Topic - Media Globalization in Asia
Media Globalization in Asia has tremendously changed throughout the years in Asia, however, there is a barrier that will always restrict the globalization to reach its maximum potential.
The reason for the title of the post today is how 'culture' which consists of the roots of many groups, ideas, beliefs, values and norms we have since long ago, that could be the hurdle for maximum globalization in Asia.
It is an inevitable fact that Asia is one of the most cultural continents in the world. Not only it is culturally oriented, it has a conservative outlook on the media. Thus, media globalization in Asia has been heavily limited due to culture. Furthermore, issues such as the differences in cultural background , language , limited coverage of TV transmission and reception in many rural areas and vast limitations by government restrictions has taken its toll in maximum media potential being met.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/32823-rempit-ban-ministry-wont-compensate-filmmakers-
Culturally,there are many aspects of a movie that Asian culture cannot accept in the local cinemas. In Asia, most countries such as Malaysia for instance do not allow sexual scenes or scenes such as violence, vandalism , street illegal racing and even cigarette scenes. Recently, i read a news report online whereby The National Commission for Child Protection in Indonesia has banned scenes that has cigarettes.
"We demand that the House of Representatives insert an article in the bill on films banning cigarette promotions in movies," said Muhammad Joni, the vice chairman of the Commission. The Commission said the bill must forbid cigarette companies from sponsoring the production of films, ban scenes where actors are shown smoking and prevent companies from marketing tobacco brands in the film.
To think of it, most western production has cigarette scenes.Is this the end of movies that has cigarette scenes in Indonesia? the whole Asia maybe someday?
sources-http://www.seatca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=582:cigarettes-in-films-must-be-banned-commission-070909&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=66
This is not a surprise to Asian countries because cases such as this has occurred many times before. Two recent examples of such movies are Bruno and Mat Rempit.
The movie 'Bruno' has been banned by the Malaysia government because this show features stars Cohen as a gay Austrian fashionista, has been a box office hit in some countries while being banned elsewhere for over-the-top scenes including sex acts and full-frontal nudity. This shows an example of a movie created as a comedy type show by the western country , however, the Asian media think differently.
A spokeswoman from the Malaysia's Film Censorship Board said: "It's banned because the story is based on gay life... There are a lot of sex scenes. It's contrary to our culture."
sources-
http://au.movies.yahoo.com/090929/2/28wa6.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/a179737/bruno-banned-in-malaysia-over-culture-clash.html
There is another movie named Rempit that has been banned by the government not too long ago because it portrays bikers such as the picture above. Mat Rempit is illegal racers in countries such as Malaysia and Vietnam. To prevent the young generation from culturally accepting this act , the government did not have a choice but to staunchly banning the production.
The directive follows a letter from Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan to the Home Ministry to ban the term “Mat Rempit” in film and TV productions, and to ban scenes showing illegal racing and activities involving Mat Rempit.
Films featuring illegal racing do well at the box office. KL Menjerit and its sequel, KL Menjerit Episod 1, Remp-It and Bohsia are three movies that focus on the life of Mat Rempit and did well at the box office.
Many Malaysian films have at least one scene on Mat Rempit and a man dressed in women’s clothes (not necessarily a transvestite). Hit films that featured a scene or two of Mat Rempit and men in drag are Sifu & Tongga, Jangan Pandang Belakang Congkak and Senario The Movie Episod 1. How will this new rule affect the booming local movie industry? Only the filmmakers have the answer.
Sources-
http://zurairifm.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/malaysia-says-no-to-rempits-mak-nyahs-and-hantus-in-films/
Movies from the past such as 'I am Legend' has been banned in China due to government policies such as no international production for 3 months to encourage local films.
HOLLYWOOD - Will Smith's new movie I Am Legend has suffered a major box office setback in the Far East--Chinese film bosses have banned it from their cinemas.
sources- http://www.hollywood.com/news/Smiths_Movie_Banned_in_China/5010731
Another two good examples of movies that has been banned or censored are Spider Lilies and Lust! Caution. These movies are banned in many Asian countries or played in particular cinemas with strict rules on the age of viewers and with a large amount of censorship.For example in Malaysia, Spider Lilies was not shown on cinemas because it violated the majority's acceptance of homosexuality as an unaccepted conduct in the Islamic culture since Malaysia is an Islamic country. Lust! Caution created its very own controversy due to its nudity and was played in cinemas with censorship.
These are the few issues linked to culture that i have found in Asia. In conclusion, i reckon that the limitation of inter regional trade could be eradicated or lessen by having different cultures open up their minds more while sticking to their roots at the same time. However, i do suppose this is easier said than done. No one wants to have their own culture 'contaminated' and also have to get out of their comfort zone after all .
I was thinking, would shows like Tokyo Drift or even Casino Royale that has sex scenes and illegal racing be banned in Asia in future? what do you think?
Media freedom can be an intimidating factor for the government. Media normally is censored and blocked out because of a country's fear that the leakage of a certain different culture may seep into a country's own culture.
ReplyDeleteFor example, most people in other countries such as the US are accepting of homosexuality. But countries such as Malaysia with a strong bind toward the Islam religion would not want movies such as Spider Lilies be played in cinemas because they dont want the locals to think it is okay.
I'm just rambling a whole lot here. Hope it makes sense! :D haha!
I agree with a lot of what you wrote, but I think that making the conclusion that roots will be the end of media globalisation in Asia is a bit too far-fetched for me to believe.
ReplyDeleteSure, it's a hurdle, but I think that Asian youth are becoming a lot less conservative than their parents and ancestors.
Culture is already beginning to lose its grounding in the hearts of the youth because for so long, many cultures have been practised simply due to tradition. The main tangible purposes of practising certain acts have been lost in time. What we have now are generations of youth who seem to be questioning the rationale of certain cultural acts and beliefs more than their parents r grandparents.
Unable to find clear logic explaining cultural beliefs, they shun the culture and accept things that contradict the culture.
I believe that there will come a time when cultural roots will be completely cut. It may take a long time, but I really think it'll happen. And when it does, media freedom will be quite complete in Asia.
But of course, by that time, media freedom might mean something totally different; something a lot more liberal. But that's something else to think about. :)
Media freedom can be an intimidating factor for the government. Media normally is censored and blocked out because of a country's fear that the leakage of a certain different culture may seep into a country's own culture.
ReplyDeleteFor example, most people in other countries such as the US are accepting of homosexuality. But countries such as Malaysia with a strong bind toward the Islam religion would not want movies such as Spider Lilies be played in cinemas because they dont want the locals to think it is okay.
I'm just rambling a whole lot here. Hope it makes sense! :D haha!
media globalization can really affect the different cultures. the two movies mentioned at first are actually a form of art to some people. but yet, they are banned.. i guess the different countries are afraid of the changes that may take place in their culture because of the open mindedness of the shows?
ReplyDeleteSome Asia countries have restricted certain movies due to the culture differences, thinking its contrary and might affect the people. But the thing is if the people have a firm stand, how much of these media globalization will not be able to affect them.
ReplyDeleteAs Matt said, Asian youths these days have become less conservative compared to the last generation. We can say its cause of media but its only a very small part of the reason.
ReplyDeleteBy restricting media globalization, our country might be left behind compared to others.
this is an interesting post that is clearly illustrated with vibrant examples.
ReplyDeletei agree that the vast difference in cultural perspectives between many asian countries and the western countries may impede media globalisation. Censorship is also widely used to prevent the dilution of a country's culture. Not to mention Asian countries, even european governments have employed censorship to reduce the effects of globalisation. This proves to us that culture is still a very important part of our everyday lives. while the dilution of cultures worldwide cannot be prevented wholly, media globalisation today is still a goal not yet to be fully achieved.
on a side note, the rise of the new media such as the internet has posed a tough challenge to censorship. while censorship can be stringent on traditional media such as the television, it is much harder to control the wide sharing of ideas, and even files on the internet. censorship is in this sense, limited by new media. Movies that are being banned to screen at the cinemas locally can now be easily downloaded with the click of the mouse on an internet file sharing site.
Based on your last question, i think that how a country decides to censor its content would depend on the government and its changes as the parliament changes. including all the rules and religious factors.
ReplyDeletewe can see from the past that many shows are actually in fact given more green light to be shown. however it still depends on the way a government or religious board perceives the shows.
i think that it does become a flaw in a the globalisation of media. I think producers make their movies to make a statement in a certain issue. Hence, all the restrictions do make a huge hindrance to the globalisation and influence of shows.
ReplyDeletefor example, in movies portraying homosexuality. producers may have made the movie to make its claim on how it is something people should open their eyes to accept into all cultures. therefore, with the blockage of restrictions, it only makes it hard for certain countries to be 'enlightened' by these eye opening factors tried to put across.
stupid government put so many restrictions to the country.idiot
ReplyDeletemedia globalization can really affect the different cultures. the two movies mentioned at first are actually a form of art to some people. but yet, they are banned.. i guess the different countries are afraid of the changes that may take place in their culture because of the open mindedness of the shows?
ReplyDeletehahaha.thanks for commenting.yeah i assume that they fear that it is totally different from the culture perhaps.you know people and how they dont want to step out of the comfort zone.
ReplyDelete:)and like movies where you think that portrayed really good artsy scenes and all.
my parents would be like terrible and all.
hey!
ReplyDeletei completely agree with you that countries and people in asia need to broaden their minds to a certain extent but not totally... ans as you said 'it's easier said than done' but i do believe that things are changing... change like this takes a long time as a lot of people and deep rooted mind-sets are involved... as the world keeps changing people and mind-sets are changing too... media will be liberated too...
Hey ty pooja for agreeing.:)
ReplyDeletemedia is somehow influenced what right.
cannot blame them.however countries like mine uphold very strong stand on what they accept and not. so its good or bad even myself is stuck in the middle!haha
hey personally i think that the restrictions are torture.so many movies that we cant watch or watch properly.stupid rules.
ReplyDeleteHello Leet Sern, I think that Asia media should be more open-minded about media globalization these days in order to improve and catch up the pace of other well-developed countries. In order to achieve this, I personally think that the certain level of education should be imparted to the audience so that they are able to practice self-censorship when they are exposed to extreme media messages, without being unknowingly enticed to certain controversial media messages.
ReplyDeleteit's ridiculous that these proclaimed to be advancing countries still posses mentality as such! i don't see a need to ban productions that are out of their comfort zones as there are unlimited of resources everywhere & anywhere else. Besides, it is totally up to the individual themselves. What more could this media globalization do if audience have a firm stand? What could be achieved is simply to educate audience not restricting. Seriously, if this continues i wouldn't be surprised that the only movies up on cinema will be like happy feet. *oops. i forgot, animals don't speak human language! out.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your last question, I think Casino Royale isnt that extreme a movie although it features a couple of sexual innuendos. The govt should be responsible in controlling whatever content their country is open to, hebce censorship is definitely necessary. It shows that they are making an effort to block out whats inappropriate to us, and this fact also highlights how impactful mass media is. Although some may say that the banning of certain movies is unnecessary, it is impossible for the govt to allow such freedom of speech on national tv as this could lead to adverse effects from the citizens.
ReplyDeleteStefanie Chen