Globalization or "Westernization"

VS.


Globalization is a term that is on the minds and on the tongues of the majority of individuals today. Everybody uses this term loosely, but do people really know what it means? Some might say that globalization is the path of the future, while others just think it’s a new trend that will be replaced by something else soon. However, could globalization just be another way of saying “westernization”? Is globalization just a term masking the reality of Western culture spreading its traditions and values to the rest of the world? The popular movie Slumdog Millionaire depicts an Indian society that has started to assimilate Western culture into their daily lives. The film provides evidence how countries, like India, who in the midst of globalization are accepting “Westernization” into their society.

Even before watching the actual movie Western influence can be seen because the director Danny Bolye is a British native. Therefore Indian culture is already filmed and written, screenplay writer Simon Beaufoy, through the eyes of Westerners. The amount of popularity this movie received in the states was astounding, even winning this film the greatest film recognition by capturing the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards. At the surface this might be viewed as Americans embracing the differences of a foreign culture, but in reality it is a Westernized version of Indian culture that the American industry was supporting. If Slumdog Millionaire would have been an authentic foreign film it would have belonged to the best foreign film category rather than being compared to the rest of the mainstream American movies. There were numerous reactions concerning the film’s success on behalf of the Indian citizens; “The unexpected international success of Slumdog Millionaire has pleased some Indians while provoking unusually strong protests from others. The critical and commercial success of the film, contrasted with sharp criticism and a lackluster run in Indian theaters, captures the inherent contradictions of an increasingly globalized country. India basks in the glow of international recognition, but resents the critical scrutiny that global exposure brings” (Dhume). The movie industry and politics have an intertwined relationship and this movie is a great example of the effects of globalization on the world outside of the United States.

Focusing on the end of the movie allows the viewer to truly notice the influence that Western culture has on Indian society. The movie is supposed to depict Indian culture, but throughout the entire film the traditional Indian singing and dancing is excluded until after the credits. It is as if the authentic Indian culture is inferior to the Westernized version of their society, and even when a sense of Bollywood comes forth in the film the actors are wearing Western style clothes instead of the traditional Indian garments. The dance does not even steal the focus of the film at the end because it is constantly interrupted by credits taking over the screen. Even the star Amitabah Bachman, in the film, is portrayed as acting in mainly action flicks and Jamal’s prized picture has the actor wearing anything but traditional Indian attire. Having an actor being the “most popular” man in India also parallels the Western value of Hollywood stars admiration. The lack of emphasis on actual Indian culture underlines the fact that the Westernized version of India is more appealing to the general public of the Western world.

The entire premises of the film focuses around the game show “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” which is an American invention and tradition. The host, stage appearance, rules, and mannerisms of the Indian version of the show completely mimic the American game, which once again demonstrates Western influence in India. Having the game show in India brings to surface the idea that “there no longer seems to be a clear relationship between cultural practices and localities” (Gikandi 638). Customs are not trapped within geographical boundaries, but that does not mean that all cultural traditions are valued similarly in significance. The movie depicts Jamal answering eight questions on “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” but all questions that concerned Indian culture where presented at the beginning not being attached to high values. The top questions which were worth the most amount of money concerned facts about Western culture. Who was on the 100 US dollar bill, who invented the revolver, who was the greatest cricketer, and finally about the French written novel The Three Musketeers. Having those questions be considered difficult and worth so much money, places a huge emphasis on the importance of Western culture. Theoretically only educated people could get those answers right, which means that knowing the details of Western culture places one in the higher class of society. The fact that the Indian version of the American show was conducted in English, also shows the superiority of Western culture within the walls of Indian society. Does globalization mean that everybody needs to learn and accept English into their daily lives?

In the film they depict Jamal as a young man in the slums of India and he does not begin speaking English until he starts pretending to be a tour guide and doing business. Throughout the movie whenever there jobs are being discussed or they are working English is the dominant language that they converse in. Lower class slums speak Hindi and are associated with poverty, while any income being accumulated, like working in a restaurant kitchen already requires the knowledge of English. In the movie the slums is also rebuilt into a business center with tall buildings and company headquarters. British and American companies outsource their work to India, like when Jamal had to pretend to be from London while taking a customer service call for a telephone company. Globalization opens the world market for all countries, but only certain countries dominate the corporate world. Having business conducted in English undermines the ability of the India companies surviving on their own without Western support. There is a vision that “globalization offers the promise of a unified humanity no longer divided by East and West, North and South, Europe and its others, the rich and poor” (Coronil 351). That is an idealized version of what globalization should represent, but the reality is the domination of Western culture in other parts of the globe. If Western culture did not have such a great influence in places like India, one would not have to speak English in order to sound professional and make money. Also to look professional the dress attire mimics the Western conception of professionalism, not incorporating traditional Indian garments into the mix.

Globalization is truly “not [an] extension of market in geographical space, [but a] concentration in social space” (Coronil 365). The market does open up, but the cultural traditions of the viewed “superior” culture extend much further beyond invisible country borders. Influences of western culture are apparent around the world and the film Slumdog Millionaire is no exception to the reach of Westernization.

Works Cited

Coronil, Fernando. "Towards a Critique of Globalcentrism: Speculations on Capitalism's Nature." Public Culture 12.2 (2000): 351-74. Project Muse. Web. 7 May 2010. .

Dhume, Sadanand. "Slumdog Paradox." YaleGlobe (2009). Policy Innovations. Web. 7 May 2010. .

Gikandi, Simon. "Globalization and the Claims of Postcoloniality." The South Atlantic Quarterly 100.3 (2001): 627-58. Project Muse. Web. 7 May 2010. .