Perspectives on Global Culture

"A cogent and incisive exploration of many of the key debates at the heart of postcolonial cultural studies, with a timely focus on the 'underside' of the much-hyped process of globalisation" David Morley, Professor of Communications, Goldsmiths College, UK. "Rawaswami Harindranath's lively book provides us with a comprehensive and engaging overview of the views from the margins in the global debate about globalisation and culture. Written with admirable clarity, this book fills in the blind spots of much Western theorising of the 'underside' of globalisation and makes a forceful argument for a truly critical and non-Eurocentric cosmopolitanism." Professor Ien Ang, ARC Professorial Fellow, University of Western Sydney This book explores significant aspects of the cultural and social impact of globalization on the developing world by examining intellectual contributions and cultural expression in Latin America, Africa, and South and South East Asia. How do we understand and conceptualize the 'underside' of globalization? How can voices from the margins challenge dominant discourses? In what ways do 'culture wars' contribute to the politics of nationalism, indigeneity, and 'race'? The book surveys key debates on the politics of representation and cultural difference, paying particular attention to issues such as subalternity, cultural nationalism, third cinema, multiculturalism, and indigenous communities. It offers an original synthesis of ideas on these topics, and traces the lines of connection between national cultural and political projects during anti-colonial struggles and more contemporary forms of national and transnational cinema and television. Harindranath invites us to consider non-metropolitan cultural forms in the context of contemporary issues relating to the politics of difference. Perspectives on Global Culture is important reading for students and researchers in media and cultural studies and sociology, as well as for those interested in debates on 'race' and ethnicity.