Globalization, Culture and Music
Listen/watch the three music links. The first is a London based Indian singer who combines old Indian movie songs with an MTV approach to life, the second is a French Arab Hip Hop artist, who dreams of kicking the shit out of the welfare man, and the third is a London based Egyptian Muslim singing a song in English, Turkish, Urdu and Arabic. What do these sound tracks say about our globalizing world?
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The first video illustrates the fact that globalization has brought various cultures into contact with each other and produced behaviors that mix these cultures together. In this video a group of seemingly Western women (both by look and dress) engage in dancing that mixes modern Western dance with traditional Indian dance in a modern Western dance club setting. The whole video uses mainly Western stylizings to show how normal Indian culture can be and how well the two cultures, usually seen as being quite different, can be easily integrated.
The second video combines Western and Eastern music. The singer raps in a Western rap style to a stylized beat, but incorporates some Eastern style instruments in the song. Further, the rapper speaks in various languages, showing that music can transcend culture and language, therefore being universal. This is an obvious product of globalization, which has made the access to foreign entertainment much easier. With a wider audience in mind, forms of expression similar to the one taken here have flourished.
The third video shows the singer interacting with local people in many different cities across the world. It shows that they are all human and that the singer can easily interact with all of these people. Further, the use of speaking many different languages shows that once language barriers are eradicated there are much fewer differences between peoples.
All of the videos are aimed at breaking down cultural barriers and showing how similar humans are. Through incorporating trends from different cultures it is easier to see how well these cultures can coexist and often merge to form new, mor global, cultures.
What is interesting about these three songs is that they are by Western European based artists who are ethnically and perhaps culturally middle-eastern or Indian. Just as African Americans have portrayed messages through their music (or at least they used to) these artists are able to showcase not only their abilities, their view and experiences.
There are obviously many immigration issues in Western Europe, most stemming from the area stretching from Turkey to India. There have been issues involving a lack of “integration” on the part of these new immigrants into Western Europe. The first music video, “Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya” shows an MTV style video, but integrates traditional Indian music styling and language. This is a great demonstration of a way to integrate into a new society while maintaining ones culture and identity.
The French/Arab hip-hop song is an example of the backlash against integration. Although I am unable to understand the majority of the lyrics, it could easily be compared to gangster rap of the early 1990’s in the United States. It is a backlash against a society that, while appearing tolerant, is in reality very much not so.
The last example is one which portrays a man in many situations. While he wears different attire in each country, he is the same Allah worshiping man. This can be viewed as a demonstration of the mobility of people, and the fact that individuals can find themselves in very different parts of the world but maintain their identity.
These artists are affected by globalization immensely. They show the conflict one faces, such as a clash of culture and a problematic identity.
I thought the first video was an excellent example of how it is still possible for a culture to retain their fundamental values, despite being exposed to so many foreign influences as a result of globalization. While it's obvious that the sexuality and style of the video was influenced by the West, it is still very mild compared to what you'd find on MTV in the US. And the melody of the song is still distinctly Indian. It may be different than traditional Indian music - but it is still Indian music.
As the French song demonstrates, the globalization of hip hop has introduced not just a new genre of music to other cultures, but also a new outlet for political and social activism. Prior to the popularization of French hip hop, this artist might not have had a musical medium that suited his political discontent. Globalization facilitates the spread of both musical genres and the concepts and movements behind them.
As mentioned by others, another interesting thing about these songs, especially the third, is that the lyrics seem to be written for a world audience. Twenty years ago I imagine it'd be rare to hear such songs, as it'd be considered foolish for pop musicians to write lyrics incorporating multiple languages. But as a result of globalization there is a new "world audience" that songs can be marketed to.
These three peices although combine both Western culture and Eastern music, show that globalization is mainly a incorporation of Western culture, mainly culture of the USA, into other societies. It is not totally reciprical. The phenomenon of rap music and MTV is hugely an American phenomenon. For the various artists in the music videos and the rap song who incorporated these American styles into their songs, the reverse is not in affect. It is excruciatingly rare for american artists to incorporate features of Hindi, or Muslim music into their peices. It seems that through globalization, the USA is sending out our culture, but reluctant to accept the cultures of others. People all over the world know names like Michael Jackson, and Michael Jordan, and Britney Spears. But how many foreign, artists and atheletes do Americans know? The third video is the only one which seems to be truly "globalized" as the singer travels to many different locations and sings in many diffent languages. This is a truly globalized songe because it uses one song to bring together many cultures on the same level by giving each its own respect.
Music: The art of arranging sounds in time so as to produce a continuous, unified, and evocative composition, as through melody, harmony, rhythm, and timbre. These characteristics of music, whether it be composition, melody, timbre, etc are all influenced by geographical location and the cultures in those specific areas. For example, it is of no coincidence that what is considered Latino music uses the A Minor chromatic scale pervasively throughout their songs. The “blues note”, found in many jazz and blues pieces, derived from Afro-European derivative music as the genre progressed from African slave spirituals on to jazz, swing, and eventually to Rock N’ Roll here in America. What’s even more, most music that originates in the Middle East operates on a completely different tonal system then does the music of the West.
Globalization: the growing economic interdependence of countries worldwide through increasing volume and variety of cross-border transactions in goods and services, free international capital flows, and more rapid and widespread diffusion of technology. As information and technology flows freely across borders, one society’s culture inevitably flows with it; included in this is music. So now, instead of composition, melody, timbre, etc being influenced by a specific geographical location and one culture, many different influences can be seen in just one song. A perfect example of this is the “London based Indian singer”. While singing what seems to be a traditional Indian song, there are obvious elements of western culture. She is scantily clad and the design of the music video is one that reminds me of an American hip-hop or rap music video. With music being permeated by different cultures, it is obvious that globalization can affect even some of the most culturally specific areas of our lives.
The diverse scenes and languages of the third video make it an interesting example of globalization. The singer switches locations between England, Turkey, and India. He walks through the streets of London in a suit, then he is gives a presentation in an office wearing a shirt and tie, and later he is in India wearing traditional Indian clothes. He talks to English elderly folk on a bus, and sings in four languages: English, Turkish, Urdu, and Arabic. This shows how cultural boundaries are breaking down, and many people are members of multiple cultures and go back and forth between them. Chao pointed out that the incorporation of US music around the world is not reciprocal, maybe this is because most Americans do not take the time to learn other languages. Similar to the third video, the French Arab Hip Hop artist’s song blends together many different types of music, including “the North African droning instrument” mentioned on the page with the links to the songs.
I thought some differences between the first video and the third video were interesting. The Egyptian man in the third video is portrayed as being multi-talented and compassionate. He gives up his seat to an elderly woman on the bus, plays in an orchestra, teaches young children and plays soccer with them, and even wood carves. He wears normal, un-flashy clothes. In contrast, all the Indian woman does it dance in a tiny outfit to seduce a man. She is later rewarded by getting a ring. This does not show a very good image of Western women. I doubt that a video about a woman dressed in unrevealing clothes traveling around the world doing good deeds would be successful or even produced in the first place.
I found the three music videos very interesting and thought that they showed a unique but down-to-earth example of globalization. Music is something we are all familiar with, and it was interesting to see the mix of cultures, languages, and styes in the three pieces. In the first clip, there was a definite mix of Indian music with Western clothing (or lack thereof). And while I agree with Chao that most Americans know virtually nothing of other countries actors or athletes, I think our culture has more influence from other cultures than we first notice. For example, when I muted the first video, it seemed exactly like something one would find on MTV- the dancing and choreography seemed like that of a typical music video. However, knowing that it is an Indian song, one realizes that the dancing has many elements of Indian dancing, but we are familiar with it because it is incorporated into many American videos.
For the second clip, it was interesting to me that like other rap songs, the artist was a minority in the country. This seems to generally be the case of rappers in America and Europe.
Like other aspects of globalization, music is spreading as a way to make a statement and have a wide variety of people hear your views. Additionally, the internet allows this music, which was already a mix of cultures, to be heard around the world.
The last clip, as many people have mentioned, was an especially obvious example of globalization because of the many countries and languages visited and used in the video. This clip (actually, all three) are reminders as well that while we are becoming more globalized and have access to other cultures, we also still have many unique aspects, such as language and dress. I found it frustrating that I could not understand the words of the songs, which was a good remider that America is not the end-all be-all of the world.
Overall, I thought the music videos went along with Bill's presentation about soft power. Music is a popular, non-military way to spread ideas. It is an excellent medium for combining aspects of different cultures and introducing them to people around the world. These three videos are just a few examples of the globalizing changes that are taking place in our world today.
I found the first video particularly intriguing. The traditional view of an Indian woman is definatetly a polar opposite to the woman in the video. The woman oozed sexuality while the mainstream Indian woman would never wear that type of clothing since it is generally not accepted. This was obviously due to a western, and particularly American, music video influence. Another obviously not Indian aspect of the video was the very western club that she was dancing in.
The final video was also an interesting one. The fact that the man sang in multiple languages signaled the fact that he has to fit his beliefs, his music, into different societies. Each of these societies has different practices and cultural norms which is indicated by the clothing change in each country he visits during the course of the video.
These videos show that some aspects of local cultures, namely music, can be preserved even when a meeting of a different culture occurs.
Music is a very influential form of media because it conveys emotions that are generally universal. I am not sure what the lyrics are for the songs, but it is obvious from the video that the song “Ek pardesi mera dil le gaya” by the London based singer conveys sexuality. Although sexuality is a universal subject, the extent to which it plays a role in the video and the overt fashion in which it is displayed show how this singer has tapped into the American culture of MTV to express a certain message that is typically quite subtle in the Indian culture. In the video, the people are scantily dressed in American-style attire, and the music has Western influences, like the short portion at the beginning that is in English. Also, the French Arab hip hop artist has latched on to the Western hip hop movement in order to express his rage, as exemplified by the title, “I dream of kicking the shit out of the welfare man.” Even though Western culture has influenced these artists’ music (and in the case of the music video, the style of the video), the artists are expressing universal emotions.
Like the last two songs, the music clip by the Egyptian Muslim shows the effects of globalization on cultures. The artist shows how easily he is able to travel to England, Turkey, India, and another country. He is able to integrate himself into the various cultures, wearing the appropriate attire and interacting with the locals. This video is a very good example of how globalization has broken down cultural barriers and has allowed for people of different backgrounds to interact.
I agree with Laura that these music clips are a form of soft power. Though it is obvious that the clips have European and American influences, what is not immediately obvious is that by capturing these Western influences, Indian musicians are influencing the West. The Western elements provide a common ground for people of diverse cultures, making it more feasible for an American to listen to this type of music. On the other hand, the music contains elements of Indian or Middle Eastern culture. The music by the London based Indian singer has a distinctly Indian beat and sound. The music by the hip hop artist also has a Middle Eastern beat even though the song is in French. Lastly, the video by the Egyptian Muslim has obvious Turkish, Urdu and Arabic influence. Audiences from other cultures are exposed to these influences, and this most likely makes them more tolerant of the cultures of India and the Middle East. These clips are prime examples of the effects of globalization because they show that by integrating one culture into their own, India and the Middle East are in turn able to influence other cultures of the world.
The first video, clearly very influenced by MTV culture, brought a question to mind:
America advertises itself as a country plagued by multiple personality disorder. One minute the world is listening to Bush condemn other countries as "evil" as he publicly pronounces his country's (and his own) faith in God. The next minute, the world clicks on their television to see Hollywood's interpretation of what America is all about: alcohol and sex, sex, sex. No wonder the world hates America. We are constantly advertising one of our two extremes instead of a more moderate portrayal of our culture's ideals and values.
I acknowledge that this post has little to do with the videos, but what do you all think? Would the world - especially the more religious-oriented and conservative parts- have a better opinion of us as a country if we tried to globalize a more realistic picture of what America is really like?
These videos display an interesting aspect of globalization that is seldom discussed. Each of them, in one way or another, depicts a mixing of culture primarily around Europe. This is an interesting phenomenon that can be seen as a positive outcome of globalization as tolerance, understanding, and acceptance may be spread by cultural integration; or this may be seen as a negative result of globalization as countries may be loosing their national identities.
I found the first video interesting because it begins as a seemingly English music video that might be seen on MTV at any time of the day. The lyrics start out in English, the setting is a Western setting, and the majority of the people look like Westerners. However, midway through the video, there is a dramatic change. The lyrics become Middle Eastern, and a Middle Eastern- looking belly dance begins. This mixture of culture is indicative of the integration of cultures caused by globalization.
I found the second song to be somewhat humorous. It is a French Arab hip hop artist that is singing, and it sounds exactly like what I would expect to hear on a hip hop album in America, except in a different language. The beats in the background are identical to the beats used by African American hip hop artists in the United States. This is reflective of the popularity of American hip hop throughout the globe. It also indicative of the widely used term “soft power,” used to describe American influence around the globe in indirect ways. Culturally different hip hop artists have been appearing in all areas of the globe such as hip hop artist Matisyahu, an orthodox Jew born in Westchester, PA, who brings Jewish culture into popular hip hop in America.
The third video illustrates the integration of culture due to globalization without even having to resort to symbolism. The artist in the video goes from country to country singing his songs and interacting with natives of the country. He visits England, Turkey, and other countries in the Middle East singing his song in multiple languages. The amazing part is that the singer is able to fit into each of the countries that he goes to. His music is accepted, and he looks like he, himself, is a native of each country.
Globalization is a phenomenon that is not just integrating economies around the globe, culture is also being spread. American soft power is a term that describes western influence in culture in the East and, as people and goods travel around the globe, individual countries are integrating cultures with neighboring nations.
I find this area of study very interesting, mostly because music has rarely been discussed in our class. Music is amazing in the sense it can transcend both time, place, culture, race, etc. I know I can still find meaning in Beatles songs, yet recognize the value of NWA. I've read previous postings, comparing the various videos to american styles and trends, some of which I agree with. I definately notice the sexual nature of the first video, which definately mirrors Western culture. The second video I actually understood some of, as I spent some time in Martinique and speak some French. By the way, they love 50 cent there and tupac, etc. Its great he dreams of kicking the shit out of the welfare man, its too bad more French don't feel the same way. Ultimately, the songs definately target an audience that can generally be defined as global. Thanks to sattelite radio, internet pod-casts and the like, music is fulling realizing its potential as a global force. That is, globalization as a process, leading to global society via various mediums, one of which is music.
Is globalization inherently anti-democratic?
The main tenant of democracy is that the people get to choose what they want their government to do. However, in our discussion in class on Monday, we all agreed that globalization was a force that couldn't be controlled. Indeed, it seemed as though the general consensus was that you either needed to hop on board, or else your country would suffer from being hopelessly behind in the "New World".
This, to me, suggests that countries (and citizens of those countries) do NOT have much choice with regard to how their economy will be run, how their lifestyle will be impacted, or even how their government interacts with its neighbors. What if a people don't want to be globalized? Do they have a right to stay out of the rat race? More importantly, do they have a choice? I would argue that they don't.
So it seems that globalization is book-ending democracy. You have the right to decide what your government does, as long as it fits within the parameters of the globalizing world. But, when it comes to the right to refuse globalization, it seems democracy does not apply.
The music Sami Yusuf epitomizes the intersection of tradition and modernity. According to this BBC interview with Yusuf, his music is a Nasheed, a traditional and rather austere form of music that praises Allah. The fact that Yusuf combines four languages in this song shows the plurality of the Muslim world and his awareness that the religion connects people who are superficially distinct. Yusuf’s music video demonstrates that is fully aware of his ability to straddle the line between tradition and modernity; scenes from a profit–seeking business meeting to city streets to kite–flying are all integrated to the sounds of basic instruments and a single voice. Since I can’t understand many of Yusuf’s lyrics, I focus on the uplifting and colorful imagery of his video, which reminds me somewhat of a promotional video for a community group or corporation looking to improve its public image. The video says “Look, Muslims live in all parts of the world. They are part of yesterday and today, and they reach out to their neighbors with kindness.” Coming from a man from my own generation whose music appeals to youth, Yusuf’s work seems to me a success at overcoming boundaries.
All three videos were very different, yet all three contained some sort of mixture of different cultural aspects/ideas, thus displaying globalization’s impact on the greater exchange and blending of pop-cultures. The first video of the London-based Indian singer was quite similar to many American music videos, of the “pop” genre. But, at the same time the old Indian movie songs that she was singing reflected the traditional facet of her music. The second song, by the French Arab Hip Hop artist was very comically entitled “I dream of kicking the shit out of the welfare man.” Thus the subject matter of the song (although my French is not good enough for me to draw a significant translation), displayed the artists strong detestation towards people living off of welfare—a system that receives much criticism in the various countries in which it exists (especially the United States). Last (and my personal favorite), was the video by the Egyptian Muslim who sang in a mixture of English, Turkish, Urdu, and Arabic. The idea of using different languages throughout the song demonstrated the concept of the continuous overlap cultures and possibly indicated a desire to unite various cultures in a friendly and peaceful manner—through song. In addition, all through the video, the singer was constantly helping people he ran in to, smiling at them, and obviously trying to spread the notion of kindness and happiness, throughout the various places he visited.
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