1. What is the effect of globalization on architecture in developing countries and what changes will it bring in the future?
a. Is globalization really the integration of regional economies, societies, and cultures, or the force-feeding of corporate America’s culture and ideals into the unsuspecting bellies of developing nations?
b. Western culture is spreading: while Americans see the societies, practices, and traditions of other cultures as mere factual information through the eyes of tourists, developing countries are applying aspects of American culture directly into their lives, replacing aspects of their own culture.
c. How much of their own culture will third-world countries retain after this corporate cultural attack?
1. Streetscapes of developing countries are being invaded by the architecture of corporate America
2. Traditional buildings, dwellings, and marketplaces are being replaced by the symbols of corporate giants (McDonalds, KFC, Walmart, etc.)
3. Skylines of these cities are drastically transforming, with the generic architecture of the “international style” rising above traditional cityscapes which once defined the place
4. People’s ideals are being mutilated by the “globalizing” American commercial image: what is not Western is outdated and quite frankly, not the right way to do things.
5. Change in ideas eventually leads to a change in lifestyle, as Western products and practices begin to replace local ones.
6. In some countries, China for example, the government is tearing down older buildings, especially in residential neighborhoods, in favor of building Western corporate inventions (supermarkets, shopping malls, etc.)
7. The government offers monetary compensation or housing of a similar value for demolishing people’s homes, but people are forced to live in unfamiliar neighborhoods, faraway from family, friends, and places they used to visit at a daily basis.
8. Will this transformation (especially in architecture) of developing countries eventually lead to the destruction of any physical reminisce of their cultures?
9. What a bleak future for architecture would it be if one day, one could no longer distinguish where a city was just by looking at its buildings?
(Labeled in reference to the 1+3+9 outline you created)
ReplyDelete1a. McDonald's in Pittsburgh PA serves different food than in Paris France, which again serves different food than Beijing China - just a though that while there are similarities, there are also differences
1b. What about the architectural traditions of Japan and China, which once were less industrialized than the US, yet still percolated into our society and have influenced some contemporary architectural styles
I really like the idea that you are exploring and think it you could draw some interesting (albeit maybe depressing) conclusions from it. It might also need some research into the history of both the industrialization and architectural traditions of the US... because I was thinking, 'what if the a country like China or Japan had industrialized first... would this 'international/globalization' style look different?
I like your idea and it's very interesting that you're talking about skylines of different cities changing drastically. Looking at different countries and comparing and contrasting would be also interesting. It'd be unfortunate if one could no longer distinguish where a city was just by looking at its buildings.
ReplyDeleteI think globalization brings light to those traditional building in Japan and China. Before globalization, all the buildings were in traditional style, and people often forget to appreciate them. But because of globalization, these buildings are being appreciated again...
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying globalization is a 100% positive or negative, but it defintely has +.