June 4, 2013Lesson on: Cultural Globalisation

Key question: 1. What is the cause-effect relationship of cultural

globalisation?

Key Terms1. Westernisation – The use of European ideas, culture

and lifestyles.2. Americanisation - The use of American ideas, culture

and lifestyles.

Is there a global culture? What does a global culture look like? List some lifestyle practices that have become common by people all over the world?

Example•Facebooking•Equal treatment of women

Definitions: Cultural Globalisation

• Cultural globalisation - The increase integration of the world’s cultures resulting in the development of a set of shared values, attitudes and behaviours.

• Cultural globalisation - The fusion of the world’s cultures into a set of recognizable values, attitudes and behaviours.

• Global culture - The shared values, attitudes and behaviours of the world’s peoples. Eg. Consumerism, ‘celebritism’

TASK: Explain the cause-effect analysis of cultural globalisation (What are the causes and effect of globalisation?).

Causes (Say how these are the causes of cultural globalisation)

Phenomenon/features of cultural globalisation. These can be causes or effects or both.

Effects (Say how these are the result of cultural globalisation)

Migration is common

Media revolution

Films & Television seen worldwide

The internet is used

PR using celebrities

TNCs using global brands

Transport improvement

The spread of religions eg. Christianity Islam, Buddhism

The spread of global music, films

The increase in English language usage

Westernisation - Americanisation

What is Westernisation and Americanisation? TASK: State some western ideas that have spread globally.

Western European Countries

What is Westernisation? TASK: State some western ideas/values/beliefs/practices that have spread globally.

Western European Countries

Ideas linked to:•Freedom of religion•Democratic government•Free market economy (Businesses)•Personal freedom•Freedom of the press•Free to pursuit sexuality•Equal treatment of genders

TASK: Discuss what aspect of Westernisation Kenyan youth is embracing.

Posted on Wednesday 28 November 2007 - 16:58AfricaNews editorProfile4548 messagesKilongi Munene, Nairobi, Kenya

Kenyan youth faced with 'westernization‘[VIDEO] I met Gladys Maina, a 31 year old businesswoman at the upmarket Kengeles restaurant where she was having lunch with her twelve year old daughter. The Buxom lady who owns a Clearing and Forwarding company thinks youth culture in African cities like Nairobi is mostly driven by western influence which is seen through the way they dress and also their attitude.While there are many disco joints to hang out on a weekend in Nairobi's city centre, Dorcas Thairu, also known as Dee likes having drinks and dancing with her buddies at the Verandar Club. The twenty two year old medical student at the University of Nairobi is clad in black dress-top and maroon figure-hugging trousers that accentuate her curvaceous figure. ``I think it's quite funky, `` she says when asked about her opinion of youth culture in Kenya.

``People are getting modernized, the dressing is quite good, people are up into fashion, and everything, tattoos are cool but I don't have one on myself but I think they are cool, `` she says as she saunters into the club. Before the freeing up of airwaves in the early 90s Kenya had only one source of news and entertainment, the government-owned Voice of Kenya.

As the media opened up, the country saw a deluge of western consumerism and lifestyle trends that have shaken traditional African values among the youth. These western influenced media focus has become so unstoppable even the older generation initially sceptical of the new wave, grudgingly accept it.

The youth now ape rappers in music videos, the women show a bit more skin, young (metro) men can be seen in salons getting manicure and some are even living lifestyles akin to popular soaps like, Sex and the City. A well travelled African; Josphat Kasire who is in his early forties finds the youth are aping western culture just for the sake of it. He finds it difficult to live like westerners here in Africa because most of the youth do not have money or jobs to maintain their lifestyle.

``A lot of Africans youth are copying western people whereas they cannot make it, `` says Josphat who goes on to explain that their behaviour sometimes, especially in pubs, is a turn off. In all, African society has become more westernized but mainly in towns. In the rural areas, city attitudes like a lady smoking or wearing a figure-hugging pair of jeans trousers will see one being labelled a prostitute.

Keywords: culture kenya

Summary discussion: Is there a global culture or Americanisation?