Cultural Diffusion, Convergence, and Divergence

What is Cultural Diffusion?

When a cultural element or elements are transmitted from one group to another

HOW IS CULTURE DIFFUSED?

• Migration (example: European languages

and religions brought to America)

• Conflict

• Travel

• Communication (books, movies, TV…)

The pace of diffusion has sped up at an exponential rate – Took 100,000 years for agricultural innovations to

spread

– Took 100 years for the printing press

– Now things can defuse in a year, a month, a week, a day or even shorter

Why?

Internet shop, India

Internet Use by Food Seller in China

Cultural Convergence

When the elements of culture spread by one group are accepted and used by another group

Examples…the popularity of Mexican food in the US and…

McDonald’s in Beijing, China

A Global Cuisine…

McNiffica

Argentina McKroket

Netherlands

McNiffica

Chile

McRye

Finland

Teriyaki McBurger

Japan

Bulgogi Burger

Korea

Tukbul Burger

Korea

VegiMac

Switzerland

KofteBurger

Turkey

Bacon Roll

United Kingdom

Red Bean Sunday

Hong Kong

McFlurry

Belgium

Shake Shake Fries

Hong Kong

Curry Potato Pie

Hong Kong

Bica

Portugal

Today the U.S., Western Europe & Japan have the greatest impact on global popular culture

Cultural Divergence Some countries want to limit the spread of new

cultural elements; a good example is France –At least 40% of things on TV must be in

French

–On the radio, at least 40% of songs played must be by French artists(and at least half must be new artists)

Others are governments with unlimited power that want to limit what people read and hear…North Korea is a good example.