and other markets.
3. Cultural globalization — interplay, interconnectedness, and blending of  traditionally local/national/regional cultures.

2.Globalization: good, bad, and everything in-between

Globalization is nothing new. People have migrated throughout the human history; cultures have always intermingled; trade has been conducted; national borders have been rearranged…

In addition, it is often hard to separate political from economic from cultural globalization; national from the global. Globalization co-exists with trends of national and regional focus and pride. And different cultures view globalization differently. Here is a take on globalization vs. Asian values (and views globalization in different Asian countries). And globalization of cultures, attitudes, and principles can be used for and against national politic, economy, and culture. For instance:

‘Those who wish to deny us certain political rights try to convince us that these are not Asian values. In our struggle for democracy and human rights, we would like greater support from our fellow Asians’

-Aung San Sui Kyi, Burmese democracy advocate and winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize

3. Centrality of the Media

Bring in the media and communication technologies. They have a key role in fostering political, economic, and cultural globalization. Because of rapid flows of information, we know about the world affairs, we can easily trade globally, and encounter other cultures without leaving our home, for instance.

This Bollywood movie is one of my favorite examples of the phenomenon. Take a look at the 3 min. trailer:

You can already tell from this short excerpt that, culturally speaking, the film mixed Bollywood and Hollywood in style, mis-en-scene, and story line. Clearly, the producers of the film are very aware of Hollywood conventions of action thrillers.

At the same time, the product speaks for the global film markets that have a great demand for Bollywood flicks, in India and abroad. The multiple regions in the world in terms of markets of Bollywood films are in great part due to global movements of labour that have created diasporic Indian communities elsewhere in the world. And the culture of the diaspora blends with the local culture and creates interest in it in others, as well.

And finally, notice the Twin Towers… This film is about the before and  9/11 in NYC, and three Indian friends who study in New York. One of them is a Muslim and becomes radicalized. Yet, the end is about forgiveness, family, and redemption. The film blends the tragedy of 9/11 with the the “Indian” 9/11 — 11/27/08 bomb attacks in Mumbai by Pakistani terrorists. Politics in todays world are seldom only national anymore.

Assignment:

A “light” assignment for the first week, for us to get used to the routine 🙂

• Please read chapter 1 from our course book (Lule: Globalization & Media) as well as a reading marked ‘W1’ in our Dropbox (accessible here –Snarr & Snarr: Introducing Global Issues).
• Let us know who you are in terms of our topic: Why you are taking this course and how globalization, especially Asian culture is evident in your own life.Your readings for this week give a wonderful introduction to some big aspects of globalization. But how about the everyday aspects of globalization? We as scholars and professionals often discuss issues in a general, distanced manner and from a societal/organizational standpoint. For this assignment, let’s make a connection between the big concept and our own lives. Post your view below as a comment:
  • Share with us 1-2 issues that you have encountered as a scholar/professional/ordinary citizen-media consumer.
  • Please be specific — instead of writing  “We live in a global economy…”  do highlight a concrete case or two: “I love Korean soap operas and have discovered that there is a global fan base for the genre…” (I just made this simple example up but I’m sure you know what I mean).
• Note that when you post for the first time I need to moderate your comment.  I might not be online when you are — so allow some time for your first comment to appear. Your subsequent comments will post immediately.
• Do note that this is a public platform for anyone to access and read  (in theory). Would you like to preserve your privacy, please use any screen name you want. However, when you post for the first time you will be asked to submit your email address. Please use the email you registered to this course with. I am the only one to see the email address and can then identify you with that email.
• Due Fri 29.1. at midnight.