Globalization & Media: Global Village of Babel
“The Role of Media Globalization”
Out of Africa-with media
Basically, at the beginning it tells how those who are believed to be our ancestors survived
in the Stone Age to make way for what happened, thanks to their great "intelligence" for the
time or the development of their brains and their ability to communicate. Since they
developed multiple forms of communication beyond the voice and speech itself and laid the
foundations for what we know today as communication.
Therefore, at least chapter 5 will deal with man's tendency to communicate, globalize and
leave his mark on the world.
Technology and social change: The debate
Then comes the question of whether technology evolves with humans, or whether
humans evolve technology, and whether technology is good or bad.
And well, as with everything, there are people for and against, and each of them has their
points to defend their position. And from my point of view, they are all correct. Clearly, if
you choose companies that only increase consumerism against companies that help humanity
every day by finding solutions to current problems, both have their bad points as well as their
good points, and globalization in general should not be demonized because of some
companies. And the example that the author gives of the Internet is good, which, although it
has many good things to offer, the bad practices that can occur through it are vast.
Evolution of media and globalization
Oral printed and electronic are the "stages" that are considered by which man studies
the media. Some add some others such as "Script, digital" but that is broadly the case. Since
technology has probably been developing over the years along with human development to
adjust to the needs, actions, tastes, and other characteristics of people. Lule also classifies the
history of media into five periods: oral, written, printed, electronic and digital. Each period
is marked by its dominant medium, which in turn influences globalization.
Oral, Script, Printing, Digital and Electronic Communication
After that, Lule goes into each of the types of communication over the years (Oral,
Script, Printing, Digital and Electronic Communication), that being said, the first one which
is Oral was the first means of human interaction, allowing coordination in activities such as
hunting, trade, etc. And as societies organized and grew, language became a fundamental
tool. Then thanks to spoken language, the invention of writing took place which meant a
significant advance by allowing ideas and knowledge to transcend time and space. Writing
allowed not only the spread of knowledge, but also the administrative control of empires and
the development of complex social structures. And already by the 1400's the printing press
revolutionized society by making knowledge accessible on a scale never before seen. Lule
explains that the ability to print books and documents in masse promoted literacy, drove
scientific advancement and more. And in the current era, with the advent of telegraph, radio,
cinema and television, global communication has undergone a drastic change in terms of
speed and reach. Television, in particular, has allowed people to keep up to date with
international events in real time. But that is now obsolete, and digital media, such as the
Internet and social media, have intensified globalization by offering instant and global access
to information. However, these media also present challenges, such as surveillance and
manipulation, although their impact on global communication remains decisive in the
advancement of globalization.
The rise of the global imaginary
The Blue Marble
Lule introduces the “global imaginary” as an evolution in the way people see themselves and
the world because, this idea relates to the human capacity to imagine themselves as part of a
global community, profoundly influenced by the media. Lule uses the iconic photograph of
the Earth, “The Blue Marble,” to illustrate how the media helps construct this vision of the
interconnected world, which is essential to modern globalization.
The World as Imagined Community
So, with the above point in mind, Lule examines Marshall McLuhan's concept of the "global
village," where electronic media overcomes the barriers of time and space, uniting humanity
as a local community. McLuhan anticipated that this technological closeness would lead to
global harmony. However, Lule shows that McLuhan's utopian dream was not fully realized,
and that today's global village is as much about connections as it is about conflicts and
inequalities.
Conclusion
All this being said, we can conclude and argue that through these two chapters of his
book "Globalization and Media: Global Village of Babel." Chapter 4 and Chapter 5. Lule
argues that globalization and media are interdependent processes that have evolved in tandem
throughout history. He further highlights how each new medium has brought a particular
impetus to globalization while reflecting the social, political, and economic dynamics of its
context. Media have not only brought the world together physically, but also conceptually,
allowing people to imagine themselves as part of a global “community.” This global
imaginary, driven by the circulation of images and stories, has been instrumental in people
perceiving themselves as citizens of the world, an idea that McLuhan anticipated with his
concept of the “global village.” McLuhan believed that media could bring about global
harmony; However, Lule emphasizes that this modern “village” also brings with it
fragmentation, inequality, and conflict, echoing Mumford’s warnings about the power of the
media. Ultimately, Lule concludes that the global imaginary is a space of constant
negotiation, where the dream of a world community is confronted with the challenges of a
divided world.
Bibliography
• Lule, J. (2021). Globalization & Media: Global Village of Babel (4th. ed.). England:
Rowman & Littlefield. Chapter 4 and Chapter 5; pp. 51-95. Available at:
https://research-ebsco-com.udlap.idm.oclc.org/linkprocessor/plink?id=e5bff566-
9393-3a34-948c-17474c51dd1a.
