CULTURAL IMPERIALISM

[Elyria]

Hey all!

Im currently doing some research about cultural imperialism, which is basically the theory that a dominant culture namely the American culture is taking over and destroying local traditions and cultures.
Having visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh last summer I noticed that certain aspects of the American culture have managed to penetrate Armenia and Karabakh.
Such as the fashions, tastes in music, films, some of these things are good others not so much.
I would really appreciate any thoughts on this topic.
Do you feel that the American life style is taking over or are the people of Armenia and Karabakh seeing something which appeals to them and adapting it to the Armenian way of life?
Thanks Elyria

[Hrach_Techie]

Originally Posted by Elyria

Hey all!

Im currently doing some research about cultural imperialism, which is basically the theory that a dominant culture namely the American culture is taking over and destroying local traditions and cultures.
Having visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh last summer I noticed that certain aspects of the American culture have managed to penetrate Armenia and Karabakh.
Such as the fashions, tastes in music, films, some of these things are good others not so much.
I would really appreciate any thoughts on this topic.
Do you feel that the American life style is taking over or are the people of Armenia and Karabakh seeing something which appeals to them and adapting it to the Armenian way of life?
Thanks Elyria

hey Elyria! the point is it's just a kind of a payback for the money the coutnries invest here but to some extnet we are happier than the europeans in terms of influences over the region. As opposed to you having americanisms spreading fast in EU countires we have 4 kind of polygamous marriages with differnt cultures - foremost russian, our own history the national identity,etc then the american and the european cultutres... to some of us it's fun especially to those who view the americanism not as a cultural imperailsm but as a natural process of world is flat while for the others it's disgusting. I eblong tot he first group of people and think it's just the way the things are (Money rules the world )

[Мия]

Originally Posted by Elyria

Having visited Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh last summer I noticed that certain aspects of the American culture have managed to penetrate Armenia and Karabakh.

I'd say that this process is inevitable due to a number of obvious reasons.
Like any open economy (well, relatively) Armenia is facing American cultural expansion through media, which naturally affects the life styles, tastes and preferences of the society. I think that you would notice track of American culture in every coutry nowadays. I believe this can only be mitigated by clever governmental policy, which will support local culture more (via donations, priority offers etc) and not leave it competing with Western show-business in free market (especially when the former is not strong enough). For example, every movie-theatre in South Korea (not the poorest country in the world, right?) is obliged to screen Korean movies no less than 75 days per year. Naturally, this supports local movie industry... there are many more examples. That's it. I would also like to add that Armenian modern society is losing its identity not only to American but also Turkish/Arabic cultural influence, which is no less dangerous.
Good luck with your research.

[Spectrum]

Well of course money rules the world, but i'ts not just the money.You know that till 1991(approximately),during a very long time Armenia was under Russian influence.We were the part of USSR an that's the root of the problem.There was nothinng imported from abroad.No style, no fashion,no polygamous life at all.And there were no TVs or any movies not about the war(thete were all they same kind).Not interested in anything till 1991, and suddenly the "Iron Cutrain" falls.Hello "Coke","Levi's" jeans and "Rambo:The first blood".So after 70 years of "Red prision", who's your daddy now?
The second part of the qustion is that there is not just the American influence.Why there's no Chineese influence in Armenia?They were and tey are closer to us geographically.The main argument was the difference between the "comunism" and "beurocracy".How many people in 80-90 period had their own legal business.No one had.And now you can produce something, earn money, spend money, have 5 cars, and noone will say anything to you(no prison).
That's all I think.

[Sevana]

Elyria , I do not understand your reaction to what you noticed in Armenia and Gharabakh
why shouldn't Armenians keep up with the latest in fashion , music and films , after all we have beautiful and progressive young people , finally free from the oppressions of communism , and have the freedom of choice , and I am confident Armenians will continue practicing thier culture , but day to day living requires keeping up .
I do not understand why do you call it American Imperialism , I saw a lot of Europian and asian influance in Armenia and I say good for you Armenians