Romancing the Globe - Madison Lowe

      Globalization illustrates a complicated web of homogenization and fragmentation that allow for cultures to realize one another's differences without overpowering them. It preserves cultures, while blending them at the same time to create relatable media that society can enjoy. The blending of cultures comes about when the particular genre is homogenized by using the same narrative modeling techniques along with a lowering of certain cultural aspects. The preservation of cultures comes from each local area adding their own aspects such as their economic/social situations. There's also a factor of certain restrictions that certain producing countries have to take into account when producing a telenovela, specifically Turkey. Turkish telenovelas are not allowed to incorporate certain details into a raunchy scene due to government regulations and prohibitions. This creates a different overall feeling for the telenovela compared to other countries who maybe are able to produce a steamier one.

     

     Media globalization has a significant impact on circulation, regulation, and dispersion of the telenovela, which has turned into an international genre. This circulation and distribution around the globe has led to telenovelas becoming an epitome for other films to be structured around, like that of "Jane the Virgin" for example. Other countries besides Latin American countries have taken on the adoption of producing films in similar style to the original Latin American telenovela, but with their own takes and adaption to their specific cultural and social reality of their specific country. Due to telenovelas high demand and popularity, they have been spreading across borders faster than ever, spreading the culture of Latin America around the world. Television and digital networks such as Netflix or Hulu have accelerated and allowed for the transnationalization of telenovelas and the creation of hybrids (Jane the Virgin, aforementioned above). 

    

    There is a crossing over of local versus global when it comes to telenovelas. Regional or national films can become internationalized, which can have cultural aspects that relate to more than just Latin American culture, and lead to different adaptations of the same film. For example, "Betty la fea" has multiple adaptations across countries because people like the idea of transformation and beauty has become an international standard in a way. These different versions, however, have their own cultural and local narratives that drive them to be the most relatable and entertaining for their specific region and area, increasing consumption as a result. Locally, this increase in consumption and demand for a telenovela stands as a unifying factor for a specific region, like Latin America. Families and friends gather around to watch the next hot episode of the telenovela because they give people a way to feel and express through the various interactions, music production, and certain way of speaking that is portrayed in a telenovela. 

    All of this is not to say that the blending of local and global features comes easy to producers. For example, a producer must know how to incorporate specific elements that are known to a culture, which means research and knowledge about the culture must be done. Once these specific elements are known (gender, class, race, social, and cultural differences), then comes the challenge of creating a film that is still diverse to appeal to global audiences as well as local audiences. 

    

    Relating all of this to my current telenovela, "La Reina del Sur," the film portrays a lot of these societal dilemmas that the globe experiences along with local dilemmas relating to Spain. Particularly, the belittlement of women is an ongoing occurence in the show, which many women across the globe experience. The show also portrays the power of women, and feminist movements. The show also puts on a deep love between the two main characters, which everyone, no matter their country of origin, can feel due to the mad chemistry between them. Locally, cultural elements spiral throughout the telenovela, including their local languages, and things such as class differences along with situations like drug cartels, narcotics, and trafficking. All of these elements reel together a masterpiece that can be globalized and enjoyed by everyone, assuming an appropriate audience.