reaction paper 7

In Chapter 6, the author showcases the efforts that Western media conglomerations have made to penetrate foreign markets and to create the “global popular”, through various strategies. With the help of Western globalization, they were able to reach beyond the elites and into mass foreign audiences in developing countries, helped with the creation of a multitude of satellite and cable television channels. This had positive consequences, since it led to a huge growth in the media industry and the creation of many jobs in all areas that are related to media and media production. Another positive effect evoked is the potential for the promotion of democratic principles, freedom of speech, equality and universal human rights. Opening up to foreign markets also allows citizens of developing countries to discover a wide variety of programming and have more choice. It has also influenced journalism, since news organizations started to adopt a liberalist, independent (from the government) format in many areas of the world. Moreover, content creators such as authors and filmmakers had platforms that were willing to publish/broadcast their work, sometimes in multiple languages.

All of these changes are undeniably positive and have served to greatly improve the media industry. Ultimately, because of the huge influence of the media, it has contributed in changing people’s daily lives for the better. But nevertheless, all these positive changes remain the product of Western involvement, and is the result of Western dominance when it comes to technology and media infrastructures.

I think this is similar to the dependency theory, as the credit for the development of culture and production of content in developing countries is only attributed to either their adoption of Western models or to the Western influences themselves directly investing and involving themselves in that market, making any development depending on Western states.

This personally reminds me of something that is common in Morocco, with the fact that the overwhelming majority of Moroccans that are internationally known or have succeeded on a global scale, are either born abroad or have been able to succeed because they had an opportunity that came from abroad. Still, Moroccans take credit for them as Moroccan success stories and proof of the development of Morocco on the international scene. I think it is the same logic as thinking entertainment and media platforms in developing countries are improving when the sole reason for that improvement comes from outside Western involvement. It might be considered development, but it will always be seen as a development that was dependent on a Western model and on Western thinking.