After careful analysis of the data we have come to the ...



Report on the Global Popular Culture Survey and the Effects of Globalization

Spring 2012

Nanuet Senior High School, Nanuet, New York, USA

And

Belgorod Junior Engineering Lyceum, Belgorod, Russia

Globalization brings cultures and peoples into contact more quickly and frequently than at any time in human history. Each semester the students in the Sociology class at Nanuet Senior High School in Nanuet, New York, USA conduct a survey on ‘Global Popular Culture.’ The purpose of the survey is to study the effects of Globalization on the local cultures of nations around the world. This year the students in the English classes at the Belgorod Junior Engineering Lyceum in Belgorod, Russia collaborated on the survey with the students from Nanuet. The schools worked together as part of ‘The Way We Are’ project of the ePals Global Community. This is our report.

Thirty-three people completed the survey from 12 countries. Please note that for some questions, no preference was indicated and for others some responses contained more than one answer. The respondents were more culturally diverse than those of any previous Global Popular Culture Surveys. People responded from Russia, the United States, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, Armenia, Turkey, Germany, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and Tunisia. We are happy to have had participants from Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.

After careful analysis of the data from the survey we, the students of the Sociology class in Nanuet Senior High School, in Nanuet, New York, USA and the students of the English classes in the Belgorod Junior Engineering Lyceum, in Belgorod, Russia, have come to the conclusion that local cultures are strong and independent in the areas of food prepared at home, sport, and holidays. However, in the areas of fast-food and entertainment there appears to be a strong influence from the United States and other English-speaking countries on local cultures.

The overwhelming majority of the replies to the question on ‘favorite food at home’ named foods or meals that were native or local in nature. However, the responses to the question on ‘favorite fast food’ named 11 American-based fast food restaurant chains, 7 replies name ‘pizza, and 5 replies named some type of ‘burger.’ This does show a distinct outside influence on the local cultures.

The area of Sport showed the strongest local identity. Soccer/Football was named the ‘most popular sport 42% of the time. Basketball and Volleyball were second in this category. Volleyball was prominent in Russia, as was to be expected. Australian Rules Football was prominent in Australian replies and Gaelic sports, such as Hurling and Irish Football, were strong in Ireland.

Foreign influence was most evident in the area of popular entertainment; music, movies and television. The overwhelming majority named singers, musical groups, and actors or actresses, and television shows from English-speaking countries, primarily the United States. In the area of ‘Favorite Type of Music,’ ‘Pop’ was named 11 times and ‘Rock’ was named 9 times, accounting for 50% of the responses. Music of American origin, such as Rap, Jazz, Blues, Country, Soul, Gospel, and Folk, was the choice of 67% of the other responses.

No one musical group or singer dominated the area of ‘favorite musical group or singer.” Of those respondents who expressed a preference (28) the Beatles from the United Kingdom had the most votes with 3, and Tokio Hotel from Germany and the Red Hot Chili Peppers from the United States tied for second place with 2 votes each. The rest of the responses named a particular group or singer; 67% of these were from the United States or another English-speaking country.

In the area of “favorite movie” some respondents entered more that one choice. Of the 31 movies that were named in the survey, 26 were made in the United States. Three movies were Russian, 1 was French, and 1 was Mexican. The “Star Trek” and “Harry Potter” series were named two times each. No other movie was named more than once.

The area of “favorite T.V. show” was dominated by American programs. Thirty-three TV shows were named. The Big Bang Theory’ and ‘CSI’ were named 3 times and ‘America’s Next Top Model’ and ‘Oprah’ were named two times each. Twenty-one different American programs received single votes. Two Russian programs were named and 1 Armenian program was named.

We believe that the data from the Global Popular Culture Survey shows a strong influence of American culture on many other cultures around the world. American fast-food restaurants and American style foods (pizza and burgers) have become the norm when people want fast-food. The overwhelming number of responses that named American music, musicians and singers, movies and television programs reflect the dominance of American popular culture around the world. American popular cultural values, folkways, and norms are often conveyed through these forms of popular entertainment. It is likely that some of these values, folkways, and norms, especially in the areas of personal relationships, marriage, and social issues will come into conflict with those of the local cultures.

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