Introduction to Globalized Representations

Introduction

     Marshall McLuhan suggested that globalization and media have brought our divided world closer together; creating a global village. In McLuhan's own words there is now a "universal understanding and unity." We now have the privilege, as a global community, to become knowledgeable about other cultures and people. However, there are communities that do not take full advantage of these privileges, and only focus on one aspect of a culture. For example, the idea that Irish people are all alcoholics. Of course this is not true, and there are so many other brilliant aspects to Ireland including a rich history in the arts, but years of stereotyping and ignorance have led to this belief. In this blog we attempt to discuss the globalized representations of five different countries including; Brazil, China, England, North Korea and Russia. We chose these countries because of their large influence on the globe as a whole. These five countries are continuously in the media in how they affect politics, economics and culture. In relation we aim to discuss the relationship each of these nations have with the United States; how they see us and how we see them. This is not an attempt to create an us vs. them situation, but to create a better understanding of stereotypes throughout them.  

How England Sees the United States

How England Sees the U.S.

What The British Really Think Of Americans

 

          They think we are stupid, arrogant, and fat. Now some of theses things are true, America is the best and we know it. Why should not we flaunt it to the world? Most of the rest of the world have similar opinions. We as a country need to change that. As Orgad said in an article research is key to knowing ones self identity. Sure we may be the best, and statistically have the fattest people. Who cares? We need to get the rest of the world to know we are also very smart and are not afraid to show it, but we also need to be nicer and help out our allies.
          The U.S. in it's media representations have been questionable lately, with our politics becoming a near comical event. In the video the English Citizens laugh at Americans and our "Funny Accents." The U.S. needs to show the world we can be better than what everyone thinks. We can do whatever we want. We are America.

         

How the United States Sees England

How the U.S. Sees England

HOW AMERICANS SEE ENGLAND

       This video was made to show some of the opinions American citizens have on people from England. I filmed and edited the video with the help of my roommates. They all have various opinions on the world and I was curious to see what those opinions are. I gave my roommates 2 weeks to watch as many movies and TV shows they could find with people from England in it. Some of the bigger hits in the house was "Game of Thrones" and "The Office (U.K.)" I also enjoyed both shows. 

       As one of my roommates states, "They are similar to us"culturally they are not much different from the United States. Sure they also find them to be poorly represented in media but they say it is alright because it is funny. I do not entirely agree with them. Some of the best movies and shows I have ever seen have come from our brothers across the pond.

How North Korea Sees the United States

How North Korea Sees the U.S.

     It seems that when it comes to America, North Korea has state propaganda directed towards them but isn't so malicious compared to what the DPRK actually wants them to think. While the North Korean state is a dictatorship, the totalitarianism is very nuanced and controls the populace so that they don't exactly recognize the lack of freedoms prohibited in the country. This kind of picture is indicative of how regular citizens are propagandized so that the American globalism isn't implanted in their brains subconsciously, unlike in most countries that now have American media influencing every facet of life. It is a contrary statement of "McWorld vs Jihad," as it is neither capitalized (except regarding psychological capital) nor radicalized to violence.

How the United States Sees North Korea

How the U.S. Sees North Korea

     The above is from PBS producer Hannah Yi's trip to North Korea. She experienced the same thing that many Americans face when they are tourists in the DPRK: a largely regimented tour schedule dedicated to convincing them how stable and perfect North Korea is. What Yi found, and that most Americans in general find, is that although the state is highly propagandized, the citizenry is normal and loves to interact with tourists. It's a stark contrast to the depressing country we are shown in most media productions. What Yi remarked most candidly, was that she was drawn to the mundane, normal moments that allow North Koreans to reveal their humanity. Throughout all of the agitprop done by the government, it's still a place with ordinary people, and it's important to not pander to easy stereotypes and xenophobia.

How Russia Sees the United States

How Russia Sees The U.S.

Why Russians Hate America. Again.

     Utilizing globalized identities we can better understand the way Russians view Americans. This article, by Sabrina Tavernise (2015), describes the reasons behind a resentment Russia has for the United States. It is stated that it "seems to have more to do with Russians themselves than with any American action, a kind of defensive, free-floating expression of current anxieties". The ideals that U.S. citizens hold, such as freedom and democracy are seen to be forced in the faces of Russians, and other nations, and it has created a hostility between the two nations. 

     Russia wants to be seen as a great nation that has made great bounds politically and economically in the last decade, and I think they want some recognition for this. They do not want to continue being seen as an icy waste land that has no direction or future.

     According to the Levada Analytical Center in Moscow, the opinion of America is the lowest it has been since the collapse of the Soviet Union twenty-four years ago (Tavernise 2015). Using the interactive created by Chris Wilson (2014) from TIME, one can see the shift in negative feelings toward the United States throughout the more recent years. Between the years 2013 to 2014 Russians approval rating of America dropped a staggering twenty-eight points (Wilson 2014). Hopefully this rating will increase with more diplomatic relationships with the years to come. 

An image of the TIME Interactive discussed above. (Wilson 2014).

CreditMaxim Zmeyev/Reuters

How the United States Sees Russia

How the U.S. Sees Russia

U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS

          The cold war is over and yet Russia keeps pushing the buttons of America. In this article that comes to us from CNN, it talks about how the U.S. thinks that Russia has been hacking our election systems to influence the outcome of the election. This is not even the biggest reason behind the U.S. currently being upset with Russia. Recently Russia left a nuclear security pact in the middle and said it was due to our aggression. Then after this they moved Nuclear missiles to the edge of NATO Territory.  
           Russia has been pushing America's limits ever since they invaded the Ukraine a few short years ago. With the world getting more and more nuclear arms each and every day, we need to crack down on the super powers like Russia who just want to do whatever they want and think they can get away with it. The U.S. has never really liked Russia, but we know that you keep your friends closer and your enemies with nuclear weapons a lot closer. 

How Brazil sees the United States

How Brazil Sees the U.S.

America's Global Image

     Although this is about most major nations, Brazil is treated as the most important Latin American country in the polls. 73% of Brazilians polled had favorable views of America, while only 23% were negative. This was up 8% from a year ago, showing the major strides Brazilians have seen throughout the annual cycle. The 18-29 demographic has a 84% favorable opinion of the U.S., compared to 60% of the 50+ year-olds, showing how America focuses on remedying their image through youth. Climate change is one area where Brazil disapproves of the Obama's administration, considering 36% approve compared to 43% disapproving. That kind of negativity is evidence of the trepidation regarding massive global warming risks and climate change signs in the 21th century. For the most part though, the USA has great popularity in Brazil, and it shows how healthy the countries' relationship is.

How the United States Sees Brazil

How the U.S. Sees Brazil

     Josh Plotkin runs the blog Brazilian Gringo. He made the video "Why I Live In Brazil" to illuminate how even though it may be weird for some to emigrate from America to Brazil, his open inhibitions and ability to connect with other cultures is paramount to enjoying life. It is especially hard to be a fan of Brazil right now, what with the tumultuousness of the Rio Olympics and 2014 World Cup, and the corruption of the national government. Yet Plotkin points out that every country has these issues, it is the media representations of Brazil that eschew the truly good parts of what it has to offer. It is these types of videos that combat the easy characterizations of a nation in favor of a more nuanced and neutral outlook.

How China Sees the United States

How China Sees the U.S.

What do Chinese people think of America?

     Unlike Russia, China has more of a positive view of American's these days. This video created by New China TV in 2015 hits the streets of Beijing, the Chinese capital, to ask its citizens how they feel in light of the recent trip to America by Chinese president Xi Jinping. There was a large consensus that America was good, prosperous and a land of beauty. They wanted to see a future where there was a better and peaceful relationship between the two nations. Which in my opinion is a great thing to hear. 

     Another interesting reason that the people liked America was because it is where they make their money from. This is due to the fact that big American corporations outsource jobs and employ Chinese citizens for cheaper labor. This discovery is in close relation with the Bradsher and Duhigg article published in the New York Times (2012). In the writing they discussed Electronics factories in China such as Apple outsourcing jobs to Foxconn and other companies which have recently made efforts to improve labor conditions. In hiring social responsibility units and reducing long work weeks there has been a change in favorability within the Chinese communities.  Although these are really just bandages on much larger issues there has been an effort made that is appreciated. Between the years 2013 and 2014 China's support for the United States has gone up ten points making fifty percent of the country in favor of us. This data comes from the interactive on TIME created by Chris Wilson in 2014. 

How the United States Sees China

How the U.S. Sees China

American Kids Try - Episode 6: Chinese Food

     American Kids Try is a cute web series that I like to watch when I'm feeling down. This is because the children's reactions to world cuisine is adorable and funny. However, due to this project and trying to learn about globalized representations, I took a deeper look at these reactions. 

     As American's we like to see our culture and people as the global norm. We do not like when things go off from this path. One example of how American's see the Chinese, is focusing on Chinese food as all they have to offer us. Chinese food has been stereotyped as something ordered cheaply from a Panda Express when we do not feel like cooking. However, Chinese food has a deeper tradition than this. But, of course due to years of this type of belief people do not see Chinese food beyond the Americanized version. This is perfectly shown in this video by the children thinking that the duck head and the jelly fish salad were "gross". One child even went as far as to call the interviewer a "murderer". Overall, there should be more of a respect for the customs of China because it is a nation with deep cultural value. This starts with parents teaching their children to be more open minded to the ways of the world.