cultural.

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Look, aren’t those black and white comics boring?

Well, I would prefer colourful ones (:

As the years go by, there are more and more various kinds of comics available! There are comics from various cartoons and shows, such as pokemon and laofuzi. Right now, even comics are influenced to have different languages and cultures in it. Not only that, with the recent developing technologies, people are using computers to draw or edit the pictures for their comics rather than the outdated way of drawing everything by hand. With computers, comics are more attractive and eye pleasing now. One such example is Singapore ComiIdol competition which started in 2006, and it is for aspiring and independent comic artists to produce and showcase their work. In addition, artists are also able to use the platform to publish and sell their work digitally via the web and mobile phones.

Therefore, with globalization, you will be able to notice different cultures inter-mixing, which is even evident in comics.

i globalise; 6:06 AM

Monday, May 14, 2007

Wikipedia says that, "beauty" is a quality of a person, object, place, or idea that provides a perceptual experience of pleasure, affirmation, meaning, or goodness. However, i agree to that statement to a small extend. Right now, there are a huge number of people out there who mainly rely on artificial means to beautify themselves. Their emphasis on superficial beauty can actually undermine the importance of their inner self. Beauty presents a standard of comparison, and it can cause resentment and dissatisfaction when not achieved.

Indeed, as you all can see, the prevalent trend today is surgery. Plastic surgeons are especially busy in China and South Korea, where cosmetic operations performed go up to millions combined. Nose jobs, tattoos, breast implants, Botox injections and liposuction techniques have become more readily accessible and available than ever before. In addition, beauty has inspired humans throughout history, but it has also led to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. In Singapore, there are actually more than eight in ten who want to change the way they look, while six in ten who feel bad about themselves because of looks or weight. For the past few years, there are several cases of severe dieting that caused medical problems. People often resort to taking slimming pills or going for slimming courses to change the way they look. However, these chemical means have caused serious liver problems, for example, in the case of Andrea De Cruz when she consumed large amounts of slim 10.

On the other hand, not everyone feels that relying on artificial means is the only way to beautify themselves. African Ndebele women consider long necks beautiful. For every year when a young woman is attractive, she is given a gold ring that is welded onto her neck. That to us is unfathomable yet mystical. But to them, untouched by media and modernity, it is sacred and beautiful. In addition, black teeth are even considered beautiful in Kalinga province, Vietnam, where tooth-staining is a traditional ritual. Also, in Japan tooth blackening was known as Ohagura and was believed to enhance sex appeal in addition to maintaining healthy teeth. Until the end of the 19th century, it was used only by married women.

In conclusion, there are different kinds of beauty all over the world. Globalisation has indeed played a part in this aspect.

i globalise; 5:17 AM

Friday, April 20, 2007

Technology has now created the possibility and even the likelihood of a global culture. The Internet, fax machines, satellites, and cable TV are sweeping away cultural boundaries.

One of the greatest influence and change brought about by technology was the telescope made famous by Galileo Galilee, who was against the common conception that the sun and the other planets orbit around the earth. He insisted on his discovery that the earth and other planets actually revolve round the sun, which was later proven by countless of others through math and the telescope. This sparked off a number of events, defying many religious ideas and essentially changed the way the world was thinking. In a much bigger extent, this discovery led to a global concept of how the universe works, of how science can impact the world. This was the first step for technology to contribute to globalization, to establish a global concept shared by everyone in the world, yet this is not even close to the greatest concept known to mankind.

In my opinion, the greatest invention that contributes greatly to globalization, is not the internet, not the computer, not transportation nor anything else related to our senses. It is indeed, in every sense of the world, the invention of time. Time, as most of us know it, is a clock, a calendar; it is just about seconds, minutes and hours. However, to scientists, it is a fifth dimension, and to the ones who can see beyond the physical, it is an imaginary space to describe change that cannot be explained without natural progression, and this natural progression is time. Time however, was not always how we knew it, not always twenty four hours, or three hundred and fifty six days a year. There were many calendars in different societies since the dawn of man kind, and until very recently, we have come down to settle with the modern day calendar. One such example of a calendar that is commonly used today is the Gregorian calendar, which is also known as the ‘Christian’ calendar.

Most people do not know or realize is that how time has impacted on our human life. Now we all follow the same clock, same dates (different time zones). But most importantly, we have managed to unify a dimension that we cannot see, hear or even feel, we have managed to unify the human race in the greatest step towards globalization.

i globalise; 6:49 PM

TAUFIK BATISAH! HADY MIRZA!

Yes, it is the Singapore idol fever! A few months back, Hady Mirza clinched the title of the Singapore Idol, with Jonathan Leong as the first runner up. This show is actually a replica of the UK Pop Idol show, which is also known as American Idol.

Basically, Singapore has Singapore Idol and also similar programs like Campus Superstar. While other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia or Australia have their own pop idol show too. This sets us thinking if this is actually westernization or globalization.

Westernization is a process whereby traditional, long-established societies come under the influence of Western culture. On the other hand, globalization refers to increasing global connectivity, integration and interdependence in the economic, social, technological, cultural, political, and ecological spheres.

However, I believe that this is more of globalisation. Although the idea seems to have originated from the west, it is not a part of the western culture that they discover talents this way. Countries in the east also have similar competitions previously, but not very large scale or like a trademark of the country. In less than 5 years, this has become the most popular way and a trademark worldwide.

The culture of each country has changed rather drastically. For instance, people sing to earn money and fame. In the past, people sing for passion and relaxation and also using songs as a way to record their history. But now, songs are different in content and presentation. With the advancement of globalisation, music has now become such a “rojak” of the different cultures that it is seemingly impossible to tell apart the origins of the music. The world music scene seemed to have blended every different culture and styles similar to that of dumping ingredients into a steamboat. One example will be that of Hiphop music or more affectionately known as “rap”.

There are both pros and cons in this matter. With incentives, people will have more access to the singing of more talented singers. However, this make everything very industralised and singing will be come a chore and not a relaxation. Also, the purpose will be different and the essence of singing in any culture is destroyed.

i globalise; 6:52 AM

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Today, the number of people that are billingual in the world is increasing. Very few people are monolingual. This is none other than the effects of globalisation.

The language, English, has been branded as an international Business language. Therefore, people from all over the world struggle to master this language on top of their own cultural language. The widespread acceptance of English as a first or second language in the world today, is a distinct indication that it is a global language. Communication is vital in the means of progress of the world, in which the English language therefore plays a role in communication and interaction between human relationships. Business thrives under the unified language which enables people of different cultures to understand each other, communicate and establish a partnership with each other, through English. It is clearly prevalent in our lifestyles, whereby it has undoubtedly improved with the language.

We can see that English is already recognised as the key to success. Even Singapore is following suit, with the Speak Good English Movement launched to encourage the accurate speaking of the standardised form of English language and not be heavily influenced by the infamous 'Singlish' that we Singaporeans use so commonly today. Since Singlish is incomprehensible for foreigners, the SGEM is targeted at Singaporeans to improve their use of accurate English to aid the communication between people from foreign countries in business and trade.

Now, in other countries, such as Japan, worries that English is being integrated into the Japanese language and is going to eventually push the traditional language out. It fear of the language being replaced, rather it the English language coming into Japan. As illustrated in articles, other word are directly adapted from the English version since there is no Japanese word for them, for example, “'aisu kuriimu' (ice cream), 'rajio' (radio) and 'conpyutaa' (computer)”.

It seems very saddening that this is occurring, for the tradition of Japanese is fairly precious and is a sign of its history. I feel that the English culture should co exist with the Japanese language, instead of replacing it, like what is currently happening.

The Japanese have always been protected of their culture and language and are extremely dedicated to it. They are a very ambitious nation, with participation of the second world war, to attain territorial dominance in Asia.

Actually, we can still clearly see the distinct Japanese culture by itself. They wear kodomos, have their own distinct comic and animation style enjoyed by people everywhere, and have their own traditional Japanese cuisines which are available all over the world. One of the best examples would be the sushi, now consumed by millions in the world every year. As we can see, they are changing others as much as others are changing them.

There we have it, our personal way of encouraging this globalised language.Whether it is accepted or not, this is the way the world is. Globalisation has ruled over the world.

i globalise; 6:11 AM