FTAA

[Phil Wise]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jane Sweet" <lycidas2 at earthlink.net>
To: "Phil Wise" <philwise at paradise.net.nz>
Cc: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 28, 2001 5:42 PM
Subject: Re: FTAA


>
>
> Phil Wise wrote:
> >
> > Jane, do you come from the U.S.?  I'm just curious.  It is difficult to
know
> > whether "globalisation" is or is not a myth because, I think you are
right
> > (from way back in the thread - what, yesterday??!) it hasn't been
defined in
> > context, i.e. when different people talk about it they may be talking at
> > cross purposes, inprecicely, etc.
>
> We use the term here, the Mayor, not the current one, but
> his predecessor, our first African American Mayor, more
> famous for his phrase "the gorgeous mosaic" as opposed to
> the "melting pot," used the term globalization to describe
> what is happening to the USA, particularly in places like
> NYC. I simply don't buy it Phil.
>
>
> But from the position of a Western
> > Democracy outside the U.S., I can kinda see what globalisation might be,
> > since our culture has increasingly been "Americanised", out economy
appears
> > tied magically to America's, &etc.  America may well be a predominantly
> > domestic economy (still - what will it look like in 20 years after FTAA
and
> > its successors?), but it nonetheless affects significantly many
economies
> > around the world, and just as importantly, many cultures.
>
> This is good in my opinion, cross-fertilization is wonderful
> for people. Here in NYC we too have been "americanized" just
> like your Nation. It's good for us.
>
I can see your point of view; the U.S. melting pot is not what comes to my
mind when I hear "globalisation".  But the domination of culture that
derives from capitalist distribution over other cultures outside the U.S. -
i.e. that the predominant culture for everywhere is roughly the same - that
is what I think of.  I love U.S. popular culture, especially the music, and
you'll never hear me argue that what comes out of the place is all bad.  I'm
a hell of a lot less sure about advertising culture, though, which may just
be predominantly bad.  I guess what I'm saying is that, while
Americanisation might be good for NY, perhaps it isn't for everyone, and
that people may just be limited in their choice over the matter.

Phil