For many years now, cultural diversity has been an integral part of our day to day activity in almost any part of the world. People are encountering different impacts of globalization in many ways irrespective of their geographical location or their stage of development. As such, to some extent, globalization is a growth of the social systems sizes as well as the increase of intersocietal link’s complexity. Korotaev , 2013, defines globalization as a process connecting the past, the present, and the future - as a sort of bridge between the past and the future. It is a state in which the world is perceived as a single village practising a common culture. On the other hand, as long as there is no universal definition of art, Langdon, 2014 , defines art as the conscious creation of anything that is meaningful or beautiful using imagination and skills. The paper focuses on the impact of globalization on the Saudi Arabia’s art it’s a country with rich indigenous and modern artifacts whose philosophical value has intrigued many over the years. In this regards, they play an imperative role in showcasing the cultural life of the Saudis’. Over the years, Saudi Arabia’s art has attracted different groups such as multinational firms who have used it for different purposes such as advertising. Not only has the emergence of globalization led to numerous disruptions of various cultural practises in Saudi Arabia, but it has also affected its Art. Its impact is both positive and negative.
Globalization’s Positive Impact on Art
The positive effects of globalization on Saudi Arabia’s Arts transformation have been unexpected. The interaction of different people with varying traditional cultures has proved to be a driving force of Saudi Arabia’s arts advancement. Most importantly, globalization has unified diverse cultural groups. This aspect has brought out heterogeneity and homogeneity in arts. As such, the art has evolved to be a more diverse set of values. Harris, notes that globalization in arts has unquestionably represented the unification of numerous cultures (In Harris, 2011).
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Globalization has impacted the change of material diversity via the introduction of research and education in the field. The artistry, as well as its commercial value, has informed the establishment of tertiary institutions to study the art as well as related research art materials. Institutions such as The Art and Design College, established in 1430 in Saudi Arabia are a product of globalization. The college has four departments namely, Drawing and Art Department, Fashion Design Department, Interior Design Department as well as Graphic Design Department all of which equip the student with skills in this particular area ( Langdon, 2014 ). In addition, globalization has a revolution the traditional art such as metalworking and carving. Some of these arts were done in manual and tedious repetitive ways before globalization. However, things are different today. The establishment of institutions to impart knowledge in this field has improved even the weaving and pottery art in Saudi Arabia.
The other area that globalization has had a tremendous impact is Saudi Arabia’s architecture. Unlike the previous days, globalization has introduced new technology such as the use of computer software that has enabled architects to design some of these structures on a personal or office computers. As such, key decorative aspects such as the painting as well as other decorations can be done even before the actual structure is brought up. In addition, globalization has introduced new materials such as the synthetic fiber that is widely employed in different fields in Saudi Arabia. Globalization has also changed the way art is reproduced. In the early days, reproduction of art was done through manual replication by the artists. In other cases, the work of one artist was reproduced by another artist who added their touch to it. However, the contemporary technology uses computer templates which reproduces the arts faster as well as allows the artist to customize the arts by adding additional elements.
The publication of arts has also been greatly improved. In the past, art was publicised through exhibitions that could only reach a few number of people within Saudi Arabia. However, with the introduction of digital cameras and printers, Saudi Arabia’s artworks is now accessible to people not only within the country but also in other continents.
Globalization’s Negative Impact on Arts
Globalization has also taken its toll on Saudi Arabia’s arts. In the past, people used their innate creativity to produce artic works. In this regards, creativity was defined as one’s ability to visualize something different and bring it into existence in a unique way. However, the introduction of modern technology that comes with globalization has hindered Saudi’s creativity ( Elkins, Valiavicharska & Kim 2010) . It has taken the ingenious power out of the Saudi’s. For instance, many artists often draw on prodigy tools, templates as well as clip arts. In addition, technological as well as business changes resulting from globalization has reconstructed not only the Saudi Arabian ambiance, but also the very mindset of Saudi’s when it comes to consumption of arts. Many people in the country are quickly assimilating to Western culture which has resulted in the loss of their identity. This has negatively affected the consumption as well as the creativity of Saudi’s Art. For instance, the production and importation of China made artifacts has rendered Saudi’s artists irrelevant and contributed to their loss of enthusiasm of pursuing arts as a career.
Conclusion
As much as Saudi Arabia’s art has survived for many decades, it has benefited and suffered from globalization. Apart from expanding the area in which the art can reach, globalization has improved certain aspects such as duplication, and education in the field ( Elkins, Valiavicharska & Kim 2010) . However, it has also contributed to the loss of creativity and interest to pursue art as a carrier. Art is an essential topic in this class because it tells the history of Saudi’s before and after globalization.
References
Elkins, J., Valiavicharska, Z., & Kim, A. (2010). Art and Globalization University Park, Pa: Pennsylvania State University Press.
In Harris, J. (2011). Globalization and Contemporary Art Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell.
Korotaev, A. V. (2013). Globalization Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Emergent.
Langdon, M. (2014). The work of art in a digital age: Art, technology, and globalization.