Sumblog 2

Asking All Them Questions

The first reading we discussed in class this week was the Giddens article, which described with two viewpoints of globalization: the skeptics and the radicals. In other words, those who do not believe that the world is turning into one huge community, and those who stand by the idea of globalization. Most in the class stand in the middle of the two sides, a few side with the radical point of view, and even fewer stand by the skeptical point of view.

I lean towards the skeptical side of the argument. I'm not saying that the societies of the world are completely separate and isolated, but I don't feel that the world is or will be completely globalized. There is a great amount of influence and spread of certain aspects of societies, however, these aspects never remain the same once they migrate. As bratwurst came to America, it quickly changed from the traditional German dish into something that is now a main player in American culture. What started as a sausage link, served with a roll and mustard for dipping, became a hand-held, on-the-go, sausage and bun torpedo, topped with anything and everything. Through global trade and emigration, the bratwurst made it all the way to America, but once it arrived, it became something distinctively American and that is my point. Things may link nations and societies together on a global scale, however, these things become absorbed and adapted to such an extent that each society manages to maintain their own unique image.

Maintaining my culinary theme, I have chosen a video of Anthony Bourdain trying the traditional and the not-so-traditional sides of the food in China Town. As the foods and cooking styles of central Asia crossed into the United States, it changed into something completely different. What we consider to be Chinese food, isn't actually that Chinese at all; it has become something unique to America.