Monday 6 May 2013

Globalisation and the Future

No one can predict what impact globalisation will have on the future since the past hasn't been predictable. There are many predictions for the future which include a global recession and depression. However there are some current factors that will have an impact on globalisation in the future. Firstly population growth, the dominance of the trade in technology and goods in certain areas, global and environmental climate change, the balance of military power, rapid advances in communications technology and the divide between the worlds countries. This leaves the state of globalisation in the future very uncertain.

-Ruth

Global Branding Quote

'Despite different cultures, middle-class youth all over the world seem to live their lives as if in a parallel universe. They get up in the morning, put on their Levi's and Nikes, grab their caps and backpacks, and sony personal CD players and head for school."

- Naomi Klein, (1999) No Logo: Taking Aim at the Brand Bullies.

A very fitting quote to sum up the influence global brands have had on the world, apart from the personal CD player which is a bit out of date.

-Ruth

The Rise of Corporate Global Power

I found some interesting facts about the growing power of private corporations due to globalisation. These facts are about the top 200 transnational corporations in the world and no surprise the majority are American.

1. Of the 100 largest economies in the world, 51 are corporations; only 49 are countries.

2. The top 200 corporations sales are growing at a faster rate than overall global economic activity.

3. The top 200 corporations combined sales are bigger than the combined economies of all the countries minus the biggest 10.

4. The top 200s' combined sales are 18 times the size of the combined annual income of the 1.2 billion people living in poverty.

5. While the sales of the top 200 are equivalent of 27.5 percent of the world economic activity, they employ only 0.78 percent of the worlds workforce.

6. U.S. corporations dominate the top 200, with 82 slots with Japanese firms in second with 41 slots.

These facts and the top 200 reflect the trends in the global economy and therefore the future. The top 200 used to be dominated by manufacturing corporations however since globalisation boosted financial transactions and telecommunications global corporations in these sectors have taken over. We have already seen the impact these global corporations have on our economy because Barclays is at the top. The state of the global economy will therefore depend and reflect upon these top 200 countries as they continue to grow.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/59/corporate-power-facts-and stats#Concentrationoftransnationalcompanies

-Ruth

Novum Magazine

Novum is a German magazine which covers news, technology, branding, trends and reviews in the world of Graphic Design. After reading Novum I wondered if this high profile global magazine and the design it shares are getting more global exposure and is Novum therefore contributing to the global success of brands?



-Ruth

Has Hybridity Influenced Global Branding?

After reading about hybridity's influence on Modern Art I wondered if it had had the same influence on global branding. Global brands have to take into account the needs and values of other countries. Brands such as Coca-cola market the same core principles around the world however areas such as marketing, price, packaging, media and distribution are altered to suit individual markets. Instead of brands changing their principles and being influenced by other countries they keep their strong country heritage which becomes a hugh selling point and in some cases has been the leverage for global success. For example after struggling in the market Marlboro became the leading cigarette brand in Hong Kong after it became the leading American brand because it showed that the company has not only a popular product but also has resources and commitment. Technology has played a big part in this because global brands have capitalised on the media coverage that overlaps in many regions. Hybridity has therefore had the opposite effect on global branding than it had on Modern Art.

-Ruth

Cultural Hybridity in Art

"Hybridity results when two or more cultures are incorporated to create a new cultural identity. The identities are not assimilated or altered independently, bits of identities become elements of a new identity. A third identity emerges which is not the same as the independent parts. It is common to find hybridity in the context of a colonised culture that has been destabilised. When cultures take in elements of global influence, they are doing so within the context of their local lives and creating a new hybrid."

Smith, K. (2006) The Impact of Indigenous Hybridity on the Formation of World Society. Worlds Society Focus Papers.

Hybridity has has an impact on art and design in todays world. Advances in globalisation has meant that the world we live in is constantly on the move. People can move between countries with ease as a tourist, worker and immigrant. New innovations in technology such as the television and the internet mean we can also experience these cultures as at any time as virtual travellers. This movement between cultures has influenced the work of many modern artists including Chris Ofili who's a Turner Prize winning painter. Ofili is British of African and Caribbean descent who's success has allowed him to travel to places such as Zimbabwe and Trinidad. His movement in cultures has influenced his style as he builds up layers in his work to explore personal issues and cultural identity.

Chris Ofili, Third Eye Vision, 1999

-Ruth

Thursday 2 May 2013

2013's Hypes

With every year having major global hypes, it tends to be set in the video game franchise. Things many people worldwide are looking forward to are the PlayStation4 and Xbox 720 consoles. Also the first Pokemon games to be released on 3DS, X and Y. The Legend of Zelda's" Link to the past" is revamped for 3DS, passing it's 25th anniversary.
Films like Iron man 3, Star Trek and Hobbit Part 2 will also get the world stirring...

~Josh