Social Studies 10-1
Exploring Globalization
Related Issue 1: To what extent should
globalization shape identity?
Chapter 3: Communication Technology and Media
Chapter issue: To what extent is identity
affected by communication technology and the
media in a globalizing world?
In this chapter you will learn:
● How is identity affected by opportunities to communicate
with people around the world?
● How is diversity influenced by the media and
communication technologies?
● How is identity affected by media coverage of world
events?
● How is diversity affected by the dominance of American
media?
Key Terms:
digital divide, propaganda, pop culture, universalization,
hybridization, marginalization
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Chapter Questions:
1. Identify how the messages conveyed in the media have an influence on
your worldview, and how those influences affect your identity. Create a
chart like the one on the bottom of page 86 to record 3 messages you
have recently viewed.
/9
2. Identify and explain two ways that communications technology is
widening the digital divide. Identify and explain two ways that
communications technology is narrowing the digital divide.
/5
3. Express your ideas about how what you choose to watch on television
affects your point of view on diversity. Read the “Ideas” section on page
85, and use the “Your Turn” questions at the bottom to guide your
response.
/5
4. Choose a recent world event and find out accurate information (5W’s)
about it (using the guidelines on page 78 for research). Explain why you
think the media chose this event as a focus of their attention. How do
you think their perspective on this event affected people? Might it cause
discrimination and separation, or help bring people together? Could
there be another perspective on this event that would have a different
effect on identity?
/6
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Chapter Written Assignment:
Explain how contemporary communications technologies are a positive
or negative (or both) globalizing force in affirming and promoting
people’s individual and collective identities. Use at least two examples
in your response, and summarize with a statement about how
contemporary communications technology affects your personal
identity. Try formatting your response something like this:
Sentence 1: identify your opinion on the topic
Sentence 2-3: Explain the first reason for your opinion and use the
example for support.
Sentence 4-5: Explain the second reason for your opinion and use the
example for support.
Sentence 6-7: Explain and give an example of how communications
technology affects your personal identity in a positive or negative way
(align your choice with whether you chose positive or negative for the
rest of the paragraph).
Remember to discuss some of the key chapter vocabulary in your
response.
How is identity affected by opportunities to
communicate with people around the
world?
What methods can we
use for communicating
with people?
What factors influence the
methods of
communication we
choose at different times?
How is identity affected by opportunities to
communicate with people around the
world?
Communication technology and choices
● The largest barrier to communication around the world
Distance
is
, but that has changed. Now,
instantaneous communication almost anywhere in the
world is possible.
● Connections we make with people at home and around
the world help to affirm our part in the world community
and introduce us to the views of others outside our
locale
How is identity affected by opportunities to
communicate with people around the
world?
● The Digital Divide:
the gap between people who do and do not have access to
current digital technology.
○ President Jimmy Carter’s quote summarizes it well:
“Globalization, as defined by rich people like us, is a very
nice thing . . . you are talking about the Internet, you are
talking about cellphones, you are talking about computers.
This doesn’t affect two-thirds of the people of the world.”
○ How is there a digital divide in Canada?
Lack of high speed internet in rural areas; financial situations
do not allow people to buy the technology or pay for internet
services; language can even be a challenge because most
websites are in English (not French or Aboriginal languages).
How is identity affected by opportunities to
communicate with people around the
world?
Technology at Work: The Aboriginal People’s Television
Network
● New satellite technology and launches allowed for the
creation of a nationwide TV service for Aboriginal Peoples
(APTN), “by, for and about Aboriginal peoples” which would
also be shared with all of Canada.
● About 30% of the programming is in Aboriginal languages,
70% is Canadian-made, the programs focus on Aboriginal
issues and current events, and feature elements of
Aboriginal culture (cooking shows, oral storytelling, etc…).
How do you think this affected the identity of Aboriginal peoples
in Canada? What impact might it have had on the identity of
Aboriginal peoples around the world?
Aboriginal groups in other countries have been inspired by this
to create their own TV stations due to the success of the APTN.
Homework!
1. Talk to someone from an earlier generation about their
communication methods as a teenager and how that
has changed. Ask them if they feel your identity is
influenced by these technological changes. Do you
agree? Explain.
2. Look at the map on page 69 and identify areas of high
and low internet usage. How do you suppose this might
affect identity?
Be prepared to share your responses on Monday!
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● How has acculturation and accommodation affected
language throughout history? What makes this more of a
concern today?
○ as people interacted, they started to borrow words from
different languages (i.e. veranda was a Hindi word, and
before that, it was Portugese; tea was borrowed from the
Dutch language, which borrowed it from Chinese).
○ technology allows for the exchange of culture and
language to be much faster today. The upside is that we
can learn a lot about other cultures in a short period of
time; the downside is that minority cultures can be more
easily assimilated.
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
When the police write a report about a crime, do they ask
just one of the witnesses to write what they saw or do they
ask as many as possible? Why?
Read pages 72-75 in your textbook
When you are looking for information on Current Events,
do you (or should you) look at one source only or at a
variety of different sources?
What different things might each source have to offer?
A variety of points of view and perspectives!
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
How does this
meme demonstrate
the globalization of
media on this
distracted Tibetan
Monk?
Tibet is one of the most geographically isolated areas in the
world, and they developed their culture because of that
isolation. Now, not only are they able to easily communicate
with other cultures around the world, but they are partaking in
world news to the point that they would easily recognize people
they have seen.
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Diversity and Global Media Concentration
○ Because the media can reach so many people, it can
encourage both cultural diversity, or homogenization.
■ 9 transnational corporations own all but one major
American TV network, and also have been setting up
channels in other countries
■ 85% of the world’s media (music, satellite & cable
broadcasting, print publishing) are owned by these
corporations.
■ Why is this potentially problematic? What do
corporations, such as Disney, do to promote diversity
in their international stations?
They try to appeal to the local markets by emphasizing areas of
interest in those countries (i.e. ESPN emphasizes soccer in
South America)
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Diversity and the free flow of information
○ Why does media concentration and convergence cause
some people to be concerned about diversity and in the
media the free flow of information in the media?
The concern is that situations like with CanWest Global
Communications in 2001 will continue to happen, and these
corporations will require journalists to write from a certain
perspective which may be beneficial for the corporation, but
not for the average citizen.
○ Some, especially within the corporations, are not
concerned about this because there is too much
information out there already, and “citizens are smart
enough to get it.” - Gordon Fisher (CanWest official).
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Al-Jazeera in North America
○ Define propaganda:
media that is used to spread specific ideas to achieve a goal
○ Background on Al-Jazeera - the station was started after
the BBC’s Arabic language station was shut down following
an incident where the Saudi government tried to prevent
the airing of information concerning executions and
portraying rebel viewpoints. Afterwards, the government of
Quatar gave a QAR 500 million (USD $137 million) loan to
fund Al-Jazeera through its first five years of operation.
They have broadcast many controversial stories over the
years, including videos of terrorists (Osama Bin Laden and
the Taliban, as well as Al-Qaeda), and footage from the
wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Al-Jazeera in North America
○ Many have criticized Al-Jazeera as being the propaganda
outlet for the Quatari government, but several international
broadcasters still want the footage captured by Al-Jazeera
for use in their own countries.
○ Al-Jazeera is not aired on any Canadian stations (although
the CRTC has permitted it with restrictions against anything
that breaks Canada’s hate laws - note the FYI on page 73 usually this restriction happens AFTER a rule has been
broken), and it is not permitted on any American stations.
○ Voices (page 73): At a time when issues in the middle East,
Iran, and Iraq are defining our world, why wouldn’t AlJazeera English be available on our television sets in
Canada and the United States?
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Diversity and the Internet
○ Why wouldn’t everyone benefit from global communications
technologies?
Not all people/groups are in a position to benefit because they
lack the technology or the skills (or both) to have an online
presence and have their views made public. There is also
concern that an online presence could put their minority
cultures at risk.
○ How is the culture of French-Canadians at risk?
A majority of media and services in Western Canada are
primarily English, so maintaining a strong French presence
online requires a lot of effort and dedication.
How is diversity influenced by the media
and communications technologies?
● Techno-Isolation
○ Explain what techno-isolation is:
social isolation due to the over-use of technology (“high-tech
hermits”). Interaction with others occurs, but they are
elsewhere in the world, and the interaction is only using
technology.
○ Why is techno-isolation a concern?
If we only interact with people via technology, we can lose a
sense of community and become socially isolated - we might
not even know what to talk about with our coworkers because
there is so much variety in the world that nobody will have
been to the same events or read the same book.
○ Others say that technology is not isolating, but that it
creates new ways for people make social connections.
What do you think?
Place an X on the continuum below to indicate your
opinion of the effects of technology on cultural
diversity.
Be prepared to discuss why you believe technology
has that type of effect on diversity.
Effects of Technology on Cultural Diversity
Negative
Positive
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
The assassination of
President John F. Kennedy
on November 22, 1963
triggered a change in the
way people expected major
news pieces to be covered
because all programming
was suspended for 3 days
and replaced with
As a result of this event, we expect information about the
to be informed of major events
assassination as it
(natural disasters, political unrest, unfolded. Why do you
sports, etc…) as they happen, not suppose so many people
after the fact.
were glued to their TV’s
that weekend?
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● September 11, 2001 - The World Watches
○ What world event happened and what was the US
President’s response?
Four passenger planes were
hijacked - two were crashed
into the World Trade Centre
in New York, one into the
Pentagon, and the fourth
was retaken by passengers
and crashed into a field.
President George W. Bush declared a “war on terror” to find those
responsible for the attacks.
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● How did technology play a part in these events as they
unfolded?
Victims made calls to say
goodbye to loved ones,
spectators video taped
events and sent them to TV
stations which allowed the
news media to be aware
much sooner and arrive
with emergency crews
instead of after - the
second crash was actually
broadcast live as a result.
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● September 11, 2001 - The World Watches
○ How did the world respond?
Support for the United States and those affected was seen
around the world through flags at half mast, flowers at US
Embassies, and candlelight vigils.
Support for the terrorists was also seen around the world
when people in some countries celebrated the attacks
publicly.
A majority of people in Europe believe that American foreign
policy in the Middle East is what led to the attacks.
What do you think?
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● September 11, 2001 - The World Watches
○ How did Western countries deal with the backlash?
Many people who even looked like they might be of Middle
Eastern heritage were harassed and mistaken for terrorists,
to the point that the UN Commission on Human Rights made
a resolution asking Western countries to put an end to
discrimination against Islam and Muslims.
○ How did the media respond?
Editors began to realize that their choice of words had an
influence on how people were perceiving people of Islam or
Muslim heritage, and began to be more aware of how they
used words like, “terrorist,” “freedom-fighter,” and “insurgent.”
In an attempt to help curb the often unjustified prejudice
being aimed towards Middle Eastern people.
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● September 11, 2001 - The World Watches
In 2002, Maher Arar, a Canadian citizen who was born in
Syria was arrested as he travelled through the US and
deported to Syria. He was imprisoned in Syria and tortured
for a year before he was released and allowed to come back
to Canada.
Here are two headlines that appeared when he was
deported:
U.S. deports respected Canadian to Syria
United States deports suspected terrorist to Syria.
How are these different? What bias is represented? How
might they have influenced people’s points of view?
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● Make Poverty History and Live 8
What is Make Poverty History?
What did they do?
○ A partnership of non-profit
organizations whose goal
is to eliminate poverty
around the world.
○ They put on a series of
concerts around the world
in 2005 to raise awareness
about poverty and
encourage world leaders to
start changes that can end
poverty around the world.
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● Make Poverty History and Live 8
Why were the concerts called Live 8?
○ It was a reference to G8
(Group of 8) - a group of 8
countries who meet annually to
discuss world issues.
Missing voices: why did critics
question the attitude of the Live 8
organizers towards African people?
○ There were only two Africanborn performers so organizers
felt it undermined the whole
project because bringing
awareness to the plight of a
people is pointless if they are
Do you agree?
not represented.
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● Stories That Are Told - and Those That Are Not
○ What kinds of stories tend to get the most media
coverage? Give an example.
■ Tragedies that have a clear cause, are generally
short-lived, and usually have a high death toll.
■ 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean - 150,000 dead or
missing in 11 countries. Garnered more print media
than the top 10 emergencies of the previous year.
People also donated about $500 per person affected
(but only $0.50 per person affected by an 18-year war
in Uganda)
How is Identity Affected by Media Coverage
of World Events?
● Stories That Are Told - and Those That Are Not
Why do you think this
type of story gets the
most media coverage
and fundraising?
Possibly because
people want to believe
that they can make a
difference, and the
problems that have
known causes can
usually be more
quickly resolved.
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● What is pop culture? Why do many think it is synonymous
with American Culture?
○ Definition - popular culture; cultural trends perpetuated by
mass media.
○ The majority of commercial mass media is controlled by
US transnational corporations - some believe this gives
them the power to dictate what becomes popular.
At a cafe in England ….
Take a look at figure 3-17 on
page 82 of your textbook.
What difference do you think
it makes to global cultural
diversity that these media
companies - and their
movies - are all American?
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Pop Culture and Global Media
○ Pop culture always existed (folk tales and songs
contributed to collective identity), it was just on a much
smaller scale because of the limitations of communication
technology at the time.
○ How does contemporary technology and media influence
pop culture differently today?
■ many more people can share in aspects of pop culture
○ How does the path of influence go both ways between
you and pop culture?
■ Pop culture you partake in helps define who you are
and what you believe and find important
■ Your choices influence what becomes pop culture
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Pop Culture and Global Media
○ What is universalization of pop culture?
■ elements of pop culture are available around the world
■ some fear cultural homogenization will occur
○ How has Sesame Street affected the identity of youth and
their acceptance of diversity in Canada and the U.S?
● Because of the theme of respect for cultural
diversity, youth who grew up watching Sesame
Street would have a greater appreciation and
acceptance of the cultural differences around
them, and may value diversity more.
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Pop Culture and Global Media
○ What is hybridization?
■ combining elements of different cultures
○ How is Sesame Street an example of hybridization?
■ It is co-produced in other countries using the original
Sesame Street concept, but highlighting local social
issues (i.e. Kami, and HIV-positive muppet in South
Africa).
○ Do you see hybridization as a positive or negative force?
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Cultural Diversity beyond the American Media
○ Other countries have also created their own media
industries to promote their culture and identity locally and
globally (perhaps in response to the American influence)
○ Japanese Anime and Manga: These products have
become symbols of Japanese identity, and are in very
high demand in other countries as well.
○ In what ways might these products influence diversity and
shape identity?
○ To what extent do they reflect diversity - and a collective
identity - among fans of anime and manga?
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Cultural Diversity beyond the American Media
○ What might explain the popularity of these pop culture
cartoons, considering that they were started after WWII,
when the Japanese were not thought of very highly?
■ They exhibit values that are common among many
people and show the conflict of good versus evil.
○ What two events encouraged Koreans to promote their
culture in the media?
■ Korean film, Sopyonje, helped renew interest in
Korean folk culture because of the traditional music in
the movie.
■ A government report suggested that renewing the
cultural industries would help the economy.
How is Diversity Affected by the Dominance
of American Media?
● Cultural Diversity beyond the American Media
○ What are the results of their efforts to encourage cultural
renewal in the media of Korea?
■ Mandatory 40% Koreanmade films
■ Samsung, Hundai and
Daewoo began producing
media
■ Korean TV and music
videos became very
popular around Asia, and
K-pop artists who grew up
in the U.S. helped make
K-pop popular in North
America.