What country am I in? I can't tell!

Around the globe, the same brands of products are being sold, the same foods are being eaten, the same music is being listened to, and the same movies are being watched.

Whether you are in Shanghai, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Seoul, London, or Chicago, you are likely to discover a McDonald's, a Gap clothing store, or a Starbucks coffee shop. You'll probably see people wearing t-shirts, jeans, Nikes, and baseball caps.

In fact, there is so much sameness that you may even begin to wonder what country you are in. Sometimes one looks much like the other! People are buying the same brands all over the world. Read the BBC article, Are we slaves to brands? to find out what some people think of buying name brands.

What do you think of this global sameness? Is it a positive or a negative development? Why? Post a comment.

Comments

[Lee Kyoung Bok]

I think the sameness of global is really bad thing.

First of all, the sameness of global is caused by the influence of huge companies. We have actually developed a traditional culture of our own. I mean we adjusted our culture to our circumstances and our character. Think twice, in Rome, one Italian guide is explaining their gorgeous traditional culture to other foreigners, but but they are wearing the same clothes, and they are drinking the same beverage. The guide can just explain their past, but he cannot talk about the present property of Italy because he is already the slave of huge sameness. Also, the foreigners cannot feel the Italy through his appearance. Isn’t it funny? There are just traces but there is not an ethos of one country.

Secondly, we are under an illusion. McDonald's modifies their products to sell them to each country. They sell ‘Kim-chi’ burger in Korea and they sell a burger with beer in Germany. Some people say it is a respect for our culture to sell like that. I think they are funny. It is just a trick of the trade for earning money. People who say McDonald’s respects our culture don’t know huge commercial companies’ keen competition.

Thirdly, we are ignoring with each other. Sameness? It’s really funny. I think it is a surrender to rich countries. We are always concerned about American or European life style. We are looking at what they wear and what they eat. But we are not concerned about the poor countries and their culture. Also, we do not feel the necessity of imitating. Said again, it is not sameness with a good meaning, rather we just imitate and surrender to the rich countries.

Finally, I think the present sameness is really bad. I think the present sameness is the result of some huge companies' trick of trades and human’s foolish desires. Of course, I am going to work in companies like that to make my living.
like that companies to live.

[Ki]

We have to think about two things: good things and bad things. One good thing is we can enjoy things because they are familiar. A bad things is you might lose your spirit which means it'll be hard to say your nationality. We have to find the right way to combine these problems.

[Justin]

Everywhere is the same, but only store names are the same, not everythng.

[Great Andy]

Dress expresses the wearer's individuality. However, people keep losing their individuality. It's a matter for regret. Countries in the world get closer and closer to one another. We can have access to another's fashions easily. As a result, we become the same. This matter asks people to reconsider their lack of personality.

[Jun, Mi-Hyang]

When we go to the department store, we find many brands. They were imported from other countries. In our country, our companies compete with them. They compare with each other, accept good points, and cast out bad points. Therefore, if they don't lose their subjectivity, globalization is good for them.

[Ilsoo Yoon]

Obviously, old people think about it negatively. However, it is true that teenagers like it and being globalized. I really don't think this will bring negative effect to other countries.

[Adel]

I think the sameness is positive because this world is more and more global. Each world exchanges their products and they accept other country's culture. The process is natural as a result there are much sameness. Through the sameness we can contact other country's culture. So I am optimistic.

[Eugene]

I think spreading brands is good. It makes the globe become smaller. There is no reason to block import items. Imports bring economical advantage for a nation and its people.

[Yumi]

Around the world, there are many products that are the same. However, those companies sell different things according to each country's culture. For example, in Germany McDonald's sells beer. If they respect the country's culture, I think it is not bad.