Individual Documents on 'Spaces & Exchanges' Notion

Cartoonstock.com

Cartoonist: Nickel, Scott 

www.nature.com

To begin with, I would like to point out that in our globalized world there are two types of spaces: virtual spaces and real spaces. I've chosen one document to represent each space. In the first place, I have picked a cartoon by Scott Nickel, to represent virtual spaces. Secondly, to represent real spaces I chose a pie chart that shows the percentages of the global warming emissions causes.

First, let's have a look at the cartoon where two characters are depicted: a woman and a man. They are in a deserted island. It seems to me that this cartoon satirizes the mythic question: "What would you take to a desert island?". Speaking personally, I would divide this cartoon in two parts. Firstly, the woman, that represents the "normal" doings of a person who would be in a desert island, she is confused and standing because she doesn't know what to do. However, and here comes the second part of the cartoon, the man has the solution and he says to comfort her: "It's okay, I can telecommute.". Obviously, the man is a humorous representation of today's society, completely connected, 24 hours per week, with the world.  And that even in a desert island he would be able to talk with the world because of the telecommuting (working at home by using a computer linked with the place of your employment.)

The other side of the coin is real space. From my point of view, I decided to illustrate the globalized world. The graph I have chosen is enough to prove that globalization EXCEPT FOR THE INTERNET causes global warming: Transport of goods because of outsourcing (CO2 emissions because of cars, trucks, trains, airplanes and shipping), burning fossil fuels (for electricity or to transport) acid rain, toxic waste, ozone hole (because of the overuse of transports, industry, etc.) and others.  As regards of the question of overexploitation, we can argue in favor or against, from my point of view I am completely against. I will base my mind with the example of “Beef City Feedlot” in Australia. Humans overproduce animals to eat and that level of production (around 26,500 head capacity, 800 hectare feedlot located 40 kilometers west of Toowoomba) triggers the overproduction of cereals in areas previously deforested (Deforestation is another cause of global warming)

Extra:  

This song is about the globalize world and the fact that the USA as a superpower has "conquered" with their culture (soft power)  the whole world: Disney, Coca-cola, etc. 

Lyrics in English:

We're all living in America,
America is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

When I'm dancing, I want to lead,
even if you all are spinning alone,
let's exercise a little control.
I'll show you how it's done right.
We form a nice round (circle),
freedom is playing on all the fiddles,
music is coming out of the White House,
and near Paris stands Mickey Mouse.

We're all living in America...

I know steps that are very useful,
and I'll protect you from missteps,
and anyone who doesn't want to dance in the end,
just doesn't know that he has to dance!
We form a nice round (circle),
I'll show you the right direction,
to Africa goes Santa Claus,
and near Paris stands Mickey Mouse.

We're all living in America,
America is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.
We're all living in America,
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra,
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

This is not a love song,
this is not a love song.
I don't sing my mother tongue,
No, this is not a love song.

We're all living in America,
Amerika is wunderbar.
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.
We're all living in America,
Coca-Cola, sometimes WAR,
We're all living in America,
Amerika, Amerika.

SPACES & EXCHANGES: ¿Qué? A cartoon by Nate Beeler

 

 1) DESCRIPTION :

The cartoon depicts three men, all of them are standing. We can clearly see in the picture,  the two men in the left interviewing and recording the man on the right.
Describing the scene more accurately from left to right, the first man we can see is a cameraman. He is holding a big camera focusing on the man of the right, it conceals his face with two microphones on top of it. In the camera there is a sticker on which it's written "TV NEWS". He is wearing a plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a dark fleece vest. He wears normal jeans and sneakers. The camera cables are behind his back. In the back pocket he has a little machine.

The man in the middle is interviewing the man on the right. He is wearing a black suit, with a white shirt, a patterned tie and lace-ups shoes. He has a very big head, a flat top haircut and a smiling face. He is the tallest of them. He has a receiver earphone and he is holding a microphone on which it's written: "TV". He is saying: "We're here live with the 300 millionth american! How do you feel about this milestone, sir?". He seems to be very excited. 

The last man, is short and plump. He is wearing a cap, a sleeveless white dirty undershirt and jeans ripped at the bottom. He has no shoes. The man has chest hair and a moustache. Under his arm, he has a rolled sleeping bag, in the other hand he is carrying a paper bag full of objects. He has barbed wire clinging to his pants. He seems confused and he is saying "¿Qué?".

2) INTERPRETATION

First of all, I would like to point out that the main idea of the cartoon is the fact that a big part of americans are immigrants and more particularly illegals, depicted by the man on the right of the cartoon who is a stereotyped Mexican. We can't deny that around 11 million immigrants have no documentation. There is no doubt whatsoever that this is a problem with several aspects. On the one hand, it may be asserted that firstly, it is a crime. and on the other hand,and speaking personally the most important issue, is the condition of immigrants that can be inhuman, they have not social security, their working conditions are not right most of the time, etc. Another aspect that must be emphasized is the hard journey that these illegal immigrants have had to make these illegal immigrants which is depicted by the barbed wire clinging to the pants of the man of the right that is obviously a Central American. This cartoon satirizes the fact that out of 300  million Americans, as is said in the cartoon, a large part are immigrants. Beeler proves it drawing a confused immigrant that just crossed the border and who has no idea of English.

3) How far does it illustrate the Spaces and Exchanges notion?

This document illustrates the notion of Spaces and Exchanges, in the first place because it depicts an illegal inmigrant arriving in the USA, after crossing countries and borders. Another way of looking is the fact that when someone immigrates he has to integrate in the culture and the customs of the country but in this case. Immigrants in USA are so many that instead of integrating the US customs, they share their culture (food, songs, etc.) and this is a kind of exchange, a cultural exchange.
And last but not least, I wonder about the fact that the media are also depicted in the cartoon which also shows a kind of exchange because it is information circulating around the USA but also around the world. Which means that the image of the immigrant will, as he did, cross countries and borders.