More and more people appear to prefer western style weddings, wearing western style clothing, forgetting the celebrations of old traditions and customs, they are also becoming less interested in the many ancient skills and arts that history and tradition have to offer.
I’ve heard numerous friends and relatives complain that when they go on holiday, i.e. To Spain, it is just another England with better weather.
Throughout my travels I've noticed many people seem to think being western is ‘cool’. Globalization has propagated Western culture, on top of largely western government systems (democracy and constitution), many western technologies, customs, music, clothing, cars and art have been introduced across the world, they are then copied and re-created in non-western countries like Japan, India and China.
One of the main reasons for this overbearing influence of Western culture is due to our media, in particular Hollywood. In India for example Bollywood, been India’s equivalent, is seen to produce role models and the “ultimate image”, but how is Indian society meant to appreciate their traditions and culture when even Bollywood films have been influenced by Hollywood and America.
Of course the young want to challenge tradition, that is the same wherever you are in the world, but when Indian films portray a continuous trend of western aspects, of course India’s youth will be more inclined to western fashion, food, culture and way for life.
This is seen in the production of movies such as “Monsoon Wedding”. This movie represents the way Indian Culture is traveling. The influence that Hollywood has exerted on India can be seen clearly in this film.
“ The west has made it fashionable to wear jeans and tight fitting costumes and have western ideas such as sex before marriage.”
A modern day Bollywood film poster
Another factor in the disappearance of tradition is the pursuit of wealth. Many people migrate in the hope of better prospects. Immigrants can either radicalize in order to fit in or completely dissolve and assimilate into local culture. This is often the culprit behind the destruction of thousand-year-old culture and tradition.
Another major influence on the decline of tradition and culture is technology.
Today, communication can be made between two countries with no difficulty at all. The development in communication and technology has broken down barriers from the past, and because there are no longer any barriers between countries, the world has become a much smaller place. Technology has also replaced hobbies, customs and events that were normal in past years. For example, I was reading an article about Ramadan and how it has changed in Kuwait, one interviewee had this to say:
"Earlier, we did not have the technology that enables us to send a short message to congratulate relatives and friends on the coming of the month of Ramadan. But now, this is what prevents us from paying family and friends a visit, which used to have a special flavor, especially as they used to gather many relatives and friends under the same roof."
Another Interviewee had a similar view on the influences of technology on tradition, saying that entertainment once used to be a communal thing were everyone would listen to traditional music, chat, tell riddles and play games, but now people would rather spend time watching television and using the internet.
"Neighbors used to exchange what they cooked every day, and this was called 'naksa'. Dishes used to go from house to house in the neighborhood throughout the holy month, and even on the feast day."
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