“How do they afford such a car? And do they live in a luxurious house to match such a car? Well, no. You will be surprised, then, to see that most likely the person driving this brand-new car filled with the wrong gas lives in a house that in comparison, is far beneath the status of the car; and if you were to ask why you would be told that the banks are encouraged by the government to make loans available for cars, but loans for houses not so easily available; and if you ask again why, you will be told that the two main car dealerships in Antigua are owned in part or outright by ministers in government.” P.7
In Life and Debt there is a scene where a group of people surround a television and they are watching the news. Horrible things are happening death and fighting. Then the news takes a break and a commercial comes on for Baskin Robins telling them to enjoy ice cream today.
In A Small Place there are many brand new Japanese vehicles and this is a signal of globalization. People everywhere around the world have cars and Antigua is trying to be a part of this. These cars are just face globalization, however, because the government is selling these cars to make a profit. The cars might say that one is rich but the people don’t really have a say and the government forces this globalization.
In Life and Debt there is a good a scene juxtaposed with death and ice cream. A group of people watch their country in ruins on the news and it goes to break and advertising tells them to buy ice cream. Death, fighting, and hardship are all normal to this country even more normal than buying an ice cream. This sort of advertising is a good signifier of globalization. The companies are trying to push their product and create a country similar to the fast food nation of America.
I love your scene from Life and Debt, I think that it is so crazy how there can be a Baskin's Robins commercial in the midst of everything that is going on. Also, I think that it is crazy how that company is pushing their product so much, that they're not taking into account the turmoil of countries that they're broadcasting these commercials in. If those companies would donate money to the wellbeing of the country, than maybe the world could become even more flat and level.
ReplyDeleteInteresting post! You point out some very dramatic signifiers of globalization. The Life and Debt scene is a great example. The commercial add for Baskin Robins is also just another typical thing that these people are now seeing daily because of globalization. Although they are going through a time of turmoil this commercial may not be a surprise to them. It is like thinking of something tragic happening with people every day but the world keeps turning. As for the quote from A Small Place, this signifier just further proves that globalization is taking over and shifting cultural characteristics.
ReplyDeleteThere's something about the medium of television that facilitates the discontinuity. Coverage of a bombing, then a McDonalds commercial .. you've probably seen it before.
ReplyDeleteI think you picked great globalization signifiers to comment on. You made a good point when you described how the people in Jamaica are watching a terrible news coverage of fighting and death and then a commercial for Baskin Robins comes on. It seems ridiculous that in a world so full of death and trauma, advertising still has a very prevalent place in news coverage. You would think that advertising would take a backseat to world problems, yet in societies across the globe, this is not true. Advertising and consumerism, as well as globalization, are seen as more important. In fact, advertising funds the very TV channels where we get our news from.
ReplyDeleteThe connection you have made between the cars in Antigua and the government enforcement of globalization is an important link made in Kinkaid's book. I think that there is more to it than just a desire for globalizing the nation for the government. This passage from her book hints how the government there is trying to achieve their own interests, other than worrying about the wellbeing of their people. The idea of the selfish needs of the government also relates to the idea of the Baskin Robbin's commercial in the movie, because many of the citizens of Jamaica most likely cannot afford luxeries like icecream on a regular basis, but instead, the tourists that visit would be thrilled to see the presense of a business like that. The Jamaican government has exhausted nearly all of its economy and efforts towards tourism so as to bring in some money, but their focus on foreigners has had negative effects on the population of their nation.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting post! I like how you pointed out how television is used to convey many messages. This sort of thing even happens here too. Even watching local news. There can be a horrific murder or something along those lines on the news and then you see a toys-r-us commercial. It is a complete juxtaposition of realities. Sometimes it is upsetting, but television does not always go along with the rules of emotion.
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