Olympically Excessive

My reaction
(9gag 2012a)

This week we discussed the move from empires based on geography and conquest (i.e. the Roman or British Empire) to a more subtle form of empire. That of Transnational Corporations such as Disney, Sony and Time Warner (Steven 2003:43); We were warned about the subversive effect these Corporations can have on our culture and beliefs, particularly if either of these are non-western (consider China’s move to a less centrally planned economy).

A Corporation that seems to be largely ignored, but with a massive influence, is the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the body that oversees the Olympic Games. The IOC’s Olympic charter lists the seven principles of Olympism, the first being:

Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities 

of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create 

a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social 

responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles 

(International Olympic Committee 2012:10)

Porn or Sports?
(Buzzfeed 2012)

This suggests that the Olympic games are about peace, bringing countries and people together, and to promote a healthy lifestyle. This, however, seems at odds with the advertising shown on, in, during and around the Olympics, even with the food provided. McDonalds is the official restaurant of the Olympics (McDonald’s UK 2012). Why? Certainly not because of their healthy, nutritious and balanced meals. It hardly seems either socially responsible or fundamentally ethical to link athletics and fitness with McDonalds. I’d suggest that having a sixpack and having a Big Mac are two mutually exclusive events.

The Imperialistic Gaze
(9gag 2012)

Reference List

9gag (2012), All of Them!, accessed 29 July 2012 <http://9gag.com/gag/4878457>

9gag (2012a), I'm so excited..., accessed 29 July 2012 < http://9gag.com/gag/4878542 >

Buzzfeed (2012), Olympics or Gay Porn?, accesseed 14 August 2012 <http://www.buzzfeed.com/stacylambe/olympics-or-gay-porn>

International Olympic Committee (2012), Olympic Charter, accessed 30 July 2012 <http://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf>

McDonald’s UK (2012), McDonalds, accessed 30 July 2012 <http://www.mcdonalds.co.uk/ukhome.html>

Steven, P. (2003), ‘Political economy: the howling, brawling, global market place’, The no-nonsense guide to the global media, New Internationalist, Oxford, pp. 37–59

Fairly Fucked without Filipinos

This week’s reading seemed rather upset at Media & Communication’s lack of appreciation or visibility in current descriptors of Globalisation. Tehri Rantanen attempts to mitigate this, apparently, appalling hole in the body of research by coming up with his own definition:

Globalisation is a process in which worldwide economic, political, cultural and social relations have become increasingly mediated across time and space.

(2005: 8)

This definition still seems lacking, it suggests that everyone is taking part of this process; ignoring the increasing disparity between the rich and the poor. I’m not indulging in some discussion of the 99% vs. the 1%, but rather developing nations vs. the developed. Last semester in my Macroeconomics unit I learned that Australia owes its economic strength partially because of our move toward a service-based economy. This seems wonderful, we’re all accountants, lawyers, doctors, lecturers, teachers etc. - I guess we’re ignoring tradespeople such as chefs and plumbers? -  But then if this is true who maintains our roads? Who catches our fish? Who looks after the grandparents we’ve hidden away in nursing homes?

Globally that answer tends to be Filipinos. The Philippines churns out 5000+ (skilled) nurses a year, it may be surprising to note that 23% of nurses and 20% of seafarers, internationally (!) are Filipino (Al-Maghlooth 2008). For a developing country that’s a lot of influence on the global economy. 

Happily Filipinos don’t seem to have realised their supply power. Monthly a maid in Manila may earn the equivalent of AUD$38 a month; in Singapore it grows to AUD $230. We may not pay them much, but I’d put it to you that without Filipinos, the world is fucked.

Reference List

Al-Maghlooth, A. (2008), ‘Imagine a world without Filipinos’, Arab News, 16 June, accessed  20 February 2012 <http://www.arabnews.com/node/312915>

Rantanen, T. (2005), The Media and Globalisation, Sage, London, pp. 1-8

Filipino-less?
(Source: http://www.homepagedaily.com/Pages/article7730-why-the-world-is-fucked-and-i-dont-care--by-sean-maguire.aspx)

"No GAMs"

(source: Grinder 2012)

This week we discussed the flows of Globalisation and I have chosen to discuss an effect of the increased Physical Flows of Globalisation. Physical flows are described as "the movement of people across national boundaries" (Srivastava et. al. 2012). In Australia immigration (legal or otherwise), isn't always met with delight. But I will focus on the racism found within the Gay community.

The title phrase, or some variation, is a common sight amongst profiles in gay dating or hook up applications and websites. Examples include Grindr, Jack'D, and ManHunt. GAM stands for gay asian men, as opposed to GWM or gay white men. For enlightening examples of this racism, refer to the image posted above and to Douchebags of Grindr.

Gilbert Caluya discusses this “sexual racism” (2006: 2). His introductory paragraphs relate the disdain GWM often display towards GAM (ibid.: 1). But then, perhaps, there is more to this than the evil (gay) hegemony oppressing the minorities. Perhaps this is a paradigm of preference, my community tends towards labeling people according to whom they’re attracted. A rice queen is a GWM who’s attracted to asians. A potato queen is a GAM attracted to caucasians. Someone who is ‘mashed potato” is a GWM who’s only attracted to caucasians. Finally someone who is ‘sticky rice’ is a GAM attracted to asians. 

Pessimistically we could view these labels and examples as not just racism but a form of xenophobia; we could also choose to view these positively, as simple examples of preference; a preference no more insidious than me liking Hainanese Chicken Rice over Lasagna. Personally, I believe the pendulum is near the centre, but on xenophobia's side.

Reference List

Calyua, G (2006), ‘The (Gay) Scene of Racism, Face, Shame and Gay Asian Males', Australian Critical Race and Whiteness Studies Association, Vol. 2, No. 2, <http://www.acrawsa.org.au/files/ejournalfiles/80GilbertCaluya.pdf>

Grindr (2012), Punami, Grindr conversation image via WhatsApp, accessed 3 March, Grindr

Srivastava, S., Warren, B. & Moore, C. (2012), Topic 1. Introduction: The Flows of Globalisation, accessed 8 August 2012 <https://d2l.deakin.edu.au/d2l/lms/content/viewer/main_frame.d2l?tId=1586861&ou=31220>

Preliminary Entry

Hi everyone,

So my name is Lincoln and this is my blog for ACT215 - Globalisation and the Media... Hopefully you'll love my blog ^.^


Enjoy!

Lincoln