Question

briefly explain cultural imperialism and discuss how two contemporary television practices - adaptation and format franchising - impact the cultural imperialism thesis

Answer 1

‘Cultural imperialism’, can be defined as the exercise of domination in cultural relationships wherein the practices, values, and meanings of a powerful foreign culture are imposed over a least desirable or known culture. It signifies the process dimensions that goes beyond economic or military force exploitation. U.S cultural imperialism has primarily two main goals, first to improve the economy and the second political: the capturing of the markets for its cultural commodities and to establish hegemony with shaping popular consciousness. The television practices such as adaptation and format franchising are the principal sources of power and wealth for U.S. capital as it extends its communication networks throughout the globe. Americanization is occurring due to the global overflow of U.S. television products. The television practices carry US values and improve the profits of US franchisees in the other countries as the cultural agents are passive information receivers. Moreover causes a movement between geographical/cultural areas always involves mutation, translation, adaptation, and the creation of hybridists