pre class post for Appadurai

after reading the Appadurai reading there are definitely some things that can very easily be said. First of all I think it is really cool that this reading was actually pretty easy to understand, and secondly I can actually relate this one to a book now! I respect and understand what Appadurai (we will call him APP) was trying to say about economies and trading. There was a book I read about globalization entitled ‘The lexus and the olive tree” this book viewed the lexus as prominent globalizing markets such as those of the western world, and the olive tree as traditional economies like those of south america, Africa, and parts of asia. Well anyway it went on to show that too much globalization, although it connects people, will eventually stall and eat itself like an animal that is growing so fast it cannot sustain itself. The olive tree economies would get on board with this type of globalization and eventually kill themselves as well because if you are a small nation and all you have to offer is say the rainforest and the wood it can produce what is to stop you from clearing the entire basin and getting quick money? So in essence both types are self destructive, but if you have a n economy or culture that is a mix of the two and is aware of the possibilities of failure then you will be ok. I think that can relate to this article by showing that if one culture dominates trade or world culture then it will be counterproductive. I find it interesting, but not surprising, that war was listed as one of the cultural barrier breakers. I guess one could very easily argue that the entire British empire was built in such a way. I think it is very cool how APP talks about imagination being such a factor, I know there are some negative aspects about it, but at the same time it is such a comforting fact to know that the future isn’t completely scripted and that perhaps Lady Gaga will be gone soon…who knows but the reading was really good and definitely made me think about a lot of issues surrounding the topic, it seems that sharing of cultures is very good because if one dominates it usually doesn’t end well.