The rapid spread or advance of one culture at the expense of others, or its imposition on other cultures, which it modifies, replaces, or destroys—usually because of differential economic or political influence.
diaspora
The offspring of an area who have spread to many lands.
hegemony
As used by Antonio Gramsci, a stratified social order in which subordinates comply with domination by internalizing its values and accepting its “naturalness.”
hidden transcript
As used by James Scott, the critique of power by the oppressed that goes on offstage—in private—where the power holders can’t see it.
indigenized
Modified to fit the local culture.
postmodern
In its most general sense, describes the blurring and breakdown of established canons (rules, standards), categories, distinctions, and boundaries.
postmodernism
A style and movement in architecture that succeeded modernism. Compared with modernism, postmodernism is less geometric, less functional, less austere, more playful, and more willing to include elements from diverse times and cultures; postmodern now describes comparable developments in music, literature, visual art, and anthropology.
postmodernity
Condition of a world in flux, with people on the move, in which established groups, boundaries, identities, contrasts, and standards are reaching out and breaking down.
public transcript
As used by James Scott, the open, public interactions between dominators and oppressed—the outer shell of power relations.
text
Something that is creatively “read,” interpreted, and assigned meaning by each person who receives it; includes any media-borne image, such as Carnaval.
westernization
The acculturative influence of Western expansion on native cultures.
