An Exploration of the Intimate Economies of Bangkok

Through Ara Wilson’s detailing of her exploration of Bangkok in her ethnography â€Å"The Intimate Economies of Bangkok†, I was able to become an observer of the meshing of the native culture that already existed in Bangkok with the Western culture that has been spreading into the nation for many years. Typically the concept of cultural homogenization discusses an extremely skewed power dynamic in which one regional culture (typically one that exists in countries that have been classified as developing) is taken over and dissembled by the presence of the prevalent Western culture. From Wilson’s account, I find that economies in Bangkok are not so much experiencing a homogenization, but a merging of different cultures which keeps the elements of†¦show more content†¦If structures aren’t viable in this traditional model, then they are typically torn down and replaced with structures that would justify the money that was initially invested in them. H owever, the Thai version of this â€Å"Western† business model differs from this rule of profit. In order to produce malls that are more appealing to a given market, the business owners must discover and recognize the current cultural norms that are in existence in Thailand. While the malls and the family-based structures completely deviate from tradition in the purest sense of the word, traditions all over the world have changed and evolved with the changing times and the new level of cultural exposure that exists at this time. In the case of the malls, while the idea of a mall can be recognized as being Western at their base level, in many ways they embody the current desires of the middle-class Thai/Sino-Thai population. In this case it can be argued the malls ended up representing a fusion between Western and Thai ideals. Wilson’s ethnography provides a more complex understanding of the coming together of global capitalism and local, cultural models by virtue of theShow MoreRelatedMarketing Communications Notes17720 Words   |  71 Pagesand online sources in selecting their communication channel. However, in less developed countries, cost, reach (number of consumers exposed to the message) and literacy rates must be considered. In densely populated areas such as Mexico City and in Bangkok with its infamous traffic congestion, outdoor billboards provide good reach. Kenya’s low literacy rates favour broadcast media over print. Deciding between television and radio becomes easier when you consider that 30,000 Kenyans own television setsRead MoreOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pageswas enticed by labor recruiters who preyed on the des perately poor. The prospects for the great majority were almost invariably lives of drudge labor in urban sweatshops, on tropical plantations, or on the wharves of an expansive, global export economy. Throughout the century, advances in human rights, which were spread ever more broadly among different social groups—including women, laborers, INTRODUCTION †¢ 3 ethnic minorities, and gays—made strides that were perhaps greater thanRead More65 Successful Harvard Business School Application Essays 2nd Edition 147256 Words   |  190 Pagesfelt as a child struggling to breathe, this time I realized that mybusiness interest and knowledge gave me a way to turn conviction into impact. Wal...Mart CEO Lee Scott recently said, There need not be conflict between the environment and the economy. As an environ... mentalist and management consultant, I wholeheartedly agree. My career vision is to help industrial companies in China incorporate environmentally sustainable practices into their business strategies. While manufacturers traditionallyRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 PagesAvenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the Universitys objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi Sà £o Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press Read MoreCase Study148348 Words   |  594 Pagesof the airline industry, giving students the general idea. The first question asks for additional elements in the analysis. For example, under Political, you might add subsidies for local airports; under Economic, you might add the rise of Asian economies; and under Legal, you could add the trend towards airline privatisation. A key danger to highlight is of long lists of forces or influences that are too unwieldy for practical action. So the second question challenges students to assess which ofRead MoreDeveloping Management Skills404131 Words   |  1617 Pageslistening. 2. Students are engaged in activities (e.g., reading, discussing, writing). 3. There is less emphasis placed on information transmission and greater emphasis placed on developing student skills. 4. There is greater emphasis placed on the exploration of attitudes and values. 5. Student motivation is increa sed, especially in adult learners. xviii PREFACE 6. Students receive immediate feedback from their instructor and peers. 7. Students are involved in higher order thinking (analysis, synthesis