Impact of Globalization in the Entertainment Industry

Running head: IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
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IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
Introduction
The globalization phenomenon has taken the world by storm and it continues to influence
every aspect of life in the contemporary era. Globalization mainly refers to the individuals, the
companies and the governments of different countries involved in interaction and work via
international investment and trade. It is done with the support and help of information
technology (Robins, 2018). The phenomenon has resulted in the disbanding of previous national
and state frameworks and organizations (Robins, 2018). Nonetheless, with change, globalization
also creates stability because it results in the development of a transnational space and global
society.
The essay discusses the complexities associated with globalization with a special focus
on the entertainment industry. The influence of globalization in the four countries in particular
shall be discussed, which include India, Nigeria, New Zealand and China. The essay will first
elaborate on the trends of globalization and then highlight its impact on the entertainment
industry of the said countries.
Discussion
Globalization trends are most visible in the media sphere. With the progress in satellite
technologies and cable services and the ease in media regulations, television market has taken a
huge leap from national to transnational. The 1991 Gulf War live coverage by CNN, the
American news channel revolutionized the way television is perceived. The coverage was seen
across the world. The creation and popularity of the Disney Channel, MTV channel and other
such media channels further confirmed the influence of globalization. The telecommunications

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IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY
technology has allowed people to gain access to databases present globally. The internet
revolution and then the emergence of social media platforms fueled the trends of globalization.
With these trends visibly influencing the lives of people, arguments have also been made
regarding the complexities associated with globalization. Two significant qualifications related
to globalization must be discussed in order to understand the complexities it possesses. The first
is the notion that globalization displaces everything traditional and old. This notion is not true as
globalization does not change or displace everything, which is evident from the continuities
visible in both cultural and social life. In this perspective, globalization might mean an accretion
of cultural phenomenon “where new global trends coexist”. The second qualifying point about
globalization is that apart from being complex, it is also diverse. People experience globalization
in multifarious ways.
In the context of media and the entertainment industry in particular, globalization trends
have been largely visible. The following section shall highlight the influence of globalization,
mainly ‘Americanization’ in the entertainment industry (Robins, 2018).
The globalization process has offered various opportunities for the minor and developing
nations but it also has created friction. The ‘Americanization’ of international films has caused
much distress as it has resulted in the weakening of the national film culture. The weakening of
national film culture is chiefly evident in the Indian, Chinese, Nigerian and New Zealand film
industries that are the newly emerging industries.
Bollywood, or the Indian Film Industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the
world with its popularity ranked just below Hollywood. Prior to the 1970s and 1980s, when
globalization had not reached the Indian sphere, the Indian Film Industry, particularly the Hindi