A most relevant example in this case is given by the Cosby Show. In the series, Bill Cosby played a father of five and his real life expertise and education in child psychology offered screen information on how to deal with young and older children. This inspired several viewers to change their approach to children and learnt valuable parenting lessons. As a result then, series and films represented one more step in the process of cultural globalization.
Another important mention that has to be made refers to the stories at the basis of the American films. In this line of thoughts, many works are based on real life events outside the United States, which introduce the world watching the American films to the foreign stories of the movie characters (Marling, 2006). Examples of this category include Schindler's List, Last of the Mohicans or the Passions of the Christ. Leaving aside the controversy raised by Mel Gibson's picture, movies of foreign theme support globalization (and not Americanization) as they present to the entire world a story from another region. Schindler's List has for instance revealed the struggles in Nazi Germany and has introduced the world to some heart touching stories from the period. Cold Mountain was for instance filmed in Romania, a European country often revealing a damaged international reputation. The film has however managed to capture the beauties of the land and has opened the eyes of foreigners to the region. American films often promote local cultures and have the ultimate result in an increased number of tourists who want to visit Romanian setting of Cold Mountain or the Tunisian settings of Star Wars. Finally, the Hollywood films play the role of introducing the viewer to a more open minded society and the most relevant examples in this sense is the integration of homosexuality in the film topics. Brokeback Mountain is the most outstanding member in the category.
5. Concluding Remarks
Globalization is often understood in terms of economy, technology and politics. However, it must also be assessed in terms of cultural influences. Globalization represents the totality of processes by which national features transcend boundaries and are adopted by foreigners. A significant determinate of this state of events is the creativity industry, represented hereby by the American...
It plays major parts in expanding globalization from three notable standpoints. First of all, American films introduce the multinational brands to global markets, open doors to international success and increase demand for their products. Secondly, they promote the American values to the world; and third, by basing the film stories on non-American events and by filming in different regions, they introduce the international viewer to different parts of the globe and support tourism in the respective zones.
The American film industry is the most relevant example of
international trade with cultural products. Despite its massive importance however, the Hollywood movies have been blamed for promoting Americanization and for stifling local cultures. Nevertheless, in spite of the negative perceptions, the American film industry is likely to continue its exports of creativity products and to massively distribute entertainment creations all over the world (Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, 2002).
References
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