6.2 Discussion: The United States of Borg

Global media is a powerful force action upon our personal and cultural identities. As a result, whoever controls the global media has a powerful influence on our identities. Large transnational production companies produce most of the TV shows, magazines, and movies that are viewed by people around the world. Consequently, more and more people are being exposed to dominant popular culture. This is called the universalization of popular culture, which is creating new hybrid cultures and identities in a process called hybridization.

However, many people believe that what is actually taking place is a process called homogenization of culture. They claim that because of the impact that mass media/popular culture has had on people, what is actually taking place is a process called homogenization of culture. Therefore, we are seeing more loss of diversity than ever before, as the media reduces the effects of regional values and beliefs. More and more cultures are being assimilated into the popular mono-culture. For ethnic or racial groups like the Indigenous peoples, assimilation means the dominant group is absorbing their minority, which means that their identity is disappearing. Assimilation can be forced upon cultures or voluntary and gradual in order to make life easier.

To what extent should globalization shape identity?

Kevyn Jacobs wrote his poem "The United States of Borg" in response to what he saw as the Americanization of the world. Traditional cultures are dying out as the world is homogenized into one common culture.

Does this poem illustrate challenges to Canadian identity?
Are different cultural, gender or age groups affected more by cultural universalization popular culture than others?

Write a discussion response in which you discuss:

To what extent do you agree with Kevyn Jacobs' perspective that people and communities around the world are becoming more and more alike, as they assimilate American values and culture?

Discussion marking rubric. Discussion Rubric

In your discussion response, make sure that you address each of the questions listed above with support drawn from the poem "The United States of Borg".

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