1. The Internet will solve developmental problems and intercultural miscommunication. Discuss?
It is really inaccurate in my opinion to say that the internet will solve developmental problems and intercultural miscommunication. Of Course the internet contributes to narrowing and removing physical barriers and frontiers between different societies and cultures, but we should not neglect the fact that the Digital Divide is an omnipresent reality. According to Larry Irving The term digital divide refers to “the gap between those with regular, effective access to digital and information technology, and those without this access” The term was first used in the 1990 when Irving was Technology consultant for the Clinton administration. Intercultural miscommunication can be solved via internet based solutions between societies and cultures that have the same cultural and knowledge backgrounds such as language, education level, cultural references and even technology access itself. To expect different cultures to get to know each other we need to expect them to first be able to use the same technological tools, to be able to speak the same language, to express ideas and opinions in an understandable way. Therefore even if Internet strongly contributes to solving developmental problems and improving intercultural communication, it hits on skill, access, and web content related issues, mainly linked to digital divide.
2. Imagine that you have been selected to represent your country in an international conference to promote Morocco-image: Finalize a global marketing strategy targeting tourists and investors?
My strategy would focus mainly on the European and Nordic countries. Mainly because what Morocco has to offer much, is it’s exotism compared to the northern countries, and the geographical and weather contrasts. this motto “You don’t just come here, you belong” which was a slogan used once by the Sheraton hotel, and which In my sense is very convenient to the Moroccan image being promoted. Hospitality, warm welcome to the extent that people will feel at home. Our main points of focus will be the prices (cheaper than Turkey, Spain, or other countries which capitalize on their beaches and warm weathers) the proximity to Europe, the diversity of entertainment activities proposed (beaches of Tanger and Agadir, virgin forest nature of Chefchaouen, The Palm trees and colors of Marrakech, and the mysticism of Ouarzazate and the Sahara desert of Arfoud) which makes a plenitude of environments all very appealing to Eastern, Western and Northern European people. I’d Invest mainly on flashy advertisements in the most popular medias (Television adds, a high quality website, metro and bus adds to make sure that at least everyone knows that Tourism in Morocco exists, having Morocco in everyone’s mind. This bombardment of adds may be costly, but the return over investment is guaranteed. Such a good investment is necessary in order to suffocate the competition’s (Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia) campaigns which are clearly under-budgetized. For Investors, the campaign would be more targeted towards the business opportunities and the fiscal advantages proposed by the government (the single guichet system, the tax-free region of Tangier, the 6 years exoneration from taxes for all the tourism oriented projects worth at least 15 million Dhs, the cheap and qualified labor, and the previous and current successful projects. We would also put in place a hotline to receive the calls of companies which would have any questions not covered in the website.
3. Suppose you are asked to submit a chapter on Video Games for an international or global communication textbook: Outline your chapter and write a statement justifying that gaming is a part and parcel of global communication, basing your argument on examples?
Introduction to gaming
History about gaming
The Gaming Business Industry
Gaming and the internet
Gaming and virtual communities
The hardcore gamer and CyberAthlete
eSports vs. Sports
The future of Gaming
Having personally attended the Electronic Sports World Championship 4 times (2004,2005,2006,2007) I’ve been able to see with my own eyes and feel how simple video-games were able to bring together gamers from more than 58 nationalities and 5 continents. The love for the game and for competition is the only thing that brings them together. Some of them don’t even speak English, yet within the game they understand each other using specific terms related to the game, sometimes the crowds can’t even localize where the teams are in an Atlas, yet they cheer for them as if it was their soccer national team, people are brought together in situations which would be impossible if it wasn’t for the presence of video-games.The Norwegians play the Koreans, chat together during the game and at the end of the game, they would walk to the other team, shake their hand and simply say “GG” which stands for “Good Game” because fair-play and respect is all what the game is about.
Select and discuss the most important terms, theories and models of a chapter of your own choice, bearing in mind the Moroccan local context (Examples) and write on what have you learnt from this class for your professional life?
Communication and culture would definitely be my favorite chapter. The main theories which are dealt with are first the culture industries, which has been defined as important national economic resources that allow expressions of creativity to be copied and boosted by industrial processes and worldwide distribution. The transmission of culture which was defined by Clifford Geertz in 1973 as “a historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols through which men communicate, perpetuate and develop their knowledge about their attitude towards life” and refers to the many ways of communication mainly which are used to transmit and perpetuate culture. In the case of the Moroccan society, culture was always transmitted verbally from father to son, dating back to some tribal and Berber habits.
The most interesting theory however would be the Global pop culture. Global pop culture is manifested around the world through movies, music, television shows, newspapers, satellite broadcasts, fast food and clothing, among other entertainment and consumer goods. And since it is safe to believe that the USA are leading these fields on a global scale, global pop culture could be redefined as global American pop culture. Although many countries adopted several systems to protect their cultures from global pop by either controlling the amount of foreign cultural works (quotas) giving subsidies and grants to local cultural industries to encourage national products (subsidies), making adaptations to the most successful foreign works (adaptations), merging national cultural industries to make stronger local players to resist foreign works (regional alliances & co-productions). All of these resulting in the growing of a form of hybridized pop culture, mixing up foreign influences and national ideas (the case of the Moroccan Rapp, and hip-hop groups like H-Kayn which was the subject of y research paper). There was also an interesting theory about how to manage cultural conflict in order to avoid miscommunication and violence that would result from that.
What I’ve learnt from this class for my professional life would be that theoretical frame which would help me easily define and surround the practical scripts which I had already recognized through direct contact. The whole cultural hybridization concept, virtual communities were all concepts I was familiar with, but probably not able to explain as well as I could now. I’ve also learned that there are many opportunities out there open for me and people with my profile, which are at a hand reach but simply require some initiative and determination in order to make them real.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Tuorial Quiz 6-July 2007
1. What are the three development paradigms?
The three paradigms are mass media,Telecommunication, and intellectual property rights
2. What is a paradigm?
It is a theme encompassing a set of forms.
3. Identify Walt Rostow’s four stages of his modernization through capitalism
approach?
Pre-take off stage, take-off stage, the road to maturity, and the mass-consumption society.
4. Identify three modernization theorists mentioned in the chapter?
David McClelland, Daniel Lerner and Wilbur Schramm
5. Elaborate on Daniel Lerner’s approach?
Daniel Lerner's approach is that broadcasting and mass media are required for any kind of developement to happen
6. Identify three specialized agencies of the United Nations in relation to telecommunication and communication?
ITU, UNESCO,UPU
7. Speak in some details about the discourse shift in global communication politics?
Nowadays, global communication altough mainly pushed by economic factors, thus making global communication increasingly defined by trade and market standards rather than political considerations
8. There is a debate on global communication politics: identify two main schools and supply their key arguments in the following areas: Access, Knowledge, Global Advertising, Privacy, Intellectual Property Rights, Trade in Culture, Concentration and the Commons?
The neoloberal and the humanitarian schools
9. What does the World Summit on the Information Society mean?
"a replacement for international negotiations playing the role of communication for development."
10. Write on what you want.
I am covering the most prominent eSports tournament of the world as Media Partner to the Organizing committee. It is a great experience as I am meeting experts in this field from all around the world (Norway, USA, IReland, Pulipines, New zealand, Finalnd and France). It is great to see how just the coverage organisms are so diversified and yet sharing the same interest and passion. Almost as if Frontiers never existed, only to delay us from meeting each other and debate on our favorite center of interest. Today I had a very interesting talk with a colleague from GotFrag.com which also used to be a Professional Gamer (or cyberathlete) about his experience in Asia and how he was recognized in the streets of Seoul by fellow gamers who were spectating the event he was participating to. For me this shows that in a very short time, eSports will superseed regular sports, and will forge a place in the Olympic games.
1. What are the three development paradigms?
The three paradigms are mass media,Telecommunication, and intellectual property rights
2. What is a paradigm?
It is a theme encompassing a set of forms.
3. Identify Walt Rostow’s four stages of his modernization through capitalism
approach?
Pre-take off stage, take-off stage, the road to maturity, and the mass-consumption society.
4. Identify three modernization theorists mentioned in the chapter?
David McClelland, Daniel Lerner and Wilbur Schramm
5. Elaborate on Daniel Lerner’s approach?
Daniel Lerner's approach is that broadcasting and mass media are required for any kind of developement to happen
6. Identify three specialized agencies of the United Nations in relation to telecommunication and communication?
ITU, UNESCO,UPU
7. Speak in some details about the discourse shift in global communication politics?
Nowadays, global communication altough mainly pushed by economic factors, thus making global communication increasingly defined by trade and market standards rather than political considerations
8. There is a debate on global communication politics: identify two main schools and supply their key arguments in the following areas: Access, Knowledge, Global Advertising, Privacy, Intellectual Property Rights, Trade in Culture, Concentration and the Commons?
The neoloberal and the humanitarian schools
9. What does the World Summit on the Information Society mean?
"a replacement for international negotiations playing the role of communication for development."
10. Write on what you want.
I am covering the most prominent eSports tournament of the world as Media Partner to the Organizing committee. It is a great experience as I am meeting experts in this field from all around the world (Norway, USA, IReland, Pulipines, New zealand, Finalnd and France). It is great to see how just the coverage organisms are so diversified and yet sharing the same interest and passion. Almost as if Frontiers never existed, only to delay us from meeting each other and debate on our favorite center of interest. Today I had a very interesting talk with a colleague from GotFrag.com which also used to be a Professional Gamer (or cyberathlete) about his experience in Asia and how he was recognized in the streets of Seoul by fellow gamers who were spectating the event he was participating to. For me this shows that in a very short time, eSports will superseed regular sports, and will forge a place in the Olympic games.
Can we consider Video Gaming a new chapter in global communication?
Having myself witnessed what is now considered as the greatest moment in eSports' history (the Counter Strike Grand Final of the Electronic Sports World Championship Opposing the Danish team NoA and the Polish sensation Pentagram) I truly believe that Gaming can indeed be considered as a new chapter in global communication. Online gaming has brought closer people from the entire world around one passion "Competitive video-gaming"
The popularity of video-games in not something a sound mind would try to challenge, the gaming community worldwide has reached more than 250 Million users while it's a hobby which is only as old as boradband internet (8-9 years of existence)
The overall income from video-games sales in 2005 even exceeded that the Cinema Industry, before the Lords of The rings went on theatre.
Further more Gaming is a whole culture, with it's own terms and rules, it has gathered virtual communities from all over the world and has allowed people to meet and share their passions for their favorite games.
It is believed that within the next 15 years, eSports will be as notorious as regular sports, mainly due to the fact that no youngster in countries where video games are available will not have played at least once a video-game.
The gaming population went from the 8-15 years old, to 5-75 years old, with games being more and more open and less attached to the idea of childish.
The popularity of video-games in not something a sound mind would try to challenge, the gaming community worldwide has reached more than 250 Million users while it's a hobby which is only as old as boradband internet (8-9 years of existence)
The overall income from video-games sales in 2005 even exceeded that the Cinema Industry, before the Lords of The rings went on theatre.
Further more Gaming is a whole culture, with it's own terms and rules, it has gathered virtual communities from all over the world and has allowed people to meet and share their passions for their favorite games.
It is believed that within the next 15 years, eSports will be as notorious as regular sports, mainly due to the fact that no youngster in countries where video games are available will not have played at least once a video-game.
The gaming population went from the 8-15 years old, to 5-75 years old, with games being more and more open and less attached to the idea of childish.
Online advertising ‘growing fast’
With the incredibly increasing number of people getting access to the internet in Morocco, and the huge technological leap that is undergone now in Dubai and the emirates in general, Online advertising is acquiring great notoriety. The main advantages of this form of advertising is the cost of operations (some businesses are spamming hundred of millions of email addresses with advertisements of all kind, even if only 5-10% of these people will read these spams, that's already millions who have just been exposed to an advertisement which costed the avertising company nothing)
We are already noticing a number of online advertisements in Morocco, mostly of clubbing events, hotels and Riads promotions, Job offers, and many others. And as slowly people will start spending much more time in front of their computers instead of their TV, some sites even propose TV-grade video advertisements further diminushing the difference between Internet and the Television.
We are already noticing a number of online advertisements in Morocco, mostly of clubbing events, hotels and Riads promotions, Job offers, and many others. And as slowly people will start spending much more time in front of their computers instead of their TV, some sites even propose TV-grade video advertisements further diminushing the difference between Internet and the Television.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA: The Global News War
The media arms race shows how strong global communication and mass media are.
With the ability to select bit and pieces only from any kind of information, Media can play with the facts and produce a interpretation which could literraly change the whole meaning of a contest, the best example being the speech of De Villepin which was cut and edited so that the speech would appear like a fluke in front of the UN while it was a severe blow to the US diplomacy. The overall idea which should be retained from this article is that we can clearly say that whoever controls the global mass media nowadays may not entirely rule the world, but definitely rules the general population's opinion and that is something which should really makes us question wheter we're reeally analyzing what is given to us, or are we just processing it blindly and giving these media more credit than what they deserve.
With the ability to select bit and pieces only from any kind of information, Media can play with the facts and produce a interpretation which could literraly change the whole meaning of a contest, the best example being the speech of De Villepin which was cut and edited so that the speech would appear like a fluke in front of the UN while it was a severe blow to the US diplomacy. The overall idea which should be retained from this article is that we can clearly say that whoever controls the global mass media nowadays may not entirely rule the world, but definitely rules the general population's opinion and that is something which should really makes us question wheter we're reeally analyzing what is given to us, or are we just processing it blindly and giving these media more credit than what they deserve.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
chapter11, outline: Global communication and propaganda
I- Introduction
II- Origins of propaganda
III- seeking a definition
IV- Propaganda and public relations
V- Public diplomacy
VI- Research on persuasion
VII- Wartime propaganda
VIII- Strategies of a propaganda campaign
1- Name calling
2- Glittering generality
3- Image transfer
4- Testimonial
5- Plain Folks
6- Card Staking
7- Bandwagon Approach
IX- Modern use of propaganda
X- Terrorism as propaganda
XI- Addressing terrorism
XII- Conclusions
II- Origins of propaganda
III- seeking a definition
IV- Propaganda and public relations
V- Public diplomacy
VI- Research on persuasion
VII- Wartime propaganda
VIII- Strategies of a propaganda campaign
1- Name calling
2- Glittering generality
3- Image transfer
4- Testimonial
5- Plain Folks
6- Card Staking
7- Bandwagon Approach
IX- Modern use of propaganda
X- Terrorism as propaganda
XI- Addressing terrorism
XII- Conclusions
Sunday, July 1, 2007
The politics of Global Communication
*The three substantive domains
* The beginnings
**Telecommunication
**Intellectual property rights
**Mass media
**The new multilateral institutions
**Specialized Agencies
**The Nongovernmental Organizations
**Shifts in global communication Politics
**The WTO
*Current practices
**The domain of telecommunication
**The WTO telecommunication treaty
**Changing the account rate settlement system
**The domain of intellectual property rights
**The domain of mass media
*Lessons from a key project in the domain of global mass media politics
*Global communication politics today
**Access
**Knowledge
**Global Advertising
**Privacy
**Intellectual property rights
**Trade in culture
**Concentration
**The commons
**Civil Advocacy
**The world summit on the information society
* The beginnings
**Telecommunication
**Intellectual property rights
**Mass media
**The new multilateral institutions
**Specialized Agencies
**The Nongovernmental Organizations
**Shifts in global communication Politics
**The WTO
*Current practices
**The domain of telecommunication
**The WTO telecommunication treaty
**Changing the account rate settlement system
**The domain of intellectual property rights
**The domain of mass media
*Lessons from a key project in the domain of global mass media politics
*Global communication politics today
**Access
**Knowledge
**Global Advertising
**Privacy
**Intellectual property rights
**Trade in culture
**Concentration
**The commons
**Civil Advocacy
**The world summit on the information society
Milestones in communication and national developement
*Defining communication for development
Communication for development refers to the use of communication processes, techniques and media to help people toward a full awareness of their situation and their options for change to improve their condition and that of their society
*post WWII realities
The Marshall plan had demonstrated the effectiveness of management in economic and social reconstruction, but it could not be applied to former colonies in an attempt to preserve them from communism
*What is development
A complex integrated, participatory process involving stakeholders and beneficiaries and aimed at improving the overall quality of human life. it is a complex, multidimensional and dialectic process.
*Communication for development
**Southeastern Ohio,USA
**Turkmenistan
**Eritrea
**The Caribbean Community
*The modernization model
**Modernization through capitalism
**Modernization through ccommunism
*Development support communication and project support communication
**Broadcasting
**The dependecy Critique
*Another development
*The world conferences
*Contemporary strategies in communication for development
**Public awareness campaigns
**Social Marketing
** Entertainment-Education
**Advocacy
*Challenges in the 21st century
*Lessons learned
Communication for development refers to the use of communication processes, techniques and media to help people toward a full awareness of their situation and their options for change to improve their condition and that of their society
*post WWII realities
The Marshall plan had demonstrated the effectiveness of management in economic and social reconstruction, but it could not be applied to former colonies in an attempt to preserve them from communism
*What is development
A complex integrated, participatory process involving stakeholders and beneficiaries and aimed at improving the overall quality of human life. it is a complex, multidimensional and dialectic process.
*Communication for development
**Southeastern Ohio,USA
**Turkmenistan
**Eritrea
**The Caribbean Community
*The modernization model
**Modernization through capitalism
**Modernization through ccommunism
*Development support communication and project support communication
**Broadcasting
**The dependecy Critique
*Another development
*The world conferences
*Contemporary strategies in communication for development
**Public awareness campaigns
**Social Marketing
** Entertainment-Education
**Advocacy
*Challenges in the 21st century
*Lessons learned
Friday, June 29, 2007
My Research Paper
Topic: Socio-Cultural Impacts of globalization through the music industry
I my research paper, I will go through the effects which globalization and the new technologies have had on the world's population in general and on the Moroccan population in particular with a focus on the music industry.
I will try to demonstrate how the global mass media affected the exposed people enough to change their socio-cultural perceptions and beliefs, and how only through music and video clips did some socio-cultural aspects travel tenths of tousand miles to population which woul've never been impacted, if it wasn't for music.
I my research paper, I will go through the effects which globalization and the new technologies have had on the world's population in general and on the Moroccan population in particular with a focus on the music industry.
I will try to demonstrate how the global mass media affected the exposed people enough to change their socio-cultural perceptions and beliefs, and how only through music and video clips did some socio-cultural aspects travel tenths of tousand miles to population which woul've never been impacted, if it wasn't for music.
Chapter 6: Global News and Information Flow in the Internet Age
I) Origin and early history of news agencies
1. Agence France-press (AFP)
2. Associated Press (AP)
3. Reutersd) United Press International (IPA)
4. ITAR-TASS
II) International News Agencies Today
1. Associated Press (AP)
2. United Press International (UPI)
3. Reuters
4. Agence France-Presse (AFP)
4. ITAR-TASS and Interfax
III) Supplemental News Agencies
a. Formation of new agencies worldwide
b. High information flow throughout agencies
IV) Broadcast News Services
a. New television stations
b. Online access technology
c. Impact on business and society over all
V) Global Newspapers, Magazines, and Broadcasters
VI) News Flow Patterns: Offline and Online
VII) The Outlook
1. Agence France-press (AFP)
2. Associated Press (AP)
3. Reutersd) United Press International (IPA)
4. ITAR-TASS
II) International News Agencies Today
1. Associated Press (AP)
2. United Press International (UPI)
3. Reuters
4. Agence France-Presse (AFP)
4. ITAR-TASS and Interfax
III) Supplemental News Agencies
a. Formation of new agencies worldwide
b. High information flow throughout agencies
IV) Broadcast News Services
a. New television stations
b. Online access technology
c. Impact on business and society over all
V) Global Newspapers, Magazines, and Broadcasters
VI) News Flow Patterns: Offline and Online
VII) The Outlook
Thursday, June 28, 2007
The Transnational Media Corporation and the Economics of Global Competition
I- The transnational media corporation
II- The purpose of a global media strategy
III- The globalization of markets
a- The rules of free market trade
IV- Foreign direct investment
a- Proprietary and physical assets
b- Foreign market penetration
c- Production and distribution effenciencies
d- Overcoming regulatory barrier to entry
e- Empire building
V- Transnational Media Owernship
I. The old
a. Mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances
b. Merger
c. Acquisition
d. Strategic Alliance
II. When mergers and acquisitions fail
a. The lack of a compelling strategic rationale
III. Failure to perform due diligence
IV. Post-merger planning and intergration failures
a. Financing and the problem of excessive debt
V. Media and Global finance
VI. The role of global capital markets
a. Capital Market loans
VII. Business and planning strategies
a. Vertical integration (and cross media ownership)
VIII. Transnational media and the marketplace of ideas
a. The deregulation paradox
b. The market of ideas
IX. Global competition and the diffusion of autocracy
X. TNMC’s and Nation-States
II- The purpose of a global media strategy
III- The globalization of markets
a- The rules of free market trade
IV- Foreign direct investment
a- Proprietary and physical assets
b- Foreign market penetration
c- Production and distribution effenciencies
d- Overcoming regulatory barrier to entry
e- Empire building
V- Transnational Media Owernship
I. The old
a. Mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances
b. Merger
c. Acquisition
d. Strategic Alliance
II. When mergers and acquisitions fail
a. The lack of a compelling strategic rationale
III. Failure to perform due diligence
IV. Post-merger planning and intergration failures
a. Financing and the problem of excessive debt
V. Media and Global finance
VI. The role of global capital markets
a. Capital Market loans
VII. Business and planning strategies
a. Vertical integration (and cross media ownership)
VIII. Transnational media and the marketplace of ideas
a. The deregulation paradox
b. The market of ideas
IX. Global competition and the diffusion of autocracy
X. TNMC’s and Nation-States
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Quiz #2
1. Identify three major Western international news agencies?
The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters
2. Is ITAR-TASS a Western international news agency?
No(False), Altough it is one of the major news agencies, we can't consider it as western as it was established in the USSR during the soviet empire.
3.Identify one global newspaper?
The New York Time
4.Identify one international television news broadcasting?
BBC World
5.Define culture? (In one sentence)
The different ways of living, the organization and nature of social activity
6.What does culture industries mean? (In one sentence)
Major national economic ressources allowing expressions of creativity to be copied and boosted by international distribution
7.Who coined the term “cultural industries” and in which book?
Thedore Adorno and Max Horkheimer in a work entitled "Dialetic of Enlightenment"
8.Did culture industries carry a positive meaning in the 1920?
No(false), it was rather pejorative as it refered to "products which are tailored for consumption by the masses determining the nature of that consumption"
9.Do culture industries carry a negative meaning in the 2000?
No(False), they're now en valued to be very important to any country's developement.
10.Identify three strategies adopted by states to protect their own cultural products?
Quotas, Regional alliances and co-productions and Subsidies
11.What is global pop culture?
A form of globalization where the whole world was submerged by Pop culture. it manifested around the world through movies, music, television shows, fast food and clothing, among other entertainment and consumer goods.
12.Give three examples of Hybrid culture?
Mexican Soap shows
Rapp music
Fusion cuisine
13.What is the common ground among these terms:Hybridity, melting pot, crealization, fusion, glocalisation
The common ground to me would be the presence of a variety of cultural groups within the same geographical emplacement.
Debate:
How can Moroccan cultural industries reach globality (global market)?
From my modest perspective, and with a very limited knowledge about globalization concepts and the Moroccan cultural Industry in details, what it would take is a raise in the quality of the Moroccan cultural products. Right now the majority of the products are clearly aiming the local population as the chain of distributions which are producing their works are mainly small national media groups. No group which can take the product internationally, schedule global tourneys except for a VERY VERY limited number of artists, which have been present for decades and have acquired a great national notoriety, to the extent that It was able to reach out at first to other arabic speaking countries, before going for some European and American countries (mostly targeting the Moroccan immigrants in these countries). The only exception to this rule, would be MOMO (Music Of Moroccan Origin) which is a band composed of a number of Moroccan and British artists, who have combined typical moroccan music with British House music. The fusion ended up being extremely popular as MOMO were able to perform in Australia, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Japan and many more countries which would've normally never come in contact with this side of our cultural heritage unless they've made it all the way to Morocco.
To sum up, I'd say that to reach globality, we need to play on these main factors:
Strong distribution chains and global distribution media groups
Quality of the proposed products to be bale to sustain the fierce competition
Fusion and internationalization so that the language barriers become more of an advantage (capitalize on the originality and exotism) rather than a holdback.
The Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters
2. Is ITAR-TASS a Western international news agency?
No(False), Altough it is one of the major news agencies, we can't consider it as western as it was established in the USSR during the soviet empire.
3.Identify one global newspaper?
The New York Time
4.Identify one international television news broadcasting?
BBC World
5.Define culture? (In one sentence)
The different ways of living, the organization and nature of social activity
6.What does culture industries mean? (In one sentence)
Major national economic ressources allowing expressions of creativity to be copied and boosted by international distribution
7.Who coined the term “cultural industries” and in which book?
Thedore Adorno and Max Horkheimer in a work entitled "Dialetic of Enlightenment"
8.Did culture industries carry a positive meaning in the 1920?
No(false), it was rather pejorative as it refered to "products which are tailored for consumption by the masses determining the nature of that consumption"
9.Do culture industries carry a negative meaning in the 2000?
No(False), they're now en valued to be very important to any country's developement.
10.Identify three strategies adopted by states to protect their own cultural products?
Quotas, Regional alliances and co-productions and Subsidies
11.What is global pop culture?
A form of globalization where the whole world was submerged by Pop culture. it manifested around the world through movies, music, television shows, fast food and clothing, among other entertainment and consumer goods.
12.Give three examples of Hybrid culture?
Mexican Soap shows
Rapp music
Fusion cuisine
13.What is the common ground among these terms:Hybridity, melting pot, crealization, fusion, glocalisation
The common ground to me would be the presence of a variety of cultural groups within the same geographical emplacement.
Debate:
How can Moroccan cultural industries reach globality (global market)?
From my modest perspective, and with a very limited knowledge about globalization concepts and the Moroccan cultural Industry in details, what it would take is a raise in the quality of the Moroccan cultural products. Right now the majority of the products are clearly aiming the local population as the chain of distributions which are producing their works are mainly small national media groups. No group which can take the product internationally, schedule global tourneys except for a VERY VERY limited number of artists, which have been present for decades and have acquired a great national notoriety, to the extent that It was able to reach out at first to other arabic speaking countries, before going for some European and American countries (mostly targeting the Moroccan immigrants in these countries). The only exception to this rule, would be MOMO (Music Of Moroccan Origin) which is a band composed of a number of Moroccan and British artists, who have combined typical moroccan music with British House music. The fusion ended up being extremely popular as MOMO were able to perform in Australia, Mexico, Brazil, USA, Japan and many more countries which would've normally never come in contact with this side of our cultural heritage unless they've made it all the way to Morocco.
To sum up, I'd say that to reach globality, we need to play on these main factors:
Strong distribution chains and global distribution media groups
Quality of the proposed products to be bale to sustain the fierce competition
Fusion and internationalization so that the language barriers become more of an advantage (capitalize on the originality and exotism) rather than a holdback.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Assignment 3
***Global Economy and International Telecommunication Networks***
*Premodern world
Example of how a shoemaker proceeds to the production of shoes, the impact this porcedure implied on both the hoemaker skills and his productivity.
*Division of Labor
Contrasting the previous production process with the process involving division of labor. The main point is the whole specialization effect resulting when an employee is only covering up a very specific field, therefore allowing better performance and the main drawbacks due to the whole coordination and control process required to minimise the effect of interdependence. The exemple of Ford is the perfect one at this level as he moved on froma centralized labor-division chain production concept, to an nationaly and internationaly distributed chain production system thanks to the developement of communication and it's role in the coordination and control process. How this concept contributed in bringing foreign goods to even the most common homes.
*Imperialism
The economic exploitation relationship between the colonizing and colonized country and how it evolved from the supply of raw material and opening of new markets for the colonizer's good to a more subtle form of colonialization. The example of the Global telegraph network wich centralized all forms of communication in the heart of the colonizer to secure and monitor lateral communication between the colonized.
*Electronic Imperialism
**GLobal media flow
How the US maintain a firm hand in most of the electronic communication aspects, ranging from TV shows to movies as they act as a central node in the Global Electronic Media flow.
How Normal ciizen are no longer able to be implicated in the media business compared to when the 1st amendment has been established as large conglomerates now have lawed hands on what has become a hioghly capitalized business.
**Transborder Data Flow
How the services benefited from the developement and modernization of global communication and the growing need for an unempeded flow of information between a companie's subsidiaries and their HQ.
The counter effect on developing countries who only serve as the brawns while developed companies take the much more valuable position of the brain.
How free trade more frequently than not ends up in the strong economy crushing the weaker ones, and exploiting it's market by flooding it with higher quality/price products.
*Emerging Network Structures
Even communication protocols which could be viewed at first glance as being distributed and in no specific country or nation's grab, are in fact managed by a single point of distribution, the US. As it's pre-installed infrastructures enables them to play this role without no serious contenders.
*Premodern world
Example of how a shoemaker proceeds to the production of shoes, the impact this porcedure implied on both the hoemaker skills and his productivity.
*Division of Labor
Contrasting the previous production process with the process involving division of labor. The main point is the whole specialization effect resulting when an employee is only covering up a very specific field, therefore allowing better performance and the main drawbacks due to the whole coordination and control process required to minimise the effect of interdependence. The exemple of Ford is the perfect one at this level as he moved on froma centralized labor-division chain production concept, to an nationaly and internationaly distributed chain production system thanks to the developement of communication and it's role in the coordination and control process. How this concept contributed in bringing foreign goods to even the most common homes.
*Imperialism
The economic exploitation relationship between the colonizing and colonized country and how it evolved from the supply of raw material and opening of new markets for the colonizer's good to a more subtle form of colonialization. The example of the Global telegraph network wich centralized all forms of communication in the heart of the colonizer to secure and monitor lateral communication between the colonized.
*Electronic Imperialism
**GLobal media flow
How the US maintain a firm hand in most of the electronic communication aspects, ranging from TV shows to movies as they act as a central node in the Global Electronic Media flow.
How Normal ciizen are no longer able to be implicated in the media business compared to when the 1st amendment has been established as large conglomerates now have lawed hands on what has become a hioghly capitalized business.
**Transborder Data Flow
How the services benefited from the developement and modernization of global communication and the growing need for an unempeded flow of information between a companie's subsidiaries and their HQ.
The counter effect on developing countries who only serve as the brawns while developed companies take the much more valuable position of the brain.
How free trade more frequently than not ends up in the strong economy crushing the weaker ones, and exploiting it's market by flooding it with higher quality/price products.
*Emerging Network Structures
Even communication protocols which could be viewed at first glance as being distributed and in no specific country or nation's grab, are in fact managed by a single point of distribution, the US. As it's pre-installed infrastructures enables them to play this role without no serious contenders.
Assignment 2
*** Drawing a Bead on Global Communication Theories ***
* “Normative” Theories
The tentative to "taxonomize" international communication into either: Authoritarian or Soviet or Liberal or social responsibility or developement model or the pariticipatory media concept. This part also focuses on how comparing different media systems help us sharpen our understanding of our own country's media system. The idea being to be able to define how media systems ought to operate according to certain guiding principle.
* A Different Approach I: Comparing and Contrasting Media
o Political Power
The influence of media makes it the favorite target for all kind of authoritarian and criticism-unfriendly political systems.
o Economic Crisis
The role of the media during economic crisis can vary greatly depending on the political and social environment, in an Ideal situation, it would help identify the causes and responsibles if any, if being very repressed by the government (exmple of the Soviet USSR) it could deviate from this roles to support the local government by blaming the International monetary fund, or a domestic or distant scapegoat
o Dramatic Social Transitions
Russia and it's numerous social transitions with their direct influence on the media goes from the most sever repression, to a very libertin open and encouraged freedom of expression and speech (mainly during the Bolshevik reign) before diving again in repressen and censoship during the Communist era making Russia a very good example about the impact SOcial and Political transitions can have on the media
o A Different Approach II: Globalization and Media
Focusing on the current trnds towards globalization of the media as a complementary approach to the contrasting and comparison of media systems.
The effect which global communication resulting from international brandings and open open markets/colonial impacts had on different countries with different cultural and religious beliefs.
The author also investigates how some people developed a cultural resistance against cultural invasion also known as Hybridity, as they cound find a sound balance between total ignorance and pathetic defeat due to the submerging perspectives and values brought by cultural invasion.
o A Different Approach III: Small-Scale Alternative Media
Small scale media may have immense impact as the ease to produce these short, small and very controversial material can have a huge impact because of the high level of repression met from the state-published media with is generally propaganda-based material made to keep the masses under control. How Even the most basic media (example of the Russian samizdat during Soviet reign) can overcome more massive but biased and untrusted state-based media.
* “Normative” Theories
The tentative to "taxonomize" international communication into either: Authoritarian or Soviet or Liberal or social responsibility or developement model or the pariticipatory media concept. This part also focuses on how comparing different media systems help us sharpen our understanding of our own country's media system. The idea being to be able to define how media systems ought to operate according to certain guiding principle.
* A Different Approach I: Comparing and Contrasting Media
o Political Power
The influence of media makes it the favorite target for all kind of authoritarian and criticism-unfriendly political systems.
o Economic Crisis
The role of the media during economic crisis can vary greatly depending on the political and social environment, in an Ideal situation, it would help identify the causes and responsibles if any, if being very repressed by the government (exmple of the Soviet USSR) it could deviate from this roles to support the local government by blaming the International monetary fund, or a domestic or distant scapegoat
o Dramatic Social Transitions
Russia and it's numerous social transitions with their direct influence on the media goes from the most sever repression, to a very libertin open and encouraged freedom of expression and speech (mainly during the Bolshevik reign) before diving again in repressen and censoship during the Communist era making Russia a very good example about the impact SOcial and Political transitions can have on the media
o A Different Approach II: Globalization and Media
Focusing on the current trnds towards globalization of the media as a complementary approach to the contrasting and comparison of media systems.
The effect which global communication resulting from international brandings and open open markets/colonial impacts had on different countries with different cultural and religious beliefs.
The author also investigates how some people developed a cultural resistance against cultural invasion also known as Hybridity, as they cound find a sound balance between total ignorance and pathetic defeat due to the submerging perspectives and values brought by cultural invasion.
o A Different Approach III: Small-Scale Alternative Media
Small scale media may have immense impact as the ease to produce these short, small and very controversial material can have a huge impact because of the high level of repression met from the state-published media with is generally propaganda-based material made to keep the masses under control. How Even the most basic media (example of the Russian samizdat during Soviet reign) can overcome more massive but biased and untrusted state-based media.
Assignment 1
Following the historical path of Global Communication:
* Geographical space: A barrier to communication
The author's main point in this section is that physical space is no longer an unsurmountable obstacle to human interaction. How the geography of space evolved into the geography of experience, with the barriers of space and time being challenged throughout human history. He also points out the fact that communication history aims to understand the social condition which laid the terrain for the evolving of new communication technologies.
* Geography and the mythical world
How ancient civilization imagined distant lands and countries, because of the almost inexisting amount of information they had the farther they moved away from their "immadiate world". The geographical constraints paved the way to all kind of imaginary beasts like cyclops, griffins, giants and other imaginary creatures.
* Ancient encounters of society and cultures
With a number of outstanding emperors and leaders expanding their kingdoms and bringing realistical records from distant lands, enabling people to rise above mythical beliefs and introducing some basic form of communication with different civilizations (Greeks-Asians)
* Global explorers: Migrants, holy people, merchants
At that particular time, Exploration was mainly supported by economic expectations like finding new trade routes, new partners, new markets to buy/sell goods. Exploration for the sake of knowledge or curiosity was not very common as no one would fund such an initiative.
* Mapmakers in the medieval world
Maps were viewed as state or royal treasures and were sealed away like precious jewelery. ALso the important role which maps played in communication history by unlocking unknown world as well as the opportunities which accompagnied them (new trade routes mainly)
* Inventors:signals and semaphores
Mainly demonstrating some of the most basic form of communication which were based on what was considered as technological advances at the time, like fire beacons, sunlight reflecting surfaces, pigeons or even just mounted courriers
* The printing press, literacy, and the knowledge explosion
How printing press moved literacy from a luxury to a notion which even common people could grasp.
* Scientists and international networks
The introduction of the first electric telegraph as an innovation in two-way information exchange, as well as the telephone and wireless radio and how they brought towns and cities closer together.
* International electric revolution
How steamboats, railroads as well as a broadened application of telegraph used opened the way to international communication, hoping to bridge countries and even continents together
* National vs International communication
With the advance known during the international electric revolution, the necessity to differentiate national and international communication was felt as messages destined to the local population and information with a farther reach started co-existing. The exemple of Reuters is a very good one to demonstrate how a national communication principle could be expanded to become the biggest international information provider.
* Geographical space: A barrier to communication
The author's main point in this section is that physical space is no longer an unsurmountable obstacle to human interaction. How the geography of space evolved into the geography of experience, with the barriers of space and time being challenged throughout human history. He also points out the fact that communication history aims to understand the social condition which laid the terrain for the evolving of new communication technologies.
* Geography and the mythical world
How ancient civilization imagined distant lands and countries, because of the almost inexisting amount of information they had the farther they moved away from their "immadiate world". The geographical constraints paved the way to all kind of imaginary beasts like cyclops, griffins, giants and other imaginary creatures.
* Ancient encounters of society and cultures
With a number of outstanding emperors and leaders expanding their kingdoms and bringing realistical records from distant lands, enabling people to rise above mythical beliefs and introducing some basic form of communication with different civilizations (Greeks-Asians)
* Global explorers: Migrants, holy people, merchants
At that particular time, Exploration was mainly supported by economic expectations like finding new trade routes, new partners, new markets to buy/sell goods. Exploration for the sake of knowledge or curiosity was not very common as no one would fund such an initiative.
* Mapmakers in the medieval world
Maps were viewed as state or royal treasures and were sealed away like precious jewelery. ALso the important role which maps played in communication history by unlocking unknown world as well as the opportunities which accompagnied them (new trade routes mainly)
* Inventors:signals and semaphores
Mainly demonstrating some of the most basic form of communication which were based on what was considered as technological advances at the time, like fire beacons, sunlight reflecting surfaces, pigeons or even just mounted courriers
* The printing press, literacy, and the knowledge explosion
How printing press moved literacy from a luxury to a notion which even common people could grasp.
* Scientists and international networks
The introduction of the first electric telegraph as an innovation in two-way information exchange, as well as the telephone and wireless radio and how they brought towns and cities closer together.
* International electric revolution
How steamboats, railroads as well as a broadened application of telegraph used opened the way to international communication, hoping to bridge countries and even continents together
* National vs International communication
With the advance known during the international electric revolution, the necessity to differentiate national and international communication was felt as messages destined to the local population and information with a farther reach started co-existing. The exemple of Reuters is a very good one to demonstrate how a national communication principle could be expanded to become the biggest international information provider.
Friday, June 8, 2007
My First Post
There it is, my first post in my first blog !!
Always tought that I would never own a blog, too little time to afford maintaining a decent blog, and I don't like to do things partially or badly. But I guess only a fool never comes back on his decisions :)
Always tought that I would never own a blog, too little time to afford maintaining a decent blog, and I don't like to do things partially or badly. But I guess only a fool never comes back on his decisions :)
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