Final Entry *tear*

My time in London is coming to a close. This makes me very sad. When I was trying to go to bed last night, I started thinking about how incredible my London experience has been, and a wave of melancholy swept over me and took a few sleepless hours to wear off.
I underestimated the amount of world knowledge I would acquire from living here. I foolishly assumed that an accent was all that really separated us Americans from our friends across the pond. My studies and travels have shown otherwise. Before living here, I never realized how easy it is to seclude oneself from world affairs when living in the States. Though America is known as a culturally diverse nation, ethinic communities there tend to keep to themselves, and it is easy to foster a false sense of reality by ignoring any issue, person, or situation you don't want to confront. Maybe it's due to the fact that I have been studying multiculturalism in London so much this semester, but it seems to me that London is much more connected to the world pulse than any city in the states, even more so than New York. Its position in Europe makes it a realistic destination for many nations, east, west, north and south, fostering a huge influx of world cultures on the banks of one relatively small river. I hope I don't revert back to my U.S. bubble upon my return.
London, it's been jolly good.
Cheerio!

p.s. I'm leaving you with my favorite diasporic media pastiche ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5ky5ClIjL8

Week 14: Eastern European Migration to the United Kingdom

Th United Kingdom became a popular destination for many Eastern European migrants after they obtained membership in the European Union in 2004. Young Eastern Europeans flooded the UK's workforce when the pound was strong and the novelty of living outside the homeland was fresh and exciting. Now, as the economy is worsening and this group of young migrants, many of whom are college-edudacted, is growing tired of working in the unskilled labor force when they are often overqualified for the jobs they have taken. This poses a problem for British industry, however, which has grown somewhat dependent on these young migrants. If they leave as quickly as they came, what will the implications be for the already-downtrodden British economy?

While this issue must be considered, and could very well have negative consequences for the UK's various industry, I think they are worrying too much about what is to come. With unemployment rates rising in the United Kingdom, I don't think industries should be worried about losing their workforce. If the Eastern Europeans leave, there will be plenty of local men and women to take their places.

Week 13: Middle East in Britain

During week 13, we discussed the Middle Eastern population in London and their use of media outlets. Corresponding with themes explored in our visit to Al Jazeera, Ali Omar Ermes discusses the large shift of London-based Arab news organizations back to the Middle East, and speculates how this move may affect the perspective of their outputs. Lower taxes, more immediate access to news sources, and the promise of freedom of expression in reporting on issues (especially in regards to Western policy) are a few of the attractive elements prompting the news organizations' move back to the Middle East. While this move has its advantages, returning to the Middle East from London may lessen the cultural bonds and understanding that began to emerge between individuals of English and Arab nationalities, and increase the amount of subjectivity contained within the organizations' future reports.

This concern is far from unfounded, and I wonder if those who support globalism would argue that increased global communication is enough to counter the increased local perspective that will most likely evolve from the widespread relocation of Arab news organizations. I am neither completely pro-or completely anti-globalization, and I believe the phenomenon has both positive and negative consequences for the world at large. In this case, however, I am not so optimistic as to believe the organization's ability to gather information from around the world will prompt them to present the news without a pro-Arab agenda. We as Americans have access to the same resources, and our media is clearly not unbiased.

Week 12: Al Jazeera Visit

This week we tubed it out to the Al Jazeera's London Broadcasting headquarters. After taking a studio tour and speaking with one of the network's directors, I became frustrated at the United States' refusal to broadcast Al Jazeera's programming. In a country that prides itself on freedom of speech and freedom of the press, it surprised me to see how biased our media actually is. While Fox News obviously expresses a conservative agenda, most other American news organizations present the news with a pro-American slant, a slant I admittedly never noticed before living abroad. After comparing Al Jazeera's news website with that of the New York Times, I realized that even supposedly unbiased publications in the States are pro-American.

I do not bring up this point to criticize American news sources, nor am I praising Al Jazeera's coverage over that of US-based broadcasts and publications, for they approach their news from a very specific point of view which is highly critical of Western policy. Instead, I hope to convey the importance of examining a variety of news sources on a global level when it comes to forming opinions about global issues. I understand that each government wants its people to believe in and protect the ideals of their home country, but I also think it is important for a country which prides itself on values like 'liberty and justice' to encourage its citizens to look outside themselves and truly evaluate world issues from a variety of perspectives. By preventing Americans from watching Al Jazeera coverage (the majority of which is objective and honest), the government is, in a sense, shielding its citizens from viewing a non-western world view. I am well aware that I am simplifying the issue, but I do believe that we will not be able to resolve issues in the Middle East until we attempt to see the world from its perspective vice-versa. While we don't have to agree with everyone's opinions and mentality, we must try to understand them and respect the personal and cultural differences that exist if we ever hope to end this incessant struggle.

Week 11: Somaili Service Field Trip

This week we returned to Bush House, home of the BBC World Service to learn about the Somali diaspora in London and the types of media the BBC produces for them. Though Somalia gained its independence from the British and Italians in 1960, it has experienced great civil unrest for a number of years, and is currently ravaged by an ongoing civil war, which broke out around 1991. Because the political and social climate of the Nation is so volatile, many Somalis have come to the United Kingdom seeking asylum from the violence of their homeland. In addition to refuge, Britain also provides Somalis with employment opportunities, especially in port cities like Cardiff, Liverpool, and London. According to the BBC, It is estimated that over 70,000 Somalis now reside in Britain, though exact numbers can be difficult to gauge (Somalis are nomadic by tradition and don't always settle in one residence, even when immigrating). The British Somali population continues to grow as second and third-generations are born and raised in the UK.

To reach out to members of this diasporic group and help them maintain connections with their home country, the BBC has established the Somali Service, which broadcasts from both London and Somalia in Somali, Swahili, and English. Broadcasting operates predominantly through radio programming, the majority of which consists of news reports from Somalia as a whole as well as the individual regions which make up the country. By attempting to equally represent all regions of Somalia, the BBC Somali Service gives diasporic communities living in the UK a well-rounded and objective view of ongoing issues in their homeland. It is wonderful that a population living so far from a homeland which is plagued by violence and unrest has an organization as credible and well-respected as the BBC as the principal source of news. While outsider perspective is often shunned by members of a given group of people, in the case of Somalia--which is so torn by internal conflict--objective reporting is of utmost importance, especially for those who have left friends, family, and loved ones behind.

Week Ten: African Media

This past week's class discussed the types of media that are accessible throughout various nations of Africa. As cities and countries across the continent become more developed or "modernized," citizens are exposed to more and more media, whether local, international across Africa, or global. One aspect of this increased exposure to various forms of media discussed in our readings was the idea of "mental modernization.' One young African shared that he was not aware of how poor he was, or how rural his surroundings were until he saw a television program featuring well-dressed characters in an urban environment. It was after seeing this bright and idealized television world that he began to desire a 'better', or more modern life.

The discussion of this phenomenon in rural Africa made me reevaluate Western reactions to media influences, influences which I experience first hand as a born-and-raised American. It is nearly impossible to discern exactly how we are affected by our media in the West, for we are incessantly bombarded with idealized imagery and manipulative messages through our media. I seriously doubt anyone would want a fancy car or a thin body if either were not portrayed as ideal in a variety of media outputs. In a society whose social norm is, to an extent, created by the media, real life often seems not good enough, leaving citizens dissatisfied, in a constant state of want. Now, with British TV shows tackling a few of these issues--for example 'Supersize vs. Superskinny' where two real-life unhealthy eaters are given the tools to reshape their bodies and their diets--I wonder if there will be a shift, however small, in the values of mass society. Can the representation of real people struggling with specifically Western issues (half of the world struggles to feed itself on a daily basis--obesity is the furthest issue from its reality) snap us out of our mental modernist mentality? And how will rural, undeveloped communities compromise their reality with increased Western media exposure? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Week Nine: Spring Break Diasporic Media

On my spring break vacation, I traveled to Florence, Sicily, and Dublin. Though I had travelled to Paris and Amsterdam earlier in the semester, I speak French and practically everyone in Amsterdam spoke perfect English, so it was new for me to be somewhere where I really didn't know the language. With an ear not quite tuned for Italian, I found myself drawn to any type of media put forth in English. In Taormina, a small town on the Southern coast of Sicily, very few locals spoke English, so I was surprised to find that our hotel room broadcasted BBC World News 24/7. It took us two attempts to find a store that sold magazines and books in English (for our day on the beach), one of which was an Art Rock magazine that focused on English indie rock and electronic bands. It was really random, and I wondered why they carried that transnational magazine but not typical international publications like Vogue or Architectual Digest.

It was a nice change in perspective to go somewhere where I felt completely foreign. I feel as an American English speaker that I take for granted the fact that I can speak my native lanuage wherever I go. I feel that the Italian portion of my Spring Break widened my perspective and gave me insight into how it feels for those who enter a new country without knowledge of the language, like many who travel to foreign countries for less leisure-oriented reasons.

Week 8

While exiting the tube station, I spotted a poster for a Bollywood-style theater production of Wuthering Heights, a classic Victorian English romance. I know there have been other Bollywood versions of British literature (namely the film Bride and Prejudice), but I thought the idea of a West End theater production brought the idea even more into the realm of the crossover mainstream. Because the play is targeted towards all types of audiences, it can't be wholly classified as diasporic media, but the play--which is set in India--definitely would have never been conceived without the huge British Asian population in London. Its appeal extends both to lovers of Bronte's story, and to fans of the Bollywood genre.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/mar/17/bronte-bollywood

What I found most interesting about the article above was how the play's cretor found striking similarities between Wuthering Heights and the typical Bollywood plotline. Maybe I'll go check it out.

Post # 6: Jamaican/West Indian Diaspora

During week six's class we discussed the influx of Jamaican and West Indian culture into Britan following World War II. As huge numbers of islanders immigrated to the UK to fill positions left vacant by soldiers, they brought traditions from their homeland into an increasingly diverse United Kingdom. These traditions included food and celebrations, but also longstanding forms of media and communication.

Because of the history of slavery in the West Indies and the lack of public education it entailed, the written word was not the strongest form of communication for those emigrating to the UK. However, letters became a very important mode of communication between families living in Britain, and those that remained on the islands, illustrating the importance of "small" documents as a form of diasporic media. As our guest speaker Yvonne--a second generation Jamaican Briton--stated, only small percentage of these immigrants were literate. Other members of the community relied on one or two people to read and write their letters to and from their homeland.

Another form of diasporic media with roots in Jamaican culture is the "call and response" style of song, where messages were transmitted using catchy tunes and rhythms. This tradition, while seemingly out of date in our world of instant communication, manifests in much of the popular music produced by Jamaican and West Indian Brits. Artists ranging from reggae groups (like Steel Pulse) to hip hop (like Slick Rick) have incorporated traditional musical communication methods into their songs and performances.

Steel Pulse, "Steppin' Out"--the bridge before the chorus works as a call and response between the lead singer (who is Jamaican British) and the backup singers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hdlPzBlil4&feature=PlayList&p=AB203BD9A73F66CA&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=76

Diasporic Comm Week 5: Field Trip!

This past week our class took the train to Southall, an area with one of the largest South Asian populations in the United Kingdom. It was a treat to visit, and I felt like I was in India if India were very cold, very rainy, and filled with bright red double decker buses. Our guide Monesha was incredibly knowledgeable and explained the traditions and customs behind each venue we visited, which included grocery stores, restaurants, and fabric retailers among others.

My favorite site we visited was our final stop, a Hindi Temple. At first I was slightly nervous about going in--I had never been to a Hindi Temple before and I didn't want to seem disrespectful, or disturb the other worshipers. However, the staff could not have been more welcoming. After taking off our shoes, we followed Monesha, who is Hindi herself, into a brightly lit, colorful room. At the front of the room, a stage-like platform held statues of Hindi avatars, surrounded by their respective symbols. Monesha explained the purposes of each avatar, and the customs of praying which included offering food, money, and other goods to the altar at the corner of the room. We were informed of the various sects existing within Hinduism, and it seems that the faith is less concerned with specific gods and rules, and more with a general philosophy. According to Monesha, Hindis can range from being highly devout to atheistic. What they share is the conscious appreciation and respect for life in all its forms. Upon leaving, we were each given a piece of blessed fruit, an action which reflected the sentiment of appreciation and kindness I gathered from Hinduism itself. I'm convinced the fruit gave us good karma for a safe train ride home.

Diasporic Comm Week 4

Week four's class discussed the various countries of origin for Britain's Asian population, the political, cultural, and economic forces behind their emigration, the customs and traditions that survived their migration, and the media they have established to retain their cultural identities. Sunrise radio--jokingly referred to by young Asians as 'your parents' radio station'--is one media outlet that the Asian-English community has established. While based in Southall, an area with a large Hindi, Sikh, and Muslim population, the news source covers stories occurring in both Britain and Asia. It also promotes upcoming events geared toward Asians in the UK.

One story that I found interesting was Domino Pizza's decision to serve only halal ingredients (food in accordance with Muslim law, i.e. no pork) in Hall Green, an area in Birmingham with a large Muslim community. This story demonstrates the cultural blend of East and West in the UK. Domino's, a large American food chain, is frequented by Muslims living in Birmingham, who in turn adjust the store's standards to accommodate their cultural and religious beliefs. Though as the story asserts,
"some customers of the Hall Green restaurant say the policy is discriminatory to non-Muslims," I think it's nice that the Muslim community is able to maintain its customs in this capitalistic, global corporation. If non-muslims are really hankering for a pepperoni pizza, I'm sure they can drive two minutes away to find the next Domino's. If not, I guess they'll just have to settle for Pizza Hut.

Diasporic Media in the UK: Journal #3

We discussed in Monday's class the old perceptions of diasporic communities in host countries and how they have changed, as well as the different types of media outlets diasporic communities create. One theory we discussed that seemed especially relevant on a personal level was Ulrech Becks' concept of "cosmopolitanism," the tendency of an individual to identify with a global, non-nationalistic culture. As a US transplant in the United Kingdom at a time when attitudes aren't necessarily pro-American, I have found myself detaching from my identity as an American. Though I am proud of my American heritage, I have found that I learn more in a foreign place by remaining open and non-biased to the people with whom I am speaking. While talking to an Italian friend, I found myself referring to my home country as "the US," rather than "home," a matter of speaking directly correlated with Beck's theory. As opposed to "othering," treating your home country as the basis for all other cultural comparisons, Cosmopolitanism promotes the acceptance of the "otherness" of countries, acknowledging that all are others in different contexts and emphasizing the importance of understanding for personal and national survival in an increasingly Global society. Going back to last's week's discussion, I wonder if this increase in Cosmopolitan thought is contributing to cultural homogeneity, especially for other citizens who are displaced from their birth culture like I am. How can we balance loyalty to our home countries while maintaining an open and multi-perspectival view of world policy? That question has yet to be answered.

Diasporic Media in the UK: Journal #2

In our second week of class, we discussed the impact of globalization on the United Kingdom. Globalization is a hotly-debated topic in contemporary times, and while some argue that widespread communication can only improve conditions for people all over the world, others cite the opportunity globalization creates for cultural homogeneity and dominance of capitalist countries.
In the United Kingdom--a wealthy country with a capitalist economy and access to technological resources--globalization seems to have had positive effects on the lives of citizens, especially ethnic minorities separated from friends and family in their native countries. With improvements in global communication technology, families can stay in contact with their far-away loved ones (if they have access to the same technologies, which many may not). Furthermore, global communication has allowed ethnic minorities more representation in the media of the United Kingdom. The huge Bengali population in London, for example, has prompted a surge in Bengali representation in both film and television, especially in programs geared toward younger audiences. I was guiltily watching the cheesy soap opera Hollyoaks on E4, and found amongst the scandalous stories of love, sex, and betrayal, a storyline based around racism toward an Asian student. In fact, a number of members of the young, ridiculously attractive cast represent the large minority groups of London. For countries as wealthy as London, globalization seems beneficial both socially and economically. As media outlets recognize the expanding market of ethnic minorities of the UK, members of these groups gain more media representation, and, as a result, are less alienated and more accepted into society. This is a rather simplified explanation, and inclusion in one culture may bring issues of cultural allegiance into play, but overall, for capitalist countries and the citizens who inhabit them, globalization seems to have positive effects on society. The implications for smaller, poorer countries, however, may not be so beneficial.

Diasporic Media in the UK: Journal #1

I have been in London for a total of twelve days now, but for some reason, it feels like it's been months. Though the city is lively and fast-paced, it is not intimidating, and I feel like I'm already assimilating into the rhythm of life here. I have always found comfort in large cities like London or New York. Because the population is so dense and diverse and the city is so accessible (via walking and/or public transport), an individual is forced to interact with all sorts of people on a daily basis. As a result, it seems there is more freedom to look, act, or behave (to a certain degree) however one chooses.

This observation is particularly relevant when considering ethnic identity in London. In America, especially in a community like Los Angeles, a great pressure is placed on the individual to assimilate into American dress and culture. One is either "Americanized" or confined within a closed cultural community. It is rare to spot a Saudi woman wearing an abaya at the local supermarket, for example. Yet in London, various nationalities are represented throughout the city. It is difficult to walk a block without spotting a local curry shop, or visit a large chain restaurant like Pret-a-Manger without recognizing the Carribbean, Middle-Eastern, or Asian influences on various menu options. Though I am new here, and run the risk of sounding idealistic or ignorant, it seems that cultural difference is a much more commonplace and accepted occurrence in London.

Hello

Hi everyone! I'm starting this blog for a Comm class as a US student spending the semester in London. I'm pretty sure no one's going to read this, but I figured this blog would give me a good opportunity to write journal entries for class and chronicle my time here for my own enjoyment. I'll try to update it regularly (i.e. not forget I have it)
Cheers!