The dynamics of cultural imperialism in Bangladesh: unveiling dominant influence

Abstract

This research investigates the mechanisms of cultural imperialism in Bangladesh, exposing the ways in which dominant cultural influences enter from comparatively powerful nations and mold the social fabric of ours. It explores the ways that cultural imperialism manifests itself in a variety of domains, including language, consumerism, and the media, through a critical analysis. It clarifies the power dynamics present in cultural exchanges by looking at the interaction between local cultural resistance and global hegemonic forces. The study also emphasizes how cultural imperialism affects Bangladesh's social cohesiveness, cultural legacy, and identity formation. In the end, it emphasizes the necessity of using nuanced strategies to navigate and lessen the effects of prevailing cultural influences. Cultural imperialism cannot be stopped but, it can be controlled by the Government. The people of Bangladesh, mostly the youth perhaps feel that their lives are mostly driven by the electronic and digital media. But they might not know the mechanism of how the media use them and make them a source of profit. According to a survey study conducted in Greece among 508 students between the ages of 15 and 19, young people watch US television shows for an average of three hours each week. The study looked at the impact of media on culture. The majority of television watchers tended to view imported consumer goods favorably (Zaharopoulos, 2003). Another study, which drew its findings from a survey of 600 teenagers in Singapore, found that, directly influenced by American media, young people in Singapore create their own cultures in order to become independent of their parents (Wee, 1999). A study carried out in Bangladesh among students in the metropolis of Dhaka reveals that nearly half of the participants wanted to replicate the events depicted in the foreign programs in Saad 7 their everyday lives. They aspired to treat their loved ones with the same passion as those in dramas or movies. At times, they wanted to rebel against their parents' limitations, just like they did in television shows or movies (Zahid, 2007). My objective is to prove that the people are not deceived and uncritical rather they have been stereotypically isolated as deceived masses by the media and represented negatively. These young people should not be blamed for cultural imperialism in Bangladesh. Hopefully the paper will be beneficial for the people to critically think before they consume any media product which may bring a positive result. This research is done by analyzing numerous articles, research papers as well as from the close reading of other writer’s texts such as “The Young Audience” by Stuart Hall and Paddy Whannel, “Culture Is Ordinary” by Raymond Williams, “Return to /of the Political Popular in Cultural Studies in Asia'' by Chua Beng Huat, etc. Beside that some of the theories such as electronic media theory, direct effect model theory, modernization theory as well as gratification theory have been significant in writing this paper.