Appiah examines and highlights the various ways in which globalization is taking place. He illustrates his point that the world is becoming “contaminated”. Appiah shows his concern about the loss of cultural identity in developing nations by creating the concept of cosmopolitanism—being free from cultural norms and participating in a new society.
Based on my comprehension of Appiah’s essay, I agree with his argument. In addition to his argument, I believe that allowing oneself to choose the influences one wants or doesn’t want to adapt to in their life is the best way to improve society. In my opinion, allowing people to find and create inspirations derived from various societal trends is equally crucial. Globalization is inevitable. Once a culture embraces the advancements brought on by globalization, it is up to each community to decide whether to change its way of life or maintain its traditions entirely. Since objects could change, but people’s mindsets do not, Appiah observes that “how people respond to these cultural imports depends on their current cultural context” (Appiah 3). This means that people interpret innovations in light of their previous customs and beliefs. Globalization, in my opinion, has more benefits than drawbacks, and it is up to each person to use those benefits wisely while maintaining their traditions.
Globalization is a dominant trend in the globe today. Globalization is seen as homogenizing by critics of it. In actuality, globalization promotes cultural identity rather than merely homogenizing it. First, people can reject or incorporate culture rather than simply objects of cultural influence. Additionally, due to the advancement of science and technology, individuals are now more connected than ever. Globalization’s notion of “togetherness” does not at all conflict with diversity.
Metatext:
I chose Kwame Anthony Appiah’s piece called “The Case for Contamination.” I agree with the author’s argument. My annotations helped shape the drafting of the essay. Based on my understanding of Appiah’s argument, globalization is inevitable and improves society in many ways. I believe that my contribution to the essay will bring light to the cultures that agree and allow the opportunities that globalization offers. Since Appiah does not have reputable sources or statistics in his argument, I believe I can connect to the accounts he mentions. The first source that I will be talking about later on in my essay is homogeneity. Globalization is seen as homogenizing. In actuality, globalization promotes cultural identity rather than merely homogenizing it. My second source that supports my argument is the causes of anti-globalization and why people cannot accept that globalization is happening. This source acts like a “counter-argument”. This will allow me to reaffirm my argument.
According to Appiah, the long arm of commercialism is spreading globalization fastly. Businesses are promoted by technological development, which is advancing at a higher rate. In history, communication ways have changed. Today, a village in Ghana will get the same information obtained by a rich person in the United States and Canada. The language they receive the data varies, but the content is the same. Based on that fact, a village will understand that Coca-Cola is a consumable and sweet drink. They will also know about Guinness and other trade products. By consuming Guinness, people become homogenous. The homogeneity fuels the growth of cultural diversity. It is also bringing in more positive than negative. For instance, people get access to clean water, effective medicines, and good branded clothes manufactured in different parts of the world. To confirm the point made by the Appiah, Zi argues that homogeneity increases the interaction of the people through the goods consumed but does not affect the freedom between the people. Globalization is thus superficial. Therefore, we can understand that globalization contributes to cultural diversity more positively.
Globalization influences cultural identity. We are in a world where everyone needs his culture to be respected. There is a need to have freedom where the rights of the citizens remain a top priority. Cosmopolitans believe that people are entitled to options. Each person requires different conditions for spiritual diversity. I strongly agree with the cosmopolitans, but the big worry is whether “togetherness” will allow cultural diversity to win the mantle. The more vital information to understand is that locality and globalization are teaming all in an attempt to change the world into a better place. Many people also think we should have “glocal”, a global and local team. People will leave attached but in a different version of the world where they can enjoy new things like science and technology. Globalization will thus have positively taken space, concluding that globalization is preserving cultural identity and increasing cultural diversity.
While talking about culture, the time is changing, and we have more young in the town and the world than they used to be. They are inventing new ways of doing things, be it new hairstyles, new slang, and even religions. Agriculture farming, especially in America, has abruptly changed. They resemble the idea that the world is becoming contaminated. More harms are coming from the same, but the benefits outshine them. With globalization, new ways of doing things are coming into effect. People are feeding through other means and abandoning the traditional methods of survival. Globalization thus opens doors for unique aspects of life and broadens the culture.
Besides Appiah’s persuasion of the idea that globalization is effective for the diversity of culture and improvement of consumer activities, there is the claim from the anti-globalization sector arguing it is bringing more harm. For instance, in developed nations like the United States, globalization brings economic stagnation and job loss. Concerning the increased need for skills for operating many technological objects, the country hires immigrants from other countries. The immigrants in the United States, for instance, are taking 14% of the total population (Wang 83). Technology and science have also replaced important activities that the local people would have otherwise done. However, besides all the negative effects of globalization, it benefits society in a wide range.
Works Cited
Bida, Aleksandra. “Appiah and Cosmopolitan “Contamination”.” Mapping Home in Contemporary Narratives. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2018. 165-178.https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-97967-0_11.
Contractor, Farok. “Why Do People Oppose Globalization?” Feature Articles | YaleGlobal Online, 2017.https://archive-yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/why-do-people-oppose-globalization.
Wang, Yi. “Globalization enhances cultural identity.” Intercultural Communication Studies 16.1 (2007): 83. https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/09-Yi-Wang.pdf.
Annotated Bibliography
Wang, Yi. “Globalization enhances cultural identity.” Intercultural Communication Studies 16.1 (2007): 83. https://web.uri.edu/iaics/files/09-Yi-Wang.pdf.
Globalization is a dominant trend in the globe today. Globalization is seen as homogenizing by critics of it. In actuality, globalization promotes cultural identity rather than merely homogenizing it. First, people can reject or incorporate culture rather than being objects of cultural influences. Additionally, due to the advancement of science and technology, individuals are now more connected than ever. Globalization’s notion of “togetherness” does not at all conflict with diversity.
Contractor, Farok. “Why Do People Oppose Globalization?” Feature Articles | YaleGlobal Online, 2017.https://archive-yaleglobal.yale.edu/content/why-do-people-oppose-globalization.
The causes of anti-globalization attitudes stem from various sources. In emerging countries, the response results from concerns about the threat to tradition posed by an infusion of Western goods and ideas. Valentine’s Day is one illustration. Before the 1850s, when American business people started selling greeting cards, Valentine, an Italian saint who lived between 226-278 CE, was one of more than 10,000 Catholic saints. Valentine’s Day was unknown outside of the United States or Britain in the middle of the 20th century. On February 14 today, thousands swarm malls in Asian cities, make reservations for meals and concerts, and loosely commemorate a semi-mythical character from centuries ago and another continent.
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