The absorption and indigenization of foreign media cultures a study on a cultural meeting point of the east and west: Hong Kong¹

This is a revised version of a paper presented to the 40th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association at Dublin, Ireland from 24–29 June 1990.

Through an investigation of three forms of popular culture in Hong Kong, the study identifies four patterns of absorption and indigenization of foreign cultures. They are respectively named ‘Parrot’, ‘Amoeba’, ‘Coral’ and ‘Butterfly’. These patterns vary in the extent to which they absorb the form and content of foreign cultures. The author analyses how these patterns are shaped by the interplay among the consuming power of the local audience, the relative strengths and weaknesses of local and foreign productions, the competition and stimulation from other forms of culture, demographic changes and government policies. Four postulates on the relationship between these factors and the various patterns of absorption and indigenization of foreign cultures are advanced.

Notes

This is a revised version of a paper presented to the 40th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association at Dublin, Ireland from 24–29 June 1990.