The Artist of Definition...

In my last Blog I discussed the difficulty in defining globalisation while attempting to do it myself. I Failed! Even my best definition felt lacking in depth and understanding. But even academics fail to completely articulate globalisation. The three definitions I have posted are from the reading and each takes at different position and focus when dealing with globalisation.

Albrow states “Globalisation refers to all those processes by which the people of the world are incorporated into a single world society, global society”.

Thompson however, postulates, “Globalisation refers to the growing interconnectedness of different parts of the world, a process which gives rise to complex forms of interaction and interdependency”.

Rantanen adds “Globalisation is a process in which worldwide economic, political, cultural and social relations have become increasingly mediated across time and space.”

I believe the definition is all of these and by extension none of them. Albrow discusses globalisation through a social prism, where Thompson deals in a very broad term and to an extent is negative and finally Rantanen defines the relationship between facets.

I think the Academy Award winning film The Artist might help in defining globalisation. The film is a French-American production, similar to The Fifth Element, and is both a homage and portrayal of the silent film era. The film is black and white, and entirely silent, except music, and uses both facial and physical queues, with help from inter-tiles, to portray emotion and plot. This removal of voice allows it to ‘speak’ to a larger audience and the French lead actor was able to portray himself in a globally recognisible manner through physical troupes.

References:

Rantanen, T2005, ‘Theorizing media globalization’, The media and globalization, Sage, London, pp1-18