Loss of Culture

The Dark Side Of Urbanisation-Loss of Culture 

Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody only because and when they are created by everybody-Jane Jacobs

     Mc Donalds, T.G.I. Fridays, Wendys and Pollo Tropical are all representatives of Transnational Co-operations. These are companies that operate in more than one country with its  headquarters in a main country like the U.S.A. or Japan for example and has been facilitated by globalisation. This picture shows how Trinidad and Tobago is being bombarded by these companies and losing its food one of our important cultural aspects. Subway, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Church's Chicken, Ruby Tuesdays, Pizza Hut, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, Haagen Dazs, ColdStone and Yougart Land are some of the foreign entities destroying our local cuisine. It is extremely sad and frustrating to see the city being overcrowded by these foreign entities and has me wondering what is happening to our local dishes. These restaurants are mainly fast foods hence promoting an unhealthy lifestyle Additionally because they are abundant and easily accessible it promotes families to not cook food and eat out on a constant basis slowly but surely depleting their health . The creole food industry is under intense competition and owners are forced to make their restaurants meet the standards of these transnational co-operations and as a result the prices are ridiculous and locals could barely afford.

   
Apart from the local food industry the malls are being filled with foreign clothing companies such as Kenneth Cole and Guess just to name a few and brands such as Nike  Adidas  Puma, Aeropostale are the leading brands for men of this day. Everyone worldwide looks the same therefore killing individual identities. Furthermore local hotels and guest houses are being replaced by 5 star hotels such as Hyatt regency, Hilton and Marriott. Our festivals are also being influenced. Carnival- Trinidad and Tobago's biggest cultural festival is losing its originality and identity. 

  
   This festival is mainly celebrated in the capital city Port-of-Spain and comprises of many various elements from the steel pan to calypsonians, soca and costumes. The costumes are becoming more indecent following the style of Brazil,  local costume makers are going out of business as they are now being made in china, traditional carnival characters are scarce and the music has a pop sense to it . Although these mechanisms are putting carnival on the world map you can no longer look at the festival and say yes, that is from Trinidad when you are seeing distinct varying elements a clear sign of identity and culture loss.

  
 I am not saying no to globalisation or the idea of being influenced by other places and spaces however, the negative effects must be taken into consideration and its effects needs to be understood by policy makers, the government and the people. The New York state university asks if globalisation is the integration of economic,political and cultural systems across the globe or is it the dominance of developed countries in decision making at the expense of the poorer, less developed, less powerful nations ? Is it a force for economic growth, prosperity and democratic freedom or a force for environmental devastation and   exploitation of the developing world?  Lastly who really and truly benefits from globalisation ? 

 Unfortunately cities are losing their identity and the culture is being lost as more and people entertain the idea that the global north is supreme and disregard their own. Until that mentality is lost I believe that cities would continue to become Americanize and its original culture would be lost completely.

 “By its nature, the metropolis provides what otherwise could be given only by traveling; namely, the strange.” 
― Jane Jacobs