Week 2 Cultural Flow: the barrier to globalisation

Globalisation is not merely driven by technological change. It is also driven by mirco-economic force and social force (Pieterse, 2004). Therefore, even there is an advanced technology and a good platform (media) existed, does not mean that the process of globalisation is smooth. Digital music store and player in net was an example of this. According to the news reported by AFP, Several global music players and streaming services, including Apple iTunes store, was facing a hard time in launch their service in Asia.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/397568/asias-digital-divide-poses-challenge-for-music-industry-2/

‘But together with region’s sprawl of very different cultural sensibilities, complicated licensing issues between record companies, publishers and groups holding performing rights, and piracy hotspots, digital growth has been mixed.’ (AFP, 2012).

There is still a gap in culture between western and Asia and its became the barrier to the process of globalisation. Ruuben van den Heuvel, executive director of music, media and technology consultancy GateWay Entertainment told AFP from Brisbane, Australia mentioned that Asia is a brand new planet to the Western companies. (AFP, 2012). Andrew Sheng has discussed this culture gap in his article ‘Despite globalisation, there is still a gap in cultural thinking’ as well. He claim that many Asian intellectuals are Western educated. Many social objectives are universal. However, the concepts of justice, faith, liberty, social status and values are still very different, even within one country. (Sheng, 2012).

‘Despite globalisation, there is still a gap in cultural thinking’       by Andrew Sheng
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/Despite-globalisation-there-is-still-a-gap-in-cult-30185858.html

My apple store ID applied in HK region and I can’t found the music store in my iTunes until this recent few months. Now I can access in. I believe that globalisation is a unstoppable process in the future. It may slow down by some factors, but it won’t disturb the the whole project.

Reference:

Pieterse, N. J, 2004, 'Globalisation: consensus and controversies', Globalization and culture: global melange, Rowan & Littlefield, Lanham, Md., pp. 7–21.