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Imported culture. Definition: Cultural imperialism where dominant cultures take over less dominant ones. Facts and observations.
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Imported culture • Definition: • Cultural imperialism where dominant cultures take over less dominant ones
Facts and observations • Important to remember that those dominant cultures i.e. the Coca Cola culture does not reflect the true American identity but rather a very commercial and stereotypical aspect • American identity is diverse and includes many cultures
Questions • How important is it to preserve individual cultures? • Important to have diversity • There is no one right way • Civilizations have always enriched each other • Important to preserve both linguistic, cultural and religious diversity • Can we use the Net to revive and preserve cultures and languages? • Are languages and cultures equal in importance: sometimes English can be used to disseminate cultures but it is vital that we do not lose languages (because they are repositories of culture)
Facts • Net has the power to include everyone if it is used pro-actively • Strong commercial influence could drown all diversity • Various diasporas (immigrants) could be used to develop their own cultures in their new but also in their home countries with new ideas
Recommendations • Important to re-define American culture so that it is more diverse and less commercialized – get buy in from the larger media • it is vital that we do not lose languages (because they are repositories of culture) • Important to include minorities, females and special needs in the decision making in powerful media so as to be more inclusive • Important to develop educational materials so that they include global diversity (include others into authorship) • Encourage other cultures to tell their own stories and expand the Net so that it can include oral cultures • Create search engines that are less discrimatory and more inclusive
Final recommendation • In these early days of networked technologies, it is vital that we include all, and that the flow of information is also from the less dominant to more dominant peoples • There is a real danger that the commercialism of the traditional media could take over this new media so it is important to be vigilant.