Music Banter - View Single Post - Cultural Imperialism and the Homogenization of the Western World

Zaqarbal · 03-11-2010, 01:58 PM

This is a very complex issue. It not only has to do with the number of speakers of a language, but also with Economy. For example, apart from the Anglosphere, there are, among other:

China: 1,300 mill.
India: 1,100 mill.
Hispanosphere: ~ 420 mill.
Francosphere: ~ 260 mill.
Lusosphere (Portuguese): ~ 200 mill.
Arab World: ~ 200 mill.

But Japan, with 127 million people, has a stronger influence in popular culture worldwide than that of those groups. And that's in part because of its big entertainment companies. Sometimes, the way we see things doesn't come from the English-speaking world.

Both culture and business have influence in world media. But, in what proportion? It is very difficult to say... And now all is changing due to Internet, the rise of China and India, etc.

The only certain thing is that the ways of cultural interaction are unpredictable. For instance, 60 years ago, no one could imagine that Italians would make Westerns. But they did. In fact, Clint Eastwood is in our minds (among many other things) wearing a poncho in Tabernas (Spain) while acting under the direction of a guy from Rome (and that music sounds...). You never know what can happen:

03-11-2010, 01:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	This is a very complex issue. It not only has to do with the number of speakers of a language, but also with Economy. For example, apart from the Anglosphere, there are, among other: China: 1,300 mill. India: 1,100 mill. Hispanosphere: ~ 420 mill. Francosphere: ~ 260 mill. Lusosphere (Portuguese): ~ 200 mill. Arab World: ~ 200 mill. But Japan, with 127 million people, has a stronger influence in popular culture worldwide than that of those groups. And that's in part because of its big entertainment companies. Sometimes, the way we see things doesn't come from the English-speaking world. Both culture and business have influence in world media. But, in what proportion? It is very difficult to say... And now all is changing due to Internet, the rise of China and India, etc. The only certain thing is that the ways of cultural interaction are unpredictable. For instance, 60 years ago, no one could imagine that Italians would make Westerns. But they did. In fact, Clint Eastwood is in our minds (among many other things) wearing a poncho in Tabernas (Spain) while acting under the direction of a guy from Rome (and that music sounds...). You never know what can happen: __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies." Last edited by Zaqarbal; 03-11-2010 at 02:14 PM. Reason: One link added