Aida Delgado-Cadena, assistant principal of foreign languages at Newton High School, instructs an advanced placement Spanish literature class at the school in New York's Queens borough. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)
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Global Media: Creating Citizens of the World
By Alli Hardwick
No single culture is perfect in its entirety. Fortunately, global media technology has made it possible for many people to select the most desirable characteristics of numerous cultures to incorporate into their ideal cultural identity. With resources such as television, radio, and the Internet, people are exposed to new ideas and ways of living that improve their quality of life. What some scholars refer to as a Social Choice approach to globalization suggests that global media technology has begun to allow citizens of the world to develop hybrid cultural identities that are custom fit to meet their needs and desires.
People across all cultures often find peace and meaning through their spiritual practices. Through exposure to world cultures, individuals have the opportunity to gain insight into their spiritual beliefs. For example Erin, a woman from Western Washington, was feeling unfulfilled by the Christian faith that her family shared. She saw a television program about Buddhism that sparked her curiosity. Erin did some research and found a Buddhist temple in Seattle, Washington where she found a like-minded community.
Another positive aspect of social choice is the potential for improving education. Communication between members of different cultures provides access to a greater amount of historical records. For example, people now have access to both Japanese and American accounts of the attack on Pearl Harbor, giving them a greater understanding of how it affected people and how to avoid a similar situation in the future. Additionally, people across the world have the opportunity to become multilingual, often through computer software or Internet companies. Fluency in multiple languages enables people to communicate across different cultures and travel more safely.
Global media provide the opportunity for people to discover new ideas and incorporate them into their identity. This introspective process encourages individuals to act as tolerant, open-minded global citizens.