ERIC Number: EJ756455
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Dec-8
Pages: 1
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0009-5982
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Just Like Us? Not Likely
Martinez-Fernandez, Luis
Chronicle of Higher Education, v53 n16 pB20 Dec 2006
The world is moving toward a uniform material culture, dominated by mostly material American influences: technological innovations, fashion, Hollywood and the celebrity culture it promotes, hip-hop, and rock and roll. But the pervasiveness of the trappings of American culture obscures the central cultural paradox that lies within the globalization process: Although people around the world may wear, eat, and listen to American products, they continue to maintain their deeply ingrained values, beliefs, and underlying assumptions. They may embrace the material products of modernity, but they cling tenaciously to their underlying cultural cores--which remain vibrant and resiliently distinct. As such, it is important for the Americans to acquire, develop, and master international cultural fluency if they want to sell their products to the world. This article discusses how the U.S. and its citizens can master international cultural fluency in order to prepare them for the challenges of globalization.
Descriptors: Global Approach, Popular Culture, Cultural Pluralism, Cultural Differences, Cultural Influences, Moral Values, Social Values, Foreign Countries, International Cooperation, Second Language Learning
Chronicle of Higher Education. 1255 23rd Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037. Tel: 800-728-2803; e-mail: circulation@chronicle.com; Web site: http://chronicle.com/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Opinion Papers
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United States
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A