Globalisation is defined as 'the process of interaction and integration among people, companies and governments worldwide' and has occurred over the past few centuries due to increased international transportation and communication. Particularly over recent decades, this process has accelerated with advancements in technology that mean the modern world is interconnected.
Within the global community there is a freer movement of goods and services and therefore many countries have an increased reliance on trade and the global economy. Unfortunately, this community is dominated by first world countries, who benefit at the expense of less economically developed nations. Companies based in richer nations can outsource their labour to third world countries, where there are fewer legal restrictions and people are cheaper to hire. A lack of strict international law allows the exploitation of these countries and their communities. However, this is not a new phenomenon and has roots in colonisation.
Globalisation also means that we are able to share our cultures and experiences across borders to enrich people's awareness of the rest of the world. A key factor to this is migration, which is made easier by advancements in transportation. There is also an increased knowledge of international affairs and global news, so the whole world can find out about major events such as natural disasters very quickly.
The process is sometimes viewed as a threat to cultural diversity, as our communities are becoming larger and less unique. In such a well-connected world, it is easy for individuals to feel insignificant and overwhelmed.
Njideka Akunyili Crosby
This article explores how the art world has reacted to globalisation, describing how art has become more public and large-scale over the past few decades. During the early 2000s, galleries built huge exhibition spaces to accommodate the vast new artworks. However, some contemporary artists have created work in protest of this movement.
In the face of an interconnected global community, artists have chosen to create more intimate, personal and often small-scale work. In the modern world, there is a ruthless competition to be recognised and to appeal to the whole international community, artists must be relatable. This pressure could lead to a lack of individuality in art, or to creatives censoring themselves to appeal to a larger audience. Nigerian painter Njideka Akunyili Crosby says her 'aim is not to fill large spaces or dazzle the public' and instead she uses her art to express deeply personal ideas that may not be relatable to the whole world, but can certainly be appreciated.
In my own work, I would like to explore my own place in the global community and the feelings of insignificance that come with the daunting size of the modern world, as well as the search for a greater meaning when faced with this. I'm interested in the way our individual lives are affected by the forces that influence our whole international society- for example how cultural exchanges from migration have changed the way we live our everyday lives.
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