Effects of American Popular Culture
Effects of American Popular Culture
To many, the United States is first and foremost a superpower. Some see it as exerting its
might in the interest of world peace and stability, and as a guarantor of the freedom and
even survival of other nations. To others, it looks more like a bully imposing its will upon
the entire planet by brute force. I believe that McCaffery's statement that "...virtually every
corner of the globe is being successfully colonized by for example, American popular
culture." (McCaffrey, pg. 5) is a valid observation.
As with almost everything else about the United States, its culture is an amalgam of
elements from many foreign sources. An initially British heritage has been enriched and
expanded over more than three centuries by contributions from every continent and virtually
every other country in the world, developing into a richly multifaceted and uniquely
American contribution to civilization. Although a Shakespeare has yet to appear, American
literature otherwise is on a par with that of Britain itself in the English-speaking world.
After World War II, New York succeeded Paris as the capital of the art world. In popular culture, the American presence is even more apparent. From fashion to
fast food, American tastes influence the world. Blue jeans are au courant from Paris to
Bangkok. McDonald's restaurants serve Big Macs across Europe and Asia. Hollywood
films dominate world screens to the extent that some countries seek to limit their
distribution. Few countries can boast such prosperity. Hip hop, MacDonalds, Nike and
even baggy pants serve as symbols of American culture and hence by association as symbols
of success. Our global image-driven, electronic culture seems to be bringing about the idea
that there is no escape from the mass popular culture that surrounds and invades us with an
endless flow of images and information.
One of the most
To many, the United States is first and foremost a superpower. Some see it as exerting its
might in the interest of world peace and stability, and as a guarantor of the freedom and
even survival of other nations. To others, it looks more like a bully imposing its will upon
the entire planet by brute force. I believe that McCaffery's statement that "...virtually every
corner of the globe is being successfully colonized by for example, American popular
culture." (McCaffrey, pg. 5) is a valid observation.
As with almost everything else about the United States, its culture is an amalgam of
elements from many foreign sources. An initially British heritage has been enriched and
expanded over more than three centuries by contributions from every continent and virtually
every other country in the world, developing into a richly multifaceted and uniquely
American contribution to civilization. Although a Shakespeare has yet to appear, American
literature otherwise is on a par with that of Britain itself in the English-speaking world.
After World War II, New York succeeded Paris as the capital of the art world. In popular culture, the American presence is even more apparent. From fashion to
fast food, American tastes influence the world. Blue jeans are au courant from Paris to
Bangkok. McDonald's restaurants serve Big Macs across Europe and Asia. Hollywood
films dominate world screens to the extent that some countries seek to limit their
distribution. Few countries can boast such prosperity. Hip hop, MacDonalds, Nike and
even baggy pants serve as symbols of American culture and hence by association as symbols
of success. Our global image-driven, electronic culture seems to be bringing about the idea
that there is no escape from the mass popular culture that surrounds and invades us with an
endless flow of images and information.
One of the most