Topic > Global Village - 1343

A decade into the 21st century and the world is increasingly recognized and branded as a “global village”. Asking whether the conventionality in America's once diverse and varied cities and the globalization of American ideals, habits, and products in global society are favorable in today's rapidly changing world, Virginia Postrel and Philippe Legrain respectively present their arguments. Virginia Postrel's “In Praise of Chain Stores” argues that even though American cities are becoming increasingly identical, there are immediate benefits to the current transformation. “Cultural Globalization is Not Americanization” by Philippe Legrain challenges the idea that American culture is having such a profound impact on the rest of the world that other countries are losing their own unique identity. Virginia Postrel's "In Praise of Chain Stores" and Philippe Legrain's "Cultural Globalization is Not Americanization" successfully challenge generalities and assumptions about the effects of the American economic machine and the important social hold of the United States on the world through its use of similar rhetorical appeals to support their arguments. This article will thoroughly compare Postrel and Legrain's challenges to orthodox views of American culture through their strong logical reasoning, impressive examples, and supporting evidence. First, a detailed summary of each of the author's works will be provided so that you can specify the main points of both essays. A full point-by-point comparison of each article will then be provided on how both works challenge common beliefs, whether they revise any stereotypes, and the rhetorical strengths and weaknesses presented by the authors. “In Prais...... middle of paper......ness to the rhetoric of Postrel's article. Philippe Legrain also uses many appeals to Logos to support his claim. He provides a plethora of quotes and second opinions to support his position on Americanization. Instead of ignoring the elements of the argument that conflict with his own, he shares every premise of what globalization and the spread of American culture could be. As a characteristic of Americanization, Legrain explains that “Another American export is also conquering the globe: English…Language is often at the center of a global culture” (Legrain 519). As for Ethos, Legrain's authority on globalization is valid as he has previously served as an advisor to the World Trade Organization and has written extensively on the topic. Legrain's way of arguing contrasts with that of Postrel and his lack of Ethos, but the two articles are both devoid of references to Pathos..