Political Science

Mention the term globalization to an average American and youre more likely to see a frown than a smile.  Understandably, in this harsh economic climate in which the U.S. is seeing unemployment figures in record numbers, globalization is associated with concepts like outsourcing and down-sizing, with major corporations taking jobs overseas in an effort to find cheaper labor.  However, there are some positive implications for globalization, in addition to these negative connotations.  Perhaps the discipline of Art in all its many forms (I.e. dance, music, painting, photography, fashion, etc.) is the most hopeful way to re-examine the idea of globalization, looking at the glass is half full impact that the blurring of cultural, social, political and fiscal borders can also create.   

Attached is a picture of musical artist, Gwen Stefani.  More than your garden-variety  singersongwriter, Stefani is a global pop star with fans in countries some people have never even heard of.  In addition to being a  pop-cultural icon, she is also a fashion designer and her unique take on fashion often displays an eclectic mix of global influences.  Often, she is seen in old movie star glamour, but she also loves to wear fashions that are influenced by Reggae artists and her experiences in the Caribbean.  But, she is probably most frequently associated with the Harajuku Girls  fashion of Tokyo, Japan.  In fact, her off the rack clothing line is called Harajuku Lovers.  The fact that Stefani is influenced by Japanese fashion is particularly fascinating because it creates a chicken and egg type quandary, since Japanese fashion, in turn, borrows heavily from Western cultural influences, particularly pop music, goth subculture and hip hop. Although globalization hasnt been particularly good to all aspects of American fashion (I.e. American garment industry workers have suffered terribly from the outsourcing of their jobs to China and Mexico), the creative aspects of fashion and Art, in general, has benefited from having increased  access to inspiration and creativity crossing borders. 














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