Globalization of Hybrid Cultures

Globalization of Hybrid Cultures

Argentine Nestor Garcia Canclini, in his book, "Globalization of Hybrid Cultures," presents a culture made up of surviving traditions and incoming modernity, particularly in Latin America, where he was born. Viewing the quaint merger at a pluralistic perspective, he asserts that pluralism is indispensable in dealing with Latin America, that is, in considering its "contradictory and unequal components" of modernization, which are emancipation, expansion, renovation and democratization (Canclini 1995). In presenting the theoretical and practical challenges of a hybrid culture, he asks (1) how to hybrid cultures constituting modernity can be studied and given a specific profile in Latin America; (2) how the partial knowledge of the different disciplines on culture can be combined in better interpreting the contradictions and the failure of modernization; and (3) what should be done with the mix of "heterogeneous memory and truncated innovations." He writes on his concept of Latin America as "a more complex articulation of traditions and modernities, a heterogeneous Continent," consisting of coexisting countries with multiple forms and levels of development. In order to see through the heterogeneity, he believes that the anti-evolutionist approach to postmodernism is useful and "more radical" than anything before it. This posture can break through and detect "fundamentalist pretensions of traditionalism, ethnicism, and nationalism."

His book undertakes the work by reflecting on modernity and post-modernity in metropolitan countries and by examining the contradictions between autonomous societies and the industrialization of symbolic markets (Canclini). Afterwards, he proposes how the links between modernism and modernization can be reinterpreted, based on recent historical and sociological research on Latin American cultures. Then, he discusses the behavior of artists, middlemen and the public towards innovation and democratization. This leads to Canclini's examination of these hybrid cultures as generated or promoted by the new communication technologies.

The book centers on Latin America's economy and cultures, as they are unique to themselves, among other developing regions. He maintains that social formation does not necessarily proceed from ancient to modern, from inferior to superior, and that it was when Latin American countries tried to modernize, while trying to retain their native cultures, that inequalities evolved and made legitimate.

He suggests that the central theme of cultural policies should be how to "construct societies with democratic projects shared by everyone without making everyone the same (Canclini) where disintegration is elevated to diversity and inequalities re reduced to differences." It has been noted that his view opposes the position taken by cultural studies in Latin American, which held that the mass media were a huge threat to the region's popular traditions. Canclini maintains that the homogenization of Latin America's indigenous cultures began much earlier than radio and television. The process started with the onslaught of conquests and colonization, in the violent Christianization and introduction of other religions, when national states began forming, with the use of single languages in schools and in the colonial or modern organization of urban space (Canclini).

Canclini suggests the use of combined anthropological and sociological methods in building an autonomous culture, which can survive the ravages and challenges of the transnational market. He sees modernity as relative, doubtable, but not antagonistic to traditions or may overcome them through some evolutionary law. A post-modern stance, he believes, will enable the handling of an impure merger of passing traditions and the disjointed and heterodox trends and accomplishments of modernity (Canclini).

Anthropologist Adam Kuper advances the observation that postmodernism is relevant only within the confines of a school, mainly by university committees, which decide on matters of hiring and tenure, and not in the outside world of knowledge and understanding. He cautions that cultural diversity should not only be a reason for celebration, but also of wariness towards negative and unintended consequences owing to attitudes about race and ethnicity. One must not forget about the value of cultural universality and solidarity. While underprivileged minority groups may well politically identify with America, other societies with their own histories cannot do so without great risks of disaster to their own cultures.

He illustrates this in the example of his native South Africa, where anthropological studies have, for long, engrossed with the integrity of local cultures. In celebration of cultural identity, these anthropologists made the signal mistake of choosing to promote local Bantu culture than to produce "black Europeans (Kuper 1999)," which led to the official separation of white and black cultures.

Looking at the same Latin American cities, David Carrasco is convinced that we live in a world of competing cities (Harvard Magazine 2002), where the nature of urban hierarchies is partly to fill in all social and geographical space, expand their influence beyond their limits, and to acquire and input the productions, ideas and technology of the outside world (Carrasco)." He sees all modern cities as interconnected, so that what happens in one affects the others. Carrasco is said to be the embodiment of the hybrid cultures that prevailed after the Spaniards invaded Mexico, a time when "biological, symbolic and social exchanges" happened. As a historian who was deeply immersed in the study of MesoAmerican cultures, Carrasco produced a huge volume of work on the subject, consisting of more than 3,000 texts and 10,000 images. His knowledge traversed borders and was so broad-ranging that his critics believed that, in his hands, ideas became living things.

Canclini mentions the primary role of information or communication technology in generating and promoting hybrid cultures. Another anthropologist, Margaret Everett, points to the newest information technology, the internet, as critical in solving problems, such as environmental destruction, disease and authoritarianism (Everett 1999) and in enhancing economic competitiveness and political pluralism, it may also lead to a neglect of other basic issues in development. She thus conducted a study in exploring the use of this new technology in Latin America, the subject of Canclini's book.

Her study begins with an assumption that information is the key to renewed economic growth, along with new forms of political participation and community, in American popular culture. It mentions the argument of some that technology can contribute to the creation of hybrid cultures and "autonomous social expression," which comprise William Birdsall's "ideology of information technology." This argument says that information and communication are the key, not only to development and economic growth, but also to new forms of democracy and freedom. (Everett). And businesses support this argument in ascertaining the crucial role played by the internet in achieving competitiveness in global markets - to the point that governments herald the new technology as the path to modernization and national development. Activists, however, believe that the internet removes borders and goes against global political and economic barriers and forces.

He fact is, that Latin America is among the fastest areas for growth for the internet. There were 45,000 servers or host computers in Latin America, as of last count. The sale of computers increased by 21% in 1995 alone. Brazil has among the most extensive internet infrastructures in the region, and claims to have extensive satellite access up to the Amazon. Its internet market grew by 2,333% between January 1995 and January 1996 alone, and commercial sites also growing by 1,073% in the same periods. Records show that all Spanish-speaking countries in the region now have internet connections, the number doubling every 12 to 15 months in the region.

Everyone, even skeptics, is amazed by the capabilities of this information access power. A single keyword can bring in many thousand sites on almost any field of concern - food, travel, business, persons, entertainment, most anything. Web surfers can also choose the language of the material they are looking for. What used to be confidential communications can now be accessed, viewed and even downloaded. What does this magnificent voyage through cyberspace mean to Latin America? Everett begins with Francisco Sagasti's notion of a "global fractured order" in evaluating the implications of the internet on Latin America.

Sagasti views the current age as characterized by a global but not integrated order.

Through it, most people get in touch with one another, while simultaneously maintaining differences between groups of countries. Through it, a large portion of the world's population is separated and deprived of the benefits gained by scientific advances and technological progress. Everett states that information does not always insure progress, nor integration assure equality. Dependency theorists of the 60s supported the latter view and demonstrated by 1970 development failures that attempted integration. Everett, along with others, believes that the aggressive development of technological infrastructure, training, and research in developing countries remains the only way to offset technological dependence, i.e., on the internet. While the internet has grown quickly throughout Latin America, there have been corresponding limitations to its broad use and accessibility (Everett). Those mostly affected are the advocates of the internet's benefits themselves who live in the rural areas and smaller cities beyond the capital boundaries. These are those who participate in social movements or receive assistance of development programs, the ones most marginal to the process of social change they are supposed to be espousing. The more commercialized and heightened the internet grows in Latin America, the worse the marginality and dependence of this population grow.

The height of enthusiasm for the internet also raised computer sales and internet connectivity in Latin America. While more and more networks are established and provide connections in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Argentina and in the rest, many of the people hail the internet as the "key to the future" and the mark of modernity itself (Everett). Its capabilities have been lauded. The Red Cientifica Peruana swore that the current information explosion, globalization and constant change are the keys to professional success. And the internet's magnificent feature for creating "virtual communities," among others, fires enthusiasm of many.

Latin America is enticed by and to the internet as a symbol of modernization and progress. Among other things, the vendors of Lima can showcase their products to the world using only the internet, without leaving their places and despite limited access to the internet, due to short capital and licensing needed to vend. Another attraction the internet has is self-representation. Peru, for example, can use it as the window through which it can be seen by and in the world, not otherwise. The viewer from out there can also link to other sites in Peru, such as on tourism, its government, education, business and entertainment. It is that versatile at little or no cost.

The limits to Latin American nations' representing or reflecting themselves into the world is not established by foreign government, any other agencies, or the media, but only by the inherent capabilities of Latin Americans. Most often projected are elements of cybertourism, through photos and music by RCP, a very successful network in the region, rather than the social ills that plague the region and which need urgent attention. Another use of the Web is for self-identification, that is through a site, which includes information the Latin American culture, discussions of its current problems and threats. Unfortunately, the site uses only Spanish and, as such, cannot be accessed by those who does not speak the language. It, however, can be used as a powerful forum for ethnic groups and other special organizations through which legitimate concerns can be voiced.

Many in the development and planning groups are able to link up information technology and "sustainable development" through the internet. An excellent example is the Sustainable Development Network Program of the United Nations Development program following the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro. Internet gave greater access to discussion and debate about issues surrounding sustainable development.

As a consequence, this Network Program made significant impact on the land-use planning in Bolivia, educated lobbyists and government officials on environmental policy in Nicaragua, facilitated the creation of African internet forum. The Program maintains that access to information (such as through the internet) facilitates greater local participation in planning and development. This, it believes, will lead to more effective and sustainable resource management.

Despite these and other demonstrable gains, inequalities still exist in the availability, quality, coherence and accessibility of information between the developed and the developing (or underdeveloped) world, according to the Network Program.

The integration-and-sustainable-development benefit features of the internet are invoked by internet supporters to justify its continued expansion (Everett). They claim that the proper subjects, that is, the local subjects or population, are able to participate in the deliberations where they can directly verbalize their concerns. Accessibility limits to information technology negate this claim. Another ground is that the internet will fundamentally benefit environmental protection and promote its stewardship is not guaranteed. The widespread distribution of information does not necessarily lead to fair and responsible management of resources. Agencies without clear knowledge of correct and proper policies as to who will access the networks and how to use the information will even reverse the benefits.

Everett points to the slowness or difficulty to acquire telephone lines as among the biggest hindrances to accessibility in many developing countries. Another is the installation of important internet infrastructure as highly dependent on foreign funding and technology. Most networks cannot go on their own, and even when they are set up and running, they continue to rely on U.S.-based network connections.