RESEARCH ON GLOBALIZATION, CULTURE and ;NATIONAL IDENTITY
INTERVIEWER – 01
NAME ADEESHA ARUNDHIKA HETTIGE
AGE 24 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1984- 05-11
RELIGION BUDDHISM
NATIONALITY SINHALA
LEVEL OF EDUCATION UNDERGRADUATE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
PROFESSION STUDENT
CIVIL STATUS SINGLE
ADDRESS NO; 45,
SCHOOL AVENUE, RATHTHANAPITIYA,
SCHOOL AVENUE, RATHTHANAPITIYA,
BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 26786900
INTERVIEW [01]
WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION?
I feel that it is an important concept that should be in the minds of the people in every country. It is because we want the concept of globalization to develop as a country and to compete with the other countries of the world. We got to know a large amount of new things with this concept especially the advancement of science and technology.
HOW DO YOU GET TO KNOW ABOUT THIS CONCEPT?
First I get to know about this concept with the school education. But the school education on globalization did not give any sense for me. Then later on with the television media, I began feel what is globalization.
DO YOU WATCH TELEVISION? AND WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMMES THAT YOU LIKE MOST?
Ah! Programmes like Discovery, Doramadalava, News, Newspaper programmes and I like to watch new music programmes like Super Star, Dancing Stars…
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT BY WATCHING THOSE PROGRAMMES?
Mainly knowledge and entertainment, and I like to watch television as a leisure time activity.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTHS?
I think, nowadays anyone who has a certain talent on something can easily show it to the world through this kind of programmes. I consider it as a good opportunity especially for youths. But earlier these types of things limited only for the people in towns, but now the people even in rural areas can show their talents to the world.
ACCORDING TO YOUR VIEW, DO THOSE PROGRAMMES HAVE A CERTAIN EFFECT ON SRILANKAN CULTURE?
I think so. Those programmes have good effects as well as bad effects and people always get attracted to bad things than good things, when we have a look on the people in the present society it is clearly evident. It can be identified through today’s fashions, habits, customs and the way of speaking. I feel that everything has been modified and changed.
SO, HOW DO YOU SEE THAT CHANGE? IS IT GOOD OR BAD?
No, when we think about our country we have an identity of our own. There is only one Sri Lanka
OK, YOU TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT FACETS OF OUR SOCIETY. SO AS A YOUNG GIRL WHAT TYPE OF IDEA THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT TODAY’S FASHIONS ESPECIALLY THE FASHIONS THAT YOU SEE IN THE TELEVISION MEDIA?
Oh! There is not a special dislike, but not over fashions. I think it is good that we can watch different fashions with media. But I do not accept the fashions which are not suitable to our culture, because nowadays we see that television channels competitively show different types of fashions in media which do not go with our culture. But there is one thing to say. Here I don’t mean that they are doing a correct thing. If those channels do not show us the fashions in other countries and new trends, how do we get to know on those things? But it is true that today’s media has completely forgotten its responsibility but we also should have certain knowledge to choose the correct thing.
EARLIER YOU MENTIONED SOME AREAS WHICH HAVE CHANGED WITH THIS TRANSITION, WE TALKED ABOUT FASHIONS, AND CAN YOU GIVE US SOME EXAMPLES FOR OTHER THINGS?
Especially in media, today we see that some programme presenters are not familiar with their mother tongue. They have modified our Sinhala language and talk by using a new language which themselves have named it “Singlish.” And some music programmes also telecast some western songs with visuals which are not suitable to our country so children watch those things and begin to imitate the people that they see in the media. Another important factor that I like to mention is that mobile phones. Now even small children use phones. Most of the times they use phones for wrong things, parents also let them use phones. So as a result of that they go extreme. And especially I don’t like sms voting systems.
OK, CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE IDEAS OF YOUR COLLEAGUES ON THIS NEW TRANSITION?
They consider this transition as a good thing. I think that most of my friends are positive thinkers. They say that we should move with the new transition but try to avoid from the things which corrupt the society.
YOU TOLD THAT WE SHOULD AVOID FROM THE THINGS WHICH CORRUPT OUR SOCIETY. SO WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT THE MEDIA CAN DO FOR THAT?
Yes, I think that the television media can do a lot. Nowadays each and every house has a television. Human beings always think on the things which they here and which they see. So they like to watch television and if it always show good things which are suitable to our culture everyone will accept it.
IF THE COUNTRY WII GO ON LIKE THIS, WHAT WOULD BE OUR FUTURE?
There would be a real change in all areas. Every thing will be mechanical. For example people will do every thing like education, jobs while sitting in their houses. Life would be comfortable. But humanity will go down. Though the life will change into a comfortable way there would not be spirituality within it.
INTERVIEWER – 02
NAME KULUNU SRI BANDARA JAYATHILAKA
AGE 24 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1984- 06-29
RELIGION BUDDHISM
NATIONALITY SINHALA
LEVEL OF EDUCATION MEDICAL STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
PROFESSION STUDENT
CIVIL STATUS SINGLE
ADDRESS NO; 45/3, SCHOOL AVENUE , RATHTHANAPITIYA,
BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 259829
INTERVIEW [02]
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION?
When we think about the countries of the world there can be seen a clear difference among those countries. We can see all the countries go further with new advancement of technology. But with the concept of globalization we see that all the countries of the world go together. When we think about our country we also are able to go further with other countries with the concept of globalization. But I don’t like to consider this as a modern concept. It is because; though there were some differences can be seen in this concept, this was in the past also. There were relations among countries in the past. But media gave a new figure to this concept. And people began to know this as a concept after that.
DO YOU WATCH TELEVISION AND WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMMES THAT YOU LIKE MOST?
I usually watch news and newspaper programmes. But other programmes not usually, if I am free and if I have nothing to do I watch. I don’t like to spend my time to watch television, especially those meaningless advertisements and some programmes. I feel that those programmes just waste our time.
NOWADAYS WE SEE TELEVISION CHANNELS INTRODUCE NUMBER OF NEW PROGRAMMES COMPETITIVELY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
New programmes are ok. But there should be a limitation in everything. I think that those programmes can have good aspects as well as bad aspects. So television viewers should be able get only the good aspects of it. There are number of foreign programmes. The programmes like “Discovery” “Voice of America”, those are good. School children and university students can get a lot of information which can be useful for their studies. But some programmes corrupt our culture, and those programmes can mislead the younger generation.
YOU SAID THAT TELEVISION VIEWERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THE GOOD ASPECTS OF THOSE PROGRAMMES. SO DO YOU THINK THAT EACH PERSON IN OUR SOCIETY IS ABLE TO IDENTIFY WHAT IS GOOD AND BAD?
No I don’t believe. Comparing with other countries I feel Srilankans are short thinkers. They always believe on the short ways. What they see in media they believe. So they don’t go to argue, analyze or think on it. Therefore they can easily mislead. For example through media when they see an American or any foreigner wearing tattered denim our foolish people tore their new denims and make their ones as the ones they see in the media. The main problem I see here is that our Srilankans don’t think twice before take a decision.
WHAT KIND OF IDEA THAT YOU HAVE ON FASHIONS AND FOOD ITEMS?
Ok, when have a look on today’s society I think that people should think about our culture before selecting a new fashion. I think the ideas on fashions always go with the level of education of the people. There are different groups of people who are doing different kinds of jobs. So some people wear according to their profession some people follow new trends. I follow both ways. I follow new trends also; I don’t mean that thinking about the culture we should wear national dress always. But before select a new fashion I keep in my mind who I am and what I am studying and do these fashions go with my field of study. Food habits also we have become too westernize. Look how many Chinese restaurants that we have I think we have more than China
OK.TODAY WE SEE THAT TELEVISION MEDIA INTRODUSES DIFFERENT TYPES OF THINGS BY ATTRACTIVE ADVERTISEMENTS. WHAT IS YOUR OPENION ON THAT?
Not bad, I think that media sells everything and the problem is our people are ready to by anything that media sells. And you have mentioned about attractive advertisements I agree with that because that attraction attacks the human mind. Human mind has created to attract what they see and hear. So media can easily sell anything. For example when they want to sell Coca-Cola product they make an advertisement by using a pretty girl with a bottle of Coca-Cola. So the viewers first get attracted to the image of the girl and next automatically get attracted to the product. Nowadays we get so many foreign products and media advertise those things and people get attract to them. So nobody can’t stop it happens. That is the reality.
SO, WHAT KIND OF IDEA THAT YOU HAVE ON NEW PRODUCTIONS? IS IT POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE?
Oh…neither negative nor positive. It is good that we can have numerous products. And now with the concept of globalization as I mentioned earlier any new product of one country can exchange with the other countries of the world. So if there is a way that we can get the new products that we want why we do argue on it. We should know and use new products and at the same time we should remember whether those products are ok with our culture.
DON’T YOU THINK AS A RESULT OF THAT WE’LL LOOSE OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY?
No, not at all, if we do not have our own way of thinking, it does not harm if we use the products of other countries or else the creative people in our country should make the thing that people want. When people don’t have what they want in their country they easily attract to the things of other country and they don’t think whether it is good or bad.
DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE LOST OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY?
Not yet, but can be in future if we stay like this. It is not a problem which comes with the concept of globalization. The problem is within us. We do not give the correct place to our culture. We don’t think according to our own ways. We stay till the new things come and attack the minds of our people. We can get the use of new technology. I think we should be more creative. We should use natural resources of our country. For example we have rubber we export it and we import number of rubber products from foreign countries. That is why I said the problem is within us.
INTERVIEWER – 03
NAME MRS: DHAMMIKA WIJERATHNE
AGE 55 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1953- 06-12
RELIGION BUDDHISM
NATIONALITY SINHALA
LEVEL OF EDUCATION DIPLOMA IN TOURISM
PROFESSION ACCOUNTANT ASSISTANT [RETIRED]
CIVIL STATUS MARRIED.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN TWO CHILDREN, A SON AND A DAUGHTER
ADDRESS NO; 33/11,
SCHOOL AVENUE,
SCHOOL AVENUE,
RATHTHANAPITIYA, BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 2519245
INTERVIEW [03]
WHAT KIND OF IDEA THAT YOU HAVE ON GLOBALIZATION?
I think with globalization we can easily communicate with other countries and we can join with other countries easily. For example to visit another country was a big task during our time. But now it is a very simple thing. Now we are facing a social transition. I think that globalization means this transition. The whole world has changed, and as a person who has the experiences in the present and the past social context I clearly see the differences which have occurred in the society.
WHAT DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS DIFFERENCE? DO YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE?
Differences are ok, but there can be seen advantages as well as disadvantages. As I mentioned earlier the things like communication, travel, and those differences are good. But at the same time there can be seen a lack of humanity in the society. And people become very busy. They don’t have time even to look at their children. Their main intention is to gain money. So they only think about earning. And as a result of that children get detach from their parents. Therefore they move with new changes in the society without having any advice from the adults. I feel that the whole society gets corrupted.
AS A MOTHER OF A SON AND A DAUDHTER WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN TO AVOID THIS SITUATION?
Ah! I don’t think that I could be able to do lot of things to avoid this situation. But I tried. When my children were little I and my husband worked, so all of us got together only in the evening. But during the little time that we have we talked a lot our problems. As a mother I listened to my children. They told all their matters with me. So they didn’t have anything to hide. I didn’t let them to use internet and mobile phones till they finish their A/Ls. After they have finished the exam, I thought they have enough knowledge to understand what is good and bad and I let them to move with new society. Because after having a good education they can have knowledge to understand what is good and bad.
CAN YOU HAPPY ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN?
Of course, I can happy about them.
WHAT KIND OF IDEA THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT THE YOUNGER GENERATION TODAY?
It is the pathetic situation of this transition. There can be seen a big difference between the youths in the present and the past. Today’s generation follows new ways and they have forgotten our culture. They even don’t know to wear according to our culture. They can’t be a minute without a mobile phone. Now even a little child knows to use internet. We know that internet can give knowledge but at the same time if we misuse it, it would be a disadvantage.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE PLAY BY THE TELEVISION MEDIA IN RELATION TO THE ABOVE FACTS?
Television can give us knowledge and entertainment, but at the same time it can mislead the younger generation. It is good for the people who can understand what is good and bad. Sometimes we can’t watch the things that they wear. For example we see some beauty queen contests; we can’t watch those programmes with our children. And think about the teledramas, which telecast on the whole week all those teledramas show how the family relationships break down and some meaningless things. I think that the television has modernized our culture. But I like to mention one thing which telecast in television channels. It is that the programmes on religion. Those programmes got attraction of younger generation. I like that.
SO DO YOU BELIEVE THAT TELEVISION CAN CHANGE THE SOCIETY IN A GOOD WAY ?
Of course, it can. But it does not do it in a proper way. As an audible and visual media it can change the society in a good way and it can affects the attitudes of the people.
DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE PROTECTED THE THINGS OF OUR OWN [National Identity] WITH THIS TRANSITION?
Not at all, still we are trying. But with this transition it would be difficult. I think that we should be developed with the new findings. But at the same time we should keep our
roots in Sri Lanka
INTERVIEWER – 04
NAME MRS: W.T.S. KUSUM KUMARI
AGE 37 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1971- 01-07
RELIGION BUDDHISM
NATIONALITY SINHALA
LEVEL OF EDUCATION STUDIED UP TO GRADE EIGHT
PROFESSION HOUSEWIFE
CIVIL STATUS MARRIED.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN ONE DAUGHTER
ADDRESS NO; 2B,
G.H. PERERA AVENUE,
G.H. PERERA AVENUE,
RATHTHANAPITIYA, BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 0715334562
INTERVIEW [04]
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU CAN SEE BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE PAST?
Number of differences, every thing has changed. Now we have computers, mobile phones and the equipments that we are using for household activities are really different. Today we can have gas cookers, ovens, washing machines…during our time we communicate with the people who are living in long distances by using letters but today we can use phones, faxes…
SO DO YOU LIKE THAT DIFFERENCE?
Of course I like. Now every thing is easy, and as a housewife I can do my works very easily. But one thing to say, to use all those new things we want money. Today the cost of living is so high. Comparing with the time of our parents they use fire instead of gas. They wash their clothes by themselves and they didn’t have washing machines. So though we say that these new things make our work more easy, I feel that comparing with the extra money that we have to spend for these new things, it is like an extra burden for us. We earned a lot and spend all to live happily, but our parents they didn’t run after money like us. But having little things they also live happily. Sometime I feel they were happier than us.
DO YOU THINK THESE NEW THINGS AFFECT OUR CULTURE?
Ah…I don’t think so, there were and there are changes. Some changes may affect the culture and some may not. I think it depends on the way that the people think. If we misuse any good thing it can affect us in a bad way.
OK, IF I SAY THAT NEW FASHION, NEW FOOD ITEMS, AND THE THINGS LIKE THAT AFFECT OUR CULTURE?
Oh no I don’t think so. If we take fashions, it is true that many people say that today young people are wearing things which are not suitable to our country and those people are imitate westerners. It is correct but not totally correct. Because it is wrong that if we say all these changes happen only today. As I told you earlier people in the past also followed new fashions, they wore short frocks [mini frocks], sleeveless blouses in the past. Those items came from foreign countries especially with bollywood films. Then people began to follow the fashion of the actors and actresses in the silver screen. So the changes of fashions are not a new thing.
YOU TALK ABOUT THE FILM MEDIA WHICH BROUGHT SOME CHANGES IN LIFE STYLES; NOWADAYS WE HAVE TELEVISION MEDIA WHICH BECAME MORE CLOSE TO OUR LIVES. HOW FAR YOU ARE FAMILIER WITH TELEVISION MEDIA?
I watch many programmes especially the programmes like “Nuga Sewana.” In those programmes also I like discussions with doctors, because we can learn how to avoid from some illnesses by doing some treatments at home. Anyway I think that we can learn a lot with television media. As a housewife most of time I have to spend at home. Therefore the things happening around the world I learn with television.
DO YOU THINK THAT ALL THE PROGRAMMES SUPPLY US
I don’t like to watch new teledramas, especially Indian teledramas. Main reason is that I don’t like to let my child to watch those things. Those teledramas don’t give us any message except make us more aggressive and hatred. If I feel any programme is not good for children I don’t watch it because of my child.
OK, NOWADAYS WITH TV ADDVERTISEMENTS WE GET TO KNOW ABOUT DIFFERENT FOOD ITEMS [LOCAL AND FOREIGN] WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
Though we watch those advertisements though different food items come though those foods are tastier we don’t use them. But we watch those advertisements just for entertainment. We don’t eat them and I don’t give them to my child. Even though we are in Colombo
AS A MOTHER, WHEN YOU COMPARE THE ATTITUDES OF THE OTHER PARENTS WHAT DO YOU FEEL? IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THE WAY YOU THINK AND THE WAY THEY THINK?
Totally different, because they follow all the new ways, once they asked me to change the school of my child; to an international school. I didn’t like. Those schools don’t teach any discipline. I think our younger generation gets corrupted because of those schools. I want my child to learn Sinhala language well. My child is only four years and still having nursery education, but to that little age she has learned to respect adults and parents. She has a fair knowledge on religion. So I am happy about it.
WHEN I DISCUSSED WITH YOU I FELT THAT THOUGH THE SOCIETY HAS CHANGED YOU DIDN’T CHANGE YOUR LIFE. BUT IF WE TAKE THESE NEW CHANGES AS A CERTAIN DEVELOPMENT DON’T YOU FEEL THAT WE SHOULD DEVELOP?
Of course we should develop. We are developing. But we do not go extreme. There is a limitation for everything. Though new items come though other people follow then I think that there is no need to follow all those things. I don’t want my child be like that. Another thing is that all those new things just waste our money. Sometimes I feel these new things as a disturbance, because it is very difficult to be without getting attracted to those things. It is true that those things make easy our work but even in the past without having those new things our parents did their works. I don’t know whether it is correct or wrong but it is my way of thinking.
INTERVIEWER – 05
NAME T.H. GAYAN SANDIKA
AGE 29 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1978-10-12
RELIGION BUDDHISM
NATIONALITY SINHALA
LEVEL OF EDUCATION GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE OF PRODUCTION
ENGINEERING.
PROFESSION PRODUCTION ENGINEER
CIVIL STATUS SINGLE.
ADDRESS ORANGE ELECTRIC SYSTEM (PVT) LTD, NO: 34,
LAKE ROAD, BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER 0773832390
INTERVIEW [05]
AS AN ENGINEER HOW DO YOU SEE THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALIZATION?
I think that this concept has turned the huge world into a small village where the people can communicate and build up relationships easily. And this concept becomes more effective due to vast development of communication. Through communication the concept of globalization became familiar with people. The rapid advancement of science and technology spread among all the countries of the world. As a result of this concept people in different countries began to run after common necessities. So this concept brought new relationships for each independent country. At the same time we should aware with the fact that there are both good and bad aspect of this concept.
HOW DO YOU GET FAMILIER WITH THIS CONCEPT AND WHEN?
When I was doing my O/L exams I got familiar with this concept and it is mainly with newspapers, media especially television and with school education.
DO YOU THINK THIS CONCEPT CAN AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE?
Why not, this can severely affect. Due to this concept the social needs of the people increase. People want get satisfied with what they have in their own countries they always look for something else. Then there can be seen western influence as well as cultural interactions. With the above two factors people try to imitate the culture of other countries. This cultural imitation can affect the culture of their countries.
CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN A LITTLE THE LAST FACT ON CULTURAL IMITATION?
Ok, as I mentioned above, with globalization countries get close and people in different countries try to study the traditions and cultures of other countries. And they normally study the countries which play major roles in the process of globalization. So when they go to study they naturally get adapt to cultures which they study.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ROLE PLAYS BY TELEVISION MEDIA IN THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION?
This media play a major role. People get whatever good and bad through especially TV media. But it also makes programmes according to the needs of the people. So whatever people like and need it show. The problem is that the media do not consider whether those programmes are good or bad. With these television programmes people begin to compare the programmes and the things they see in other countries with the programmes of our countries.
WITH THIS NEW CHANGE IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT EACH AND EVERY THING OF THE WORLD RAPIDLY CHANGE? WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CHANGING FASHIONS?
Fashions are seasonal. Globalization promotes a consumer society rather than a producing society. When we have more interactions with other countries we get attract with fashions and different things of other countries. It naturally happens. And sometimes people like to follow some famous characters in the world. They like to imitate their fashions. Normally people follow fashions according to their level of education and according to new trends.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THE YOUTHS IN OUR COUNTRY FOLLOW FASHIONS?
Nowadays we see many youths doing fashions only thinking about new trends. It really affects our culture. Media bring most of these new trends. Now the people even in rural villages have forgotten their own ways of dressing. But with this rapid transition it is really difficult to avoid such a situation.
OK IF WE MOVE TO THE FOOD HABITS WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT CAN YOU SEE AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?
Ah! Food habits now people have moved to fast and instant foods. This can be due to the limited time that they have. In urban areas we see that people like go for dinner outs. Today we have McDonalds, KFC… places like that where we can go and eat something different rather than the food items that we eat at homes. It is true that there can be side effects but comparing with the limited time that the people have we can’t say that they are wrong.
IF WE TALK ON OUR NATIONAL IDENTITY COMPARING WITH THESE RAPID CHANGES, WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
Yes, we still have our national identity. But the loosing trend of it increases day by day. And if people continue on following these new trends more and more, there would not be a national identity in future.
WAIT, I WANT TO ADD SOMETHING, CAN YOU BIT TALK ABOUT OTHER COUNTRIES ESPECIALLY ASIAN, WHICH ARE UNDER THE PROCESS OF GLOBALIZATION? DO THOSE COUNTRIES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM?
Not all the countries but some countries are like Sri Lanka India
WHAT DO YOU THINK; ALL THESE CHANGES WILL CHANGE EVERY NOOK AND CORNER OF SRI LANKA
Of course it will definitely happen and we can’t stop it happening. Even now 50% of it has happened. In future there will be more shopping moles, food cities, McDonalds and KFC s in rural villages. It is true that these things will loose the natural beauty of the village. In past people find all there basic needs from their villages. But when they have many new things they can’t get satisfy with the things that they have in villages. But these differences naturally happen and nobody wants to stop it.
ACCORDING TO YOUR VIEW OF THINKING HOW WOULD BE SRILANKA IN FUTURE?
We’ll loose our Srilankan heritage and there would be a mixed culture. Family units will change. Now we have small families. There are only one or two children in each family and furthermore instead of stable marriages there would be living together. And the relationships between parents and children and children and grand parents will loose. Living standards would change and people will have common expectations and common problems. There would be a real change. Some will adapt it and some will not but nobody can’t stop it.
INTERVIEWER – 06
NAME MRS: RAMEEZA HUSSEIN
AGE 56 YRS
DATE OF BIRTH 1952- 09-09
RELIGION MUSLIM
NATIONALITY MUSLIM
LEVEL OF EDUCATION UPON LEVEL
PROFESSION HOUSEWIFE
CIVIL STATUS MARRIED.
NUMBER OF CHILDREN THREE CHILDREN
ADDRESS NO: 121/1,
CAMPUS ROAD,
CAMPUS ROAD,
RATHTHANAPITIYA, BORALASGAMUWA.
TELEPHONE NUMBER _
INTERVIEW [06]
YOU MIGHT HAVE GOOD EXPERIENCES, AS A PERSON WHO CAN REPRESENT TWO GENERATIONS. SO WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES THAT YOU SEE BETWEEN THE PRESENT AND THE PAST?
Number of differences, the society has really changed. Now we have lots of facilities. We can do anything easily and as a housewife I can do all my household duties very easily with the help of new equipment. Our religion also developed a lot. We can easily go to the other countries especially Arabic countries and join with other Muslim people. And also we can communicate easily with other people.
IF I SAY YOU LIKE THAT CHANGE, AM I CORRECT?
No, not all the changes it is true that I like some changes in the society. But due to some changes people have forgotten all their good qualities. The way they think has changed. They have become very busy and some people have forgotten even their religion. They don’t even have time to do their daily rituals. I don’t like it. From our childhood we learn everything according to our religion. I think even today Muslims have not changed a lot with these new ways.
DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE OF OTHER RELIGIONS HAVE CHANGED A LOT WITH NEW SOCIETY RATHER THAN MUSLIMS?
Of course, according to our religion we have number of rules and regulations. And most of our people accept them. But in other religions though they have rules there cannot be seen that they are accepting those rules. If we take the way they dress today young girls and boy wear whatever they like. Some clothe items are really indecent and can’t even look at them. But for us, for our children we have our own way of dressing. We can’t change it and it is a very decent dress especially for girls. Another thing we stop all our works, even if we have some special thing to do we stop every thing when we are having our poojas. But it is rarely can notice among other people.
IT IS CLEAR THE FACT THAT OUR SOCIETY IS CHANGING RAPIDLY. IN A CHANGING SOCIETY LIKE THIS, DO YOU LIKE TO CONTINUE THE TRADITIONAL WAYS?
Yes, when think on the today’s differences I feel that our traditional ways are better because, everything changes and people follow all the changes without having any limitation. It is good if we take only the good aspects of it. But people are unable to do it and everyone cannot understand what is good and bad. So I prefer traditional ways.
DO YOU WATCH TELEVISION? WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMMES THAT YOU LIKE MOST?
I like to watch all the morning programmes which are for women. We can learn a lot about diseases and illnesses and how to prevent from them, and I especially like to watch about the things like designing, patchworks paintings etc. not only those programmes I like to watch teledramas both Tamil and Sinhala.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FASHIONS THAT YOU SEE IN TV MEDIA?
We are against for those things. We don’t watch those programmes and when my children were little I didn’t let them to watch those things.
DON’T YOU LIKE NEW FOOD ITEMS? AND TODAY WE HAVE NUMBER OF NEW SHOPS LIKE FOOD CITIES, MCDONALDS …WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS?I am not familiar with those places. I feel that those instant foods and all just increase illnesses. I don’t like to spend my money to buy those things. Some food items contain more fat and some foods contain more artificial things rather than natural things. I only get to know about those things with TV media; TV advertisements. Though I get to know many things with TV adds I don’t feel to use those things.
HOW DO YOUR CHILDREN REACT TO THIS CHANGE?
The way they look at the world is bit different. I am happy that they haven’t changed the way of dressing. But they always think about money. They want to be more and more rich. They like to most of new food items. They seem to be very busy always and don’t even have rime to talk with us. But they also haven’t changed our traditions. They respect those traditions and continue on practicing. But it they go on like this I can’t imagine how would be the time of my grand children.
EVEN AMONG MUSLIMS I HAVE SEEN SOME HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR OWN WAYS AND DO EVERYTHING ACCORDING TO MODERN WAYS? AM I CORRECT?
Yes, because there are different categories of Muslims. But we are against them. But we can’t stop the way that people think and people change their lifestyles with new changes. I myself try to prevent from the things which are not good to our religion as well as our country. But how can we tell others to do like that and also I don’t like to blame the people who follow the new ways. I am against them that’s all.
COMPARING YOUR LIFE WITH THE LIFE OF YOUR CHILDREN WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
They are more educated than us and they have many facilities than our time. But I feel that the happiness we had is not there. They become very busy and they don’t have time to maintain their relationships. Sometimes like ah …once a month they go for dinner outs with children. And some times they go for places like Leisure World. But I don’t feel that they can gain much more happiness by doing those things. During our time though we were not well educated and though there were not created places like that to go, there was a good relationship between parents and children as well as husband and wife. We didn’t want more money and we got satisfied with what we have. So I feel our time was better than the time of our children. But I don’t know how my children feel about it.
According to the different ideas of the six people who represent different classes of the society, there can have certain ideas on what is globalization, how does it affect to the culture and national identity and role of television media in relation to the concept of globalization.
After considering the views of those six people it is clear, the fact that globalization is a struggle to create a new world or a new social order where each and every country can communicate with other countries and build up relationships. This was not a new concept. But with the rapid advancement of communication people got to know and people began to feel what globalization is. According to the above interviews it was clear the fact that people in general are aware with this new transition and they feel it.
Nowadays this concept becomes more popular due to television media. Television can be considered as most popular and most common media among the people in general. According to the ideas of the people it was clear the fact that people are too familiar with television media. There are time consuming seekers as well as noontime consuming seekers of television. As they said most of them get to know all the new things like fashions, food items and cultural practices with television media. Furthermore as a visual and audible media people get attracted this more than other media. This situation can be identified with the theories of communication. If we take the theory of gratification it explains how individuals use mass media to gratify their needs and underlying the motives of individuals. People get a certain satisfaction and a pleasure by watching television. According to this theory Mcquail, J.Blumer and J. Brown define four major categories of need which the media serve to gratify. They are Diversion, Personal relationships, Personal identity and Surveillance.
Today people are very busy and they are too depressed with work. So to escape from constraints of routine, burdens of problems and to gain an emotional relief they watch television. This is what the above theorists mention as diversion. If we take surveillance, it talks about need for information because media provides us information. So people get attracted with media and they get certain satisfaction, pleasure and an emotional relief with television. When they are getting attracted to television media they may get both good and bad aspects of it, and as a result of that they get corrupt unknowingly. When they are getting attracted to media they naturally adopt whatever good and bad.
This attraction makes people have common beliefs and attitudes. This situation can be seen through the theory of cultivation by George Gerbner. According to it mass media has subtle effects on audiences who unknowingly absorb the dominants, symbols, images and messages. Furthermore George Gerbner says that according to this theory, a long persistence exposure to television is capable of cultivating common beliefs, views roles and values on the world.
Globalization brought a new transition and people become familiar with it through media, especially through television media. This transition makes people have common beliefs, attitudes, values, feelings and needs. These things also have both good as well as bad aspects. All the above interviewers agreed with it and another fact that they agreed was that all these bad aspects directly affect our culture. And as a result of that Srilankan culture got modified. And today we can see clearly the western influence on Srilankan culture. Not only that, this situation began to affect our national identity. This is the pathetic situation of this social transition. People who represent different classes of the society argue on it, but those things remain only as arguments and nobody goes to make this situation correct. The above interviewers said that the loosing trend of national identity increases day by day. Srilankans get attract to other cultures easily, especially to western culture. So in future there can be seen more and more differences in family institutions, living styles, cultural practices, way of speaking and dressing. So in future Srilankans getting lost in their own culture and they will loose their own roots.
According to my survey, I felt that middle age people who have experiences on both present and the past mostly get lost in this situation. They see the advantages as well as disadvantages of modern facilities. So they are afraid to be familiar with modern world. They always compare present with past. Youths got familiar with the present situation. Though they see the disadvantages they cannot get rid of it because all those modern changes are interconnected with their life styles. They cannot do their work without it. Therefore they like to go further with the changes which are creating by globalization. But the side effect is that we are loosing our culture as well as national identity.
Though this situation is a result of globalization the fault is within us because the way that we apply those changes has made this situation. Otherwise globalization can create, rebuild modify and transform a society. But each and every country should know the correct way of adapting it.
As a conclusion to rebuild the society while getting only the good aspects of globalization, I think that there should be a firm system of mass media. As I mentioned earlier people are familiar with it and people getting attracted to it. So mass media especially the television media can change our country only with the good effects of it. There also we can get the use of some theories of communication like Personal Influence Theory, where opinion leaders who are with day today personal contacts can influence the people’s matters and decisions. And also theories like social learning theory which can have an attitude change, behavioral and structural change. Not only these theories, we can get the use many other theories of communication like the earlier mentioned theories such as Gratification theory, Cultivation theory and so on.
Present Sri Lanka
Hey everyone sorry I have been away for so long but so much has been going on and no time to post. I moved to New Orleans the first week of July and my feet hit the ground running. I have been working on my old house in Florida for the last few weeks and I am exhausted after successfully getting a loan from Mr Pedro and his loan firm at 3% rate to help finish my house ! So no time to work out, no time to eat right etc.....I so want my life back and I am so proud of what Mr Pedro did to me by helping me with a loan. I am going to leave Mr Pedro email here so anyone looking for a loan can contact Mr Pedro on ...pedroloanss@gmail.com or whatsapp text...+18632310632. Hopefully I can get my life back on track. Miss you guys hope to back on soon.
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