We all Scream for ICE CREAM: A Globalization/Glocalization

Fig.1

I scream, you scream. WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM.


Ice Cream has been linked to Nero(1,2,3,4) and even in Ancient China 3000B.C. (3&4). Variations of an iced dessert has been found in countries all over the world, from China to Italy, and from India to Greece. Adding a sweet taste to ice has been love "as early as 3000 B.C." (1) Though the true history of who invented the version of iced dessert that we now call ice cream may have been lost in translation, the product itself has found it's way into the hearts and society of the Japanese people. This Global treat has made it to the country of Japan and has been changed to different flavors that have become popular with the Japanese people.



Though many people fear the Globalization, thinking that the world is leading to a total Westernization Movement, they also seem to fail to see the adaptations of "Western" things brought to a different country. There is a fear of a culture losing its identity through the influence of others. What isn't seen is that culture's adaption to fit its own criteria. For example, the ice cream that we, as Americans, know today has been thought of as a Western Idea, linking the invention to a carnival food merchant(3&4). However in Japan, along with the "regular" flavors of ice cream, there are flavors have been adapted to the Japanese taste and culture, such as Green Tea, Sakura Blossoms, and even Black Seasame Seeds. The modification itself seems to be a Glocalization of a Global dessert, changed to fit the taste of the Japanese Culture.



Bibliography

Fig 1 taken from: http://www.jewelryexpert.com/The%20Jewelers%20Blog/graphics/Ice-Cream-Cones.jpg

(Other photos were taken by Rochelle R.)

1. Marshall, R.T., Goff, D., & Hartel, R,; Ice Cream: Sixth Edition; http://books.google.com/books?hl=ja&lr=&id=DN9Ju6oiSWkC&oi=fnd&pg=PA1&dq=History+of+Ice+Cream&ots=ph5wo9DKxv&sig=Uxb2l6wOC8Ka4SpEzeMC1vnZz00#PPA2,M1
2. http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/IceCream/IceCreamHistory.htm
3. http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodicecream.html
4. http://www.makeicecream.com/hisoficecrea.html