D.I.Y. Culture

Discussions of globalization often focus on how it is a homogenizing process, portraying Western culture as a hegemonic force that penetrates new markets and kills off traditional culture and local customs. Yet, argues New York Times columnist Michael Kimmelman, such a "dubious concept" of globalization fails to acknowledge that individuals can utilize its technological and communicative tools tailored to their own interests.. The spread of the internet grants anyone the ability to produce their own cultural expression and not simply consume that of the West. In turn, this allows all groups, whether the last Cimbrian speakers in Northern Italy or neo-Nazis across the globe, to both reinforce their identities and find new outlets for their culture. The spread of McDonald's to countries beyond America, does not mean "McDonaldization" of those societies, for cultures are adapting in a multitude of ways to which the Western eye may be blind. – YaleGlobal