how and why did america become the dominant culture?

acontadino

how? i dont really like it and i oppose americanisation..i would like to see europeanisation.

its funny the only thing they havent really influenced europeans at least is their national pastimes. by and large their sports have little support here.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0115/p16s02-usfp.html

Karl Hungus

World War 2 and Television.

aidan_walsh

Culturally, what would Europeanisation entail?

acontadino

idk...well dont get me wrong i do like aspects of american culture, but just not that much. i hate the way it is way too dominant.

Karl Hungus

Karl Hungus wrote: »

World War 2 and Television.

Throw in the fear of communism spreading with America being our "Knight in Shining Armor" following WW2 as well. American military bases being placed in certain areas of Europe, and the spending of American dollars in Europe promoting a free and successful western culture. After all, following WW2 people wanted to have the success that the "American Dream" entailed considering the state of European economies, and imitation is a form of flattery.

Blue_Wolf

Think of America as a business, they sell freedom the American dream as some people call it. The idea that you can do what you like. People are in love with the idea of having a house the size they want with a swimming pool in the back. This is also sold through their global broadcast. Everyone watches tv and from a young age when you spend most the time unfront of the box it's easy to pick up on their way of living and talking although it's very similar to our own.
If your referring to a military aspect I personally don't see a dominance. Europe would beat them in a fight. We have the EU which are supposidly all friends so if anything happened they all group together.

America feel they have the right to tell Iran or Korea not to build any more bombs etc and threaten to deal with them if they continue but have no problem to do this themselves..why?
They see themselves as the responsible ones the Parents of the world, they only have them for defense...ya sure the only difference between America and Iraq is that America have make a reason to attack someone, would go so far as to set something up....:eek:

Blue_Wolf

Blue_Wolf wrote: »

Think of America as a business, they sell freedom the American dream as some people call it. The idea that you can do what you like. People are in love with the idea of having a house the size they want with a swimming pool in the back. This is also sold through their global broadcast. Everyone watches tv and from a young age when you spend most the time unfront of the box it's easy to pick up on their way of living and talking although it's very similar to our own.

The US promotes the illusion of freedom and democracy to the world. The US version of things (of course). People want what they don't already have and love to dream of obtaining the same level of success that other countries have.

In Asia, many countries like China have a deep distrust of Japan as a nation (due to historical conflict), but they imitate many forms of Japanese culture and fashion. They too want to have the relative success that the Japanese have. At least, they don't have to emulate the Americans as much.

If your referring to a military aspect I personally don't see a dominance. Europe would beat them in a fight. We have the EU which are supposidly all friends so if anything happened they all group together.

Since its never really happened before its all theory. On paper it would be possible for europe to win a conventional war with the US, however there would still be doubts. The US, while not the power it was, can still draw political favors allowing them to use neighboring countries to strike from. But its not going to happen.. The US economy would collapse, as would the overall EU economy.

America feel they have the right to tell Iran or Korea not to build any more bombs etc and threaten to deal with them if they continue but have no problem to do this themselves..why?

Because thats the western way. Thats western culture. And its not just America that feels like this. Many western nations like France, and the UK, have attempted to use their political influence to control other countries.

The foundation of Western power is that we are always correct compared to Asia, M.East or Africa. Ignorance is Bliss.

They see themselves as the responsible ones the Parents of the world, they only have them for defense...ya sure the only difference between America and Iraq is that America have make a reason to attack someone, would go so far as to set something up....:eek:

Actually Iraq did make excuses for their wars, just as the US did. In its current form, I don't see the US as being any more lenient that M.eastern countries like Iran/Iraq. We just appreciate the US more, because their way of life is similar to ours. If our culture was more Asian, we probably wouldn't be so sympathetic to the US way of governing.

Blue_Wolf

Deleted User wrote: »

Iraq did make excuses for their wars, just as the US did. In its current form, I don't see the US as being any more lenient that M.eastern countries like Iran/Iraq.

Did they or would they go to the same extremes as America though? We all know what the conspirancies were but regardless they went on and on about weapons of mass destruction when really they just went in for the oil which the iraqi people knew hense why they burnt the oil in advance...

Blue_Wolf

Deleted User wrote: »

Since its never really happened before its all theory. On paper it would be possible for europe to win a conventional war with the US, however there would still be doubts. The US, while not the power it was, can still draw political favors allowing them to use neighboring countries to strike from. But its not going to happen.

mmmm still something to think about...what if :rolleyes:

Ostrom

Fordism and the Marshall plan

getz

Blue_Wolf wrote: »

mmmm still something to think about...what if :rolleyes:

i dont think the uk would ever take a eu side over the usa-there has always been a deep distrust of france and germany and a close bond with the usa-a friend of mine english has married a girl from the republic both went over to the states on holiday-this is what he told me ;when he arrived they let him in but would not at first let her in ;he had to go to a some office to get a visa for her .it seems that british and canadians are the only two countrys that a,re can enter the us without a visa -maybe are amercian bordies can enlighten us

Thirdfox

Deleted User wrote: »

In Asia, many countries like China have a deep distrust of Japan as a nation (due to historical conflict), but they imitate many forms of Japanese culture and fashion. They too want to have the relative success that the Japanese have. At least, they don't have to emulate the Americans as much.

Oh? I would argue that the Chinese emulate themselves and that their culture is immensely different to Japanese culture (which in itself is almost impossible to define - Kyoto is vastly different to Tokyo etc.)... and that the "Chinese dream" along with the "Indian dream" is (unfortunately) moving along the lines of the traditional American dream - big cars, massive consumption for all. Take the example of the Tata Nano - great innovation, but not great for India long term etc., they have a great chance to start fresh, with a new paradigm of promoting green transport ideas.

As for the OP's question - most people see the American dream as the most desirable one. Who doesn't want more stuff? And they get democracy and freedom of speech to boot. And a lot of what makes America great I like too (I'm studying in the US right now) but when 1 country consumes so much of the world's resources (example, if all the Chinese had US standard of living - we would need the resources of 4 Earths to supply them), something ultimately has to give.

Thirdfox

Thirdfox wrote: »

Oh? I would argue that the Chinese emulate themselves and that their culture is immensely different to Japanese culture (which in itself is almost impossible to define - Kyoto is vastly different to Tokyo etc.)... and that the "Chinese dream" along with the "Indian dream" is (unfortunately) moving along the lines of the traditional American dream - big cars, massive consumption for all. Take the example of the Tata Nano - great innovation, but not great for India long term etc., they have a great chance to start fresh, with a new paradigm of promoting green transport ideas.

I'm not suggesting that the Chinese culture itself is emulating the Japanese. The Chinese are very much a race apart, and keep their own identity very well (at least within China). Rather the youth culture of fashion, music, gaming, etc favors the Japanese culture greatly. Chinese youths are greatly influenced by japanese manga, and movies (especially Drama's). Chinese fashion tends to copy those of the other asian countries.

But I would agree that they're focusing on the American setup of mass consumption, but I would argue that they're more interested in western culture as opposed to American.

Thirdfox

Take a look at the Buicks that run in Beijing... it's disheartening for me to see that (we should be telling them that they got it right - get everyone up on a bicycle!) Still there's plenty of innovation there too on the green front. And the fashion of Chinese youth do not really emulate that of the Japanese I think (I recall my Japanese roommate making the observation that Beijing girls dress too shoddily... after going to Tokyo, I don't believe girls from any other country dress as well/take as much time in their appearance as a Japanese girl does so...)

In terms of gaming, anime etc. yup there's a lot of Japanese comics. But Hollywood is equally as popular. And as for music... I don't really hear J-Pop in China (perhaps it's just a tad too sugary for Chinese tastes). Certainly KFC/Starbucks/Haagen Daaz chains are a lot more popular than any sushi bar.

So for me, the US "culture" has a much deeper resounce in China than Japan. And even in such areas like gaming - it would seem less that the youth love Japanese stuff per se, but that Asians in general like certain types of games and the Korean, Japanese, Chinese (of which the Japanese gaming industry is obviously the most famous) caters for.

On the flipside - a lot of nationalistic people (youth) on both sides hate or severely dislike their peers on the other side of the sea - ever read the Japanese comic "Hate Korea wave"? or its sequel "Hate China wave"? (Korea hit back with a comic called "Hate Japan wave")...

mysterious

Americanisation, ugh....

The fact that someone, sounds envy of it, amazes me, to the point of saying he want's europeanisation.

Vote yes in Lisbon and you get the **** literally in front of you.


I'd rather look at myself as a grown individual, who is unique and does not label himself as a person by borders or groups. This is a false reality that we are fed from day one. Like if you don't represent something or someone or the country you are from, your inadequate.

it's quite off putting. It's 2009. These labels and false reality needs to be in the dustbin. The Americanisation and the Europeanisation turns my stomach. It's all to do with power and the elite wanting control over it's borders and us we the people to make that happen and fight for this bullogy.

Thirdfox

Thirdfox wrote: »

Take a look at the Buicks that run in Beijing... it's disheartening for me to see that (we should be telling them that they got it right - get everyone up on a bicycle!) Still there's plenty of innovation there too on the green front. And the fashion of Chinese youth do not really emulate that of the Japanese I think (I recall my Japanese roommate making the observation that Beijing girls dress too shoddily... after going to Tokyo, I don't believe girls from any other country dress as well/take as much time in their appearance as a Japanese girl does so...)

Well, after living in Xi'an and Shanghai I would say that there's a lot of Japanese influence in fashion for the under thirties. Chinese youths aren't interested in conforming completely to the accepted beliefs that the older generations had. While they will conform to certain social/moral influences, they're more open to accepting the advantages of other countries (like Japan) while keeping their own national identity. Its funny though in a bad way, but while I was there Chinese friends would complain about Japan and the other foreigners would complain about the America. And then the Chinese would immediately switch to agreeing about America.

I've been to Tokyo also, and while I would agree that the sheer number of beautiful & well dressed women is staggering, I would actually look to Singapore as being better. More variety. I found the Japanese kinda set in certain fashion trends.

In terms of gaming, anime etc. yup there's a lot of Japanese comics. But Hollywood is equally as popular. And as for music... I don't really hear J-Pop in China (perhaps it's just a tad too sugary for Chinese tastes). Certainly KFC/Starbucks/Haagen Daaz chains are a lot more popular than any sushi bar.

I guess I spent too much time in the Internet bars.. haha.. Just wander down the aisles and you'll be able to see the number of Japanese anime/movies being watched by them.

And while KFC and McDonalds are popular, Starbucks & Hagen Daaz are just too expensive for most Chinese. Hell, they were too expensive for me except for the odd occasion. Subway had just opened two shops in Xi'an before I left, and it was outrageously expensive.

What I found amazing though were the huge shopping stores filled with expensive boutiques which most people just walk through. They're all over the cities, but few people actually buy there. Most just look at whats on offer, and then head to a market to get a cheaper imitation of the more expensive outfit or jewelry.

So for me, the US "culture" has a much deeper resounce in China than Japan. And even in such areas like gaming - it would seem less that the youth love Japanese stuff per se, but that Asians in general like certain types of games and the Korean, Japanese, Chinese (of which the Japanese gaming industry is obviously the most famous) caters for.

Nah, I think Japan has been influenced more than China by American culture. But then China is only really experiencing a "certain" freedom to explore other cultures in the last ten years or so. But the Chinese aren't hesitant about embracing other cultures, and taking whats useful for themselves.

On the flipside - a lot of nationalistic people (youth) on both sides hate or severely dislike their peers on the other side of the sea - ever read the Japanese comic "Hate Korea wave"? or its sequel "Hate China wave"? (Korea hit back with a comic called "Hate Japan wave")...

Nope. I haven't. I never had a huge interest in Asia until I actually went over there to live. Haven't been to Korea yet, but I'm in no real hurry to see it. Too many anti-foreigner sentiments from stories I've gotten from friends who moved from China to live there.