Week Three: Media Imperialism vs. Good Art

Yet another week, yet another blog post!

This weeks discussion has to do with art, primarily what art movement or art genre/style has influenced or changed the way I view a culture other than my own. For me, without a doubt, the art from is film and it has changed and influenced me in innumerable ways.

Image Courtesy of: nohomers.net

George Ritzer writes about Media Imperialism, the conventional view “that it was the Western (especially US) media that were imperialistic and dominated less developed nations and their cultures” (Ritzer, 2010, p. 139 ). By this he’s meaning that it was television programs created in the US, movies from Hollywood and American media conglomerates (such as Fox and Time Warner) that were seen as “imposing themselves on less developed nations and playing not only a key role in their media, but shaping their culture” (Ritzer, 2010, p. 140). While this WAS true, it could be a statement that would be hard to argue today.

A simple example of this within the world of film; the Oscars, an American film institution that is synonymous with American classics in the art of cinema. However, two years ago a French film, “The Artist”, took home three of the five major Academy Awards (Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor). This helps to lend credence to the argument against Media Imperialism still being an issue, leading people to believe that “Western, especially American, media are not as powerful as they once were or had thought to be” (Sparks, 2007).

Yes, I realize this is merely an example of how different cultures have managed to influence an art form, not necessarily how they have influenced me or the way I view a culture, but bear with me, I’m getting there…

With having such a keen interest in cinema, it’s films like The Artist, brilliant films from other cultures, which have caused me to seek out as many different cinema experiences from as many different cultures as I can. Recently last month I attended the Melbourne International Film Festival (as I do every year) and managed to see films from all over the globe (“L’ecume des Jours” from France and “Magic Magic” from Chile were two good examples and worth watching), giving me a glimpse at the creativity and imagination that filmmakers from all over the globe are able to present to audiences.

I would be remise if I didn’t acknowledge the fact that my love of cinema did originate from mainstream American cinema, the Media Imperialism that Ritzer discusses, but it because of this Imperialism that I, like many other lovers of art in whatever form it may be, have sought out a sort of Media Nationalism, wanting to devour as much as we can from whatever culture or background it may be. Because, let’s face it, at the end of the day great art is great art.


Reference List:
Ritzer G, Globalization: The Essentials, 2011, John Wiley & Sons Publications
Sparks C, Globalization, Development and the Mass Media, 2007 SAGE Publications