The origins and strategies of Japanese soft power are rather interesting in comparison to that of other nation states. Particularly in contrast to the other countries perceived as powerful in terms of soft power. Japan was ranked 5th in the 2018 Soft Power 30, yet Matsui claims that it was not until 2002, from an […]

Historically, there were several major empires that infiltrated and conquered land to spread their own language, culture, and geographic territory. Beyond imperial expansion that spread to adjacent territories, there were also colonies that were established. This was all done through hard power and force. There was a time where France spread and thrived and had […]

Television itself provides a wide platform for projecting certain ideals, norms, and expectation. In the field of development communication it is considered a common method for creating behavioral change, decreasing stigma, and representing certain points of valor. Emre Cetin tells the story of how Turkish soap operas became popular in the Arabic speaking and Islamic […]

As a person who grew up fairly unaware of the world of sports, I did not really take into consideration how they can be, and very much are, political in nature. As Gems points out, sports were recognized very early on in the United States era as a tool for socialization, pacification, and team building […]

The history of music is long, complex, and has mostly gone unrecorded. Unlike tv or movies, music is a lot cheaper to make. This brings about a level of accessibility; anyone can do it, or at least try. While the common narrative of pop stardom starts before the invention of mass recording and distribution of […]

The availability of television in the home radically changed media distribution around the world. While people previously consumed radio in the home, the addition of visual footage made stories seem even more real and impactful. Similarly to the Movie scene, America had a lot of desire to export its ideas and cultural products while accepting […]

Every film must be made with a lens. This is true both figuratively and literally. When telling stories there made be a point of view taken. Ultimately, whose stories are told, and how, creates the basis for new cultural artifacts and interpretation. This goes even deeper, however, as Fraser explains that these cultural artifacts are […]

While it is generally agreed upon that globalization has not yet lead to a completely homogenized culture, there continues to be concern that nations with the strongest forms of soft power could persuade other nations to join them or directly oppose them. This carries over from the topics of my last post in that without […]

When discussing politics, economics and media one of the most pertinent topics of the modern day is globalization. More specifically a debate appears to unfold in literature about whether globalization is a good thing, a bad thing, or even a thing at all. These perspectives can be cited as hyperglobalist, transformationalist and skeptics (Movius 7). […]