3-3 Cultural impact on countries and individuals

Do you think that hybridisation has greater impact on local food culture than homogenisation?

Hybridisation in Food

Globalisation has encouraged the movement of people from one country to another. With this movement of people, they also bring along their cultures and the food they eat. We see that local food landscapes are influenced by foreign food culture when hybridisation takes place.

For example, in Singapore, you can find many fast food chains such as KFC and McDonald’s which originated from America. However, it is common to find these fast food places modifying their regular menu to items that fit local tastes like the ‘KFC Breakfast Porridge’ and the ‘Samurai Burger’. These dishes are designed to suit the tastebuds to the locals and are unique to Singapore.

The popularity of these fast food chains and the spread of these fast food outlets hows that many people have embraced this aspect of American culture. However, the popularity of these fusion dishes also suggests that the hybridisation process is dynamic and our local food cultures has also influenced the American food culture.

Thus, globalisation has brought about the hybridisation of culture in food, which gives us new and creative food choices. However, on the downside, it leads to a dilution of local food culture and loss of our unique cultural identity.

Homogenisation in Food

The cultural impact of globalisation can be seen through the impacts of foreign influences on food landscapes across and within countries.

For example, in Singapore, you can find over 100 McDonald’s outlets and over 80 KFC outlets. These fast food chains are also widely available in other countries. This also means that you can probably find a fast food outlet almost anywhere you go.

The popularity of these fast food chains and the spread of these fast food outlets has contributed to promoting the homogenisation of food landscapes in the world. It also shows that many people have embraced this aspect of American culture.

Thus, globalisation has brought about the homogenisation of culture and made the world more similar in terms of the food we eat. This has given us a greater variety of foreign food to choose from but led to a loss of local food culture and competition for local food companies.

Conclusion

I feel that hybridisation has a greater impact on local food culture than homogenisation.

With homogenisation of food, it just means that locals are more exposed to the food landscapes in the world. This would also mean that Singaporeans are able to learn and enjoy the food available in other countries very conveniently at the food centres near their homes. However, they would still be able to eat their own authentic and traditional local food if they want to.

On the other hand, with hybridisation of food, it will make very drastic changes to the local food culture. Hybridisation involves the fusion of food from two or more cultures, creating a totally new dish. This will have a greater impact on the local food culture as there might be a possibility of the authentic traditional local food losing its influence, especially so for the younger generations whom might be more used to the new flavours created by the fusion of different food cultures.

Hence, I feel that hybridisation has a greater impact on local food culture than homogenisation.

Do you think that hybridisation has greater impact on local entertainment than homogenisation?

Homogenisation in Entertainment

The cultural impact of globalisation can be seen through the impacts of foreign influences on entertainment industries.

For example, since the mid-2000s, there has been a dominant influence in Singapore’s entertainment industry coming from South Korea. This influence has spread through television dramas, popular music (pop music), food, fashion, language, computer games and tourism, and is popularly known as the Korean Wave. The rise of Korean Pop (K-pop) groups are gaining fan bases from Singapore . Korean films and dramas have become part of the programming for our local television stations. This provides Singaporeans with a wider range of entertainment programmes to choose from.

The presence and rapid increase in number and spread of foreign entertainment, either in television, film, music or radio, reflect the acceptance of foreign cultural influences.

Thus, globalisation has brought about the homogenisation of culture in terms of entertainment. Locals get more variety of foreign entertainment which translates to a better quality of life and increased awareness of foreign culture. However, an increased interest in foreign entertainment can harm local entertainment and lead to a loss of local culture.

Hybridisation in Entertainment

In entertainment, globalisation has brought about the ease of sharing of entertainment materials. It is a dynamic relationship as local cultures are not only being influenced by foreign cultures, but they also can influence the foreign cultures as well.

For example, the film ‘Kung Fu Panda’ was a production that saw some Chinese influences on a American production. Kung fu is one of the most popular martial arts forms, and the panda is China’s national animal.

The global success of such productions shows that many people do consume and enjoy American products even when it results from the fusion of local and American influences.

Thus, globalisation has brought about the hybridisation of culture in terms of entertainment and made people accept a fusion of foreign and local cultures to make the world more seemingly similar. This will safeguard both local and foreign entertainment and lead to the creation of novel entertainment products, though it may lead to a loss of some aspects of local culture.

Conclusion

I feel that hybridisation has a greater impact on local entertainment than homogenisation.

With homogenisation of entertainment, it just means that locals are more exposed to the entertainment products that are available in the world. At the same time, they would also be able to have the freedom of choice to choose to enjoy local entertainment products which might be unique and authentic to their own culture.

On the other hand, with hybridisation of entertainment, it might affect the local entertainment industry very drastically. Hybridisation involves borrowing influences from two or more cultures to create a brand new entertainment product. While it might be very appealing due to its new content, there might be tensions that arises from this. As the producers might not be very familiar with the culture they are borrowing ideas from, there might be some controversies and misrepresentation of facts. This might offend the people from the culture whom facts have been misrepresented for. Also, there is also a risk of losing the authenticity of the various cultures that have been represented in the fusion entertainment product. The future generations might eventually lose their traditional culture as they would not be able to find enough entertainment products that accurately depicts their own culture.

Hence, I feel that hybridisation has a greater impact on local entertainment than homogenisation.