Blog #3

Referring to A. Aneesh's chapter "Virtual Migration", briefly answer the following:

1. Describe one way call center training and work conditions transform one’s sense of having a regional and national identity. In other words, how does globalization and the creation of a virtual labor force transform formerly geographically bounded identities? (Your answer must include at least one reference to A. Aneesh's chapter)

2. Review the "Reading Room: the economics of outsourcing" essay in the course reader. Visit "Alladeen" -- the website for The Builders Association's theatrical production "Alladeen Bangalore-London-New York."



Go to the "cyber immigrants" section and view the videos in:


My Strangest Phone Call
Perceptions of America and American Culture
Aspirations for the Future
(move your cursor over the "blue diamonds" on the left hand side of the screen to get section titles)

How does the "Alladeen" site, through its design (magic lamp motif), and its use and organization of video and sound clips, allow us, the users, to confront and challenge our expectations of call center workers and their lived experience as virtual laborers? (Provide one example from the video sections listed above)

Blog #2: Cultural Imperialism

"...the United States is no longer the puppeteer of a world system of images, but is only one node of a complex transnational construction of imaginary landscapes..."

Disjuncture and Difference in the Global Cultural Economy, Arjun Appadurai (327)

Let's examine the cultural imperialism thesis and debates regarding homogenization vs. heterogenization by looking at the popular Idol franchise created by the British media company, FremantleMedia. A significant aspect of current media globalization is the creation of the franchise model, the global distribution of a successful program format to local markets. Popular "reality" programs, sitcoms, and game shows are licensed and modified according to different cultural and social mores, while maintaining set genre conventions, program format and style.

Referring to the reading from Tomlinson's "Cultural Imperialism" essay and examples from Latin American Idol and American Idol (select titles to go to pages), answer the following:

1. Describe one way the franchise is an example of media homogenization. In other words, describe how the franchise functions to create and deliver a similar product across national boundaries (No, you don't have to know Spanish to do this; focus on the design and format of the programs).

2. In light of Tomlinson's discussion and your viewing of the Idol franchise, describe one argument put forth to challenge the cultural imperialism thesis.

3. Referring to Tomlinson's discussion "Multinational Capitalism and Cultural Homogenization" and the Idol franchise, describe one reason why Tomlinson suggests "cultural synchronization" (the loss of cultural autonomy as a result of the processes of multinational capitalism) is not necessarily detrimental to the receiving culture.



Respond by selecting the "comments" link below. Write your name at the top of your response. Limit your response to no more than 300 words.

Blog #1

Read the NYT article "Rural South Koreans' Global Links Grow, Nourished by a Satellite Crop" and answer the following question based on the assigned Appadurai reading.

Identify and briefly describe two ways the article illustrates Appadurai's argument concerning electronic and post-electronic media and migration as marking new ways in which to construct "imagined worlds and imagined selves."


Review the guidelines for blog posts listed on the course syllabus. Select the "Comments" link below the post and enter your response. It is suggested that you write your response in your word processing application, save it, then cut and paste it into the "Comments" section. Remember to write your name and course number (Art 309 or Film 301 ) in your "Comments" post.