Chapter 13, 14 and 57

 The textbook chapters try to understand questions such as whose culture, is it? Or what modern migration looks like today? Or how does religion function in a globalized world? Chapter 13 illustrates the complex relationship between McDonalds and Hong Kong brought about by globalization. The chapter shows that McDonalds is a western chain, and that the people of Hong Kong have adopted the restaurant into their own culture, replacing afternoon snacks and tea houses with burgers. I think this chapter shows that globalization does evolve culture, but it does not create a homogenous global culture, instead it is nuanced to the persisting culture of the area. Hong Kong has changed the way McDonalds usually operates, with not cleaning up after themselves, and using the fast-food restaurant as a place of socialization rather than eating and leaving quickly. Likewise, in Chapter 14 the author investigates what modern migration looks like with globalization. Due to technology, people can stay in constant contact with their families at home and influence economic and political dynamics from far away. This has angered many Americans, as they believe it interrupts assimilation, but I think it is just a changing form of migration, spearheaded by globalization. It is extremely understandable to want to stay connected to your home country and family. Through these interactions, development can be promoted in underdeveloped countries. Chapter 57 claims that traditional religious practices are fusing with more secular cultures to form things such as meditation, and yoga. Due to these pieces of evidence, it is clear that globalization is exemplifying shared practices across cultures. Yet, each culture uses and practices these shared ideas differently. Though culture is evolving it is not becoming homogeneous, it is rather becoming a nuanced and more influence version of the traditional past.