Do we underestimate America's influence

ColeTrain · 15-11-2011 12:59PM #1

America might not be too popular around the world. But there is no denying the influence it has had on our culture.

The best films are American. Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American, along with the best bands.

I think America has led the way in a lot of areas. Maybe their sports has had the lest effect on us. Maybe we under appreciate it's influence?

Posted using Windows 7 and Google Chrome.

Arawn · 15-11-2011 01:01PM

America....they're that really small quiet country right??

SEPT 23 1989 · 15-11-2011 01:01PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

America might not be too popular around the world. But there is no denying the influence it has had on our culture.

The best films are American. Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American, along with the best bands.

I think America has led the way in a lot of areas. Maybe their sports has had the lest effect on us. Maybe we under appreciate it's influence?

Posted using Windows 7 and Google Chrome.

Dont think so

Logical Fallacy · 15-11-2011 01:06PM

The idea of the "best" anything is purely subjective, so if we look at the idea of how much money things gross it can be pretty much boiled down to America being a large home market, with a traditionally high level of disposable income among a large portion of it's populace and a fierce level of pride in domestic products.

RGDATA! · 15-11-2011 01:08PM

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

Dont think so

think so

Mr. Incognito · 15-11-2011 01:08PM

I think America greatly overestimates it's own influence

HalloweenJack · 15-11-2011 01:08PM

Best bands, yeah, I'll give you that one, most of my favourite acts are American.

Some of the best films are American but the ratio of crap to good American films must be the highest in the world. An easy rule to follow for American films: avoid anything that used big, bold red letters for the title, it's going to be some third-rate comedy.

Telly shows, again, because of the sheer number of stuff they produce there's going to be some good ones but, again, the crap to good ratio isn't good. Also, American's have a problem of over-doing telly shows. Most have about a minimum of 20 shows a season for about eight seasons, it's madness and, inevitably, the quality dips. Give me stuff from the BBC anyday, they understand the term "quality over quantity".

Also, a big part of America's influence comes from us living in an English-speaking country. I've lived in Spain and the Czech Republic as well and there's nowhere near as much American stuff here.

Dotrel · 15-11-2011 01:14PM

Their waterboarding is second to none.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCeleRDPmrw

parrai · 15-11-2011 01:18PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

America might not be too popular around the world. But there is no denying the influence it has had on our culture.

The best films are American. Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American, along with the best bands.

I think America has led the way in a lot of areas. Maybe their sports has had the lest effect on us. Maybe we under appreciate it's influence?

Posted using Windows 7 and Google Chrome.

Yes they have had an influence on the worlds' culture, in the past. Music and media is subjective, and whilst I agree with what you say about their excellent contribution, there are a lot of other countries, that have contributed equally on this front.

They do bring a lot of good to the world, in terms of creativity, but their power hungry government is bringing down all the fantastic things they do.

There are a lot of Americans, themselves, who are unhappy with the government.

When Obama was running for office, he really captured, not only Americas' hearts and minds, but the worlds. He spoke of change on a level not seen since JFK. He spoke with an intelligence, that had not been seen in an American President in a long time. He gave a message of hope.

Now, all the promises that he made, the majority have been forgotten.

I personally don't hold this against him. He is only in power in name.
America has the power to be a trend setter but unfortunately this is not the case.

Because of the guilty, the innocent must suffer.

Da Shins Kelly · 15-11-2011 01:21PM

I don't think people do. Maybe there are some people who don't realise how Americanised they are, but I think for the most part people realise how aggressively America exports its culture.

Best TV shows - I'll give you that.
Best films - Some, not all.
Best bands - Not in my opinion.

RGDATA! · 15-11-2011 01:21PM

Sitec wrote: »

No way dude

yes way

foxyboxer · 15-11-2011 01:22PM

We aint got no Gawd and we aint got no guns.

What influence?

lcrcboy · 15-11-2011 01:23PM

Ireland has been hugely influenced by the USA for example:

There are now fast food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, Dominos pizza everywhere,
We watch a huge amount of American tv,
listen to a huge amount of american music,
wear numerous american brands Nike being one of the most obvious,
American food brands are now targeting the European markets after seeing the success of Coca-Cola, for example now mountain dew is on are shelves rebranded as a energy drink, craft purchasing cadburys, and dunken doughnets and taco bell have been looking at the idea of entering the UK market and possibly exapnding into other parts of the EU if their succesful

Brendog · 15-11-2011 01:23PM

The American Media has such a strong influence all over the world. Many people act American.

I've even notcied I say "Bacon" instead of "Rashers" and refer to my friends as "Bro".
I'm a tit I know but I can't help it!

Killer Pigeon · 15-11-2011 01:23PM

I don't think we underestimate American's influence, but I think America, itself, is overestimated.

Chuck Stone · 15-11-2011 01:26PM

America will be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.

whatislife · 15-11-2011 01:27PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

America might not be too popular around the world. But there is no denying the influence it has had on our culture.

The best films are American. Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American, along with the best bands.

I think America has led the way in a lot of areas. Maybe their sports has had the lest effect on us. Maybe we under appreciate it's influence?

Posted using Windows 7 and Google Chrome.

America has the best films?! America has the best bands?!

What in the world? Don't be afraid to turn off mtv

Logical Fallacy · 15-11-2011 01:27PM

Brendog wrote: »

I've even notcied I say "Bacon" instead of "Rashers" and refer to my friends as "Bro".
I'm a tit I know but I can't help it!

There is nothing particularly American about the word "bacon".

Batsy · 15-11-2011 01:28PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

The best films are American.

That's just a matter of opinion. It's only the British and Irish and other English-speaking countries who watch a lot of American films. If you went to Continental Europe most of them watch their own movies. Most French people you'd meet would say that French movies are the best in the world.

Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American,

American television is a load of tripe, punctuated by adverts every 90 seconds. The shows we get from America are only the very best they produce. If we were to get a wider range of their shows then you'd see how dire US telly really is.

along with the best bands.

Again, that's a matter of opinion. America didn't give the world the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Spandau Ballet, The Stone Roses, Blur, Oasis, the Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Pulp, Happy Mondays, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Suede, Cast, Elastica, and The Darkness (it was Britain that gave the world those greats bands)

ColeTrain · 15-11-2011 01:30PM

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

There is nothing particularly American about the word "bacon".

Yes but calling rashers "bacon" definitely makes you sound American bro.

Batsy · 15-11-2011 01:32PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

Yes but calling rashers "bacon" definitely makes you sound American bro.

No, it doesn't. We in Britain say bacon all the time. That's the normal word for that meat.

ColeTrain · 15-11-2011 01:37PM

whatislife wrote: »

America has the best films?! America has the best bands?!

What in the world? Don't be afraid to turn off mtv

Don't watch it. I'll admit though my OP was certainly subjective. I may be a little Americanized. My spell checker is American too..

Batsy wrote: »

That's just a matter of opinion. It's only the British and Irish and other English-speaking countries who watch a lot of American films. If you went to Continental Europe most of them watch their own movies. Most French people you'd meet would say that French movies are the best in the world.

Disagree, in whole I think America does the best films. Subtitled for the non-english speaking countries or not, I think the quality is there.

Batsy wrote: »

American television is a load of tripe, punctuated by adverts every 90 seconds. The shows we get from America are only the very best they produce. If we were to get a wider range of their shows then you'd see how dire US telly really is.

I take your point with the amount that they produce. In my opinion though their best is unrivaled.

ColeTrain · 15-11-2011 01:38PM

Batsy wrote: »

No, it doesn't. We in Britain say bacon all the time. That's the normal word for that meat.

If you call this bacon then you sound American to me!

Napper Hawkins · 15-11-2011 01:39PM

Batsy wrote: »

That's just a matter of opinion. It's only the British and Irish and other English-speaking countries who watch a lot of American films. If you went to Continental Europe most of them watch their own movies. Most French people you'd meet would say that French movies are the best in the world.

American television is a load of tripe, punctuated by adverts every 90 seconds. The shows we get from America are only the very best they produce. If we were to get a wider range of their shows then you'd see how dire US telly really is.

Again, that's a matter of opinion. America didn't give the world the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Spandau Ballet, The Stone Roses, Blur, Oasis, the Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Pulp, Happy Mondays, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Suede, Cast, Elastica, and The Darkness (it was Britain that gave the world those greats bands)

Yeah...er...cheers Britain..

ejmaztec · 15-11-2011 01:39PM

ColeTrain wrote: »

America might not be too popular around the world. But there is no denying the influence it has had on our culture.

The best films are American. Most of and if not all, the best TV shows are American, along with the best bands.

I think America has led the way in a lot of areas. Maybe their sports has had the lest effect on us. Maybe we under appreciate it's influence?

Posted using Windows 7 and Google Chrome.

Most of the films and TV output are the same formulaic crap that's been churned out on a conveyor belt for decades. The same storylines done to death ten thousand times over.

Sykk · 15-11-2011 01:39PM

Mr. Incognito wrote: »

I think America greatly overestimates it's own influence

No they don't. They have massive influence in every aspect.. Jobs, exports, military, economics, politics etc.

ScumLord · 15-11-2011 01:44PM

HalloweenJack wrote: »

Also, a big part of America's influence comes from us living in an English-speaking country. I've lived in Spain and the Czech Republic as well and there's nowhere near as much American stuff here.

Me hole, every young land in eastern Europe, possibly the world wants to be a gangsta rapper.

Most people don't even realise they get most of their anti-Americanism from Americans. Americans have been spoon feeding the world their culture since the 50s and we've been lapping it up.

ColeTrain · 15-11-2011 01:44PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

Most of the films and TV output are the same formulaic crap that's been churned out on a conveyor belt for decades. The same storylines done to death ten thousand times over.

I said the best but yes they do churn out a lot of ****e too.

Da Shins Kelly · 15-11-2011 01:46PM

Batsy wrote: »

Again, that's a matter of opinion. America didn't give the world the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, Judas Priest, Led Zeppelin, The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Spandau Ballet, The Stone Roses, Blur, Oasis, the Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead, Pulp, Happy Mondays, Ocean Colour Scene, Supergrass, Suede, Cast, Elastica, and The Darkness (it was Britain that gave the world those greats bands)

I don't know if I'd put them on the list..

I think for the most part I prefer British bands. Having said that, America has produced Elvis Presley, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Beach Boys, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Brian Jonestown Massacre, the vast majority of hip hop, The Strokes and many, many more. The issue of music is very, very arguable.

ColeTrain wrote: »

Disagree, in whole I think America does the best films. Subtitled for the non-english speaking countries or not, I think the quality is there.

America has its fair share of great movies, and some of the all-time greats have been American, but there are loads of foreign language movies that are brilliant and often have a subtle something special that is really lacking from a lot of modern American movies.

ColeTrain wrote: »

I take your point with the amount that they produce. In my opinion though their best is unrivaled.

This is completely true, in my opinion. Yes, there is a lot of rubbish on American TV, but there is simply nothing in the world that can rival the quality of The Sopranos, The Wire or Breaking Bad.

parrai · 15-11-2011 01:50PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Me hole, every young land in eastern Europe, possibly the world wants to be a gangsta rapper.

Most people don't even realise they get most of their anti-Americanism from Americans. Americans have been spoon feeding the world their culture since the 50s and we've been lapping it up.

If you are inclined to be 'spoon fed'.

superelliptic · 15-11-2011 01:59PM

Brendog wrote: »

I've even notcied I say "Bacon" instead of "Rashers" and refer to my friends as "Bro".
I'm a tit I know but I can't help it![/QUOTE]

Yes you can -stop using americanisms, and you'll be grand

That sort of talk makes me furious. I was on the dart going to work last monday and I was sitting beside a group of secondary school girls on their way into town. As you can imagine, they were yapping the whole trip, but I noticed that whenever they mentioned things like facebook, iphones, things they saw on MTV, pop culture stuff ,they would unconciously put on a more US inflected accent. The bizare thing is that when they were talking about gossip, lads they fancied, things happening in school, ie local things, they reverted back to a Dublin accent. It was really something to behold - like verbal schitzophrenia, or for the captive eavesdropper, an aural car crash. :mad:

Do we underestimate America's influence

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