Global Culture

The MIT faculty of Comparative Media Studies focuses some of its research on Global Culture and Media. Since I expect technology to play a fundamental role in the deployment of this project, I looked with interest for more information about their results. With statements such as:

these new technologies potentially accelerate long-standing trends towards the homogenization of world cultures

the multi-directional character of digital communications may open the global community to more diverse influences, enabling immigrants, migrants, and exiles to maintain stronger ties to their mother countries, and encouraging a greater global consciousness

Contemporary popular culture is increasingly internationalized, reflecting both the global flow of cultural materials and the influence of new waves of immigration throughout the world

I figured the search would be quite productive. However, looking through their projects, I started to realize that Corporations have found ways to leverage the power of academy to arm themselves with tools to better mine their markets. As explained by Convergence Culture Consortium their main interest is to disect the inner workings of how culture spreads by means of new media so they can advise Corporations on how to better market to the global community.

Yikes! Our project should be the exact opposite. I want us to become a tool for people to stop pursuing brands and start looking inwards, where the real value is. A tool to uncover marketing campaigns and discover authentic local cultures. A tool for these cultures to spread.