Americanize

For the the process by which immigrants to the United States became American, see United States naturalization.

For other uses, see Americanization (disambiguation).

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A can of U.S. Cola in the West Bank in the Middle East.

Americanization (or Americanisation) (verb form Americanize, əˈmɛrɨkənаɪz (help·info)) is the term used for the influence the United States of America has on the culture of other countries on such matters like technology, culture, lifestyle, etc. When encountered unwillingly or willingly, it can have a negative connotation; when sought voluntarily, it sometimes has a positive connotation.^{[citation needed]} Before the mid-twentieth century, however, Americanization referred to the process by which immigrants to the United States became American.^[1]

Overview

Since the United States is the sole superpower, the influence of the USA can have a large impact around the world in one way or the other. For instance, American television channels and programs like the MTV, CNN, MSNBC and others are broadcast throughout the world using domestic carriers. Those channels broadcast the American way of life like the dance, music, people, singers, artists, viewpoint and discussions. The television commercials that some of these broadcast mediums carry portray the American brands like Nike, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, GAP, Levi's around the world, which give basically the American way of life and understanding to these populations. For example one dominant medium is the Hollywood or the American movie industry. Since American movie industry spends a lot of money and make the most essentially exciting, explosive and grander scale movies like Star Wars, Titanic, The Matrix, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan people in other countries with televisions will tend to watch it and some of them admire American ingeniuty and big thinking and may get inspired by it. It is not uncommon for people in other countries wanting to first taste American Coke or to eat McDonald's burgers because of their exposure to the American elements^{[citation needed]}. Also some people might feel like wearing jeans because "America," as it is known throughout the world, might seem exciting and with potential^{[citation needed]}. Especially the younger people in other countries exposed to the "exciting" aspect of American culture are more receptive to Americanization like playing video games, watching Hollywood, wearing jeans, listening to music American artists, etc.^{[citation needed]}

On the other hand some cultures and countries might not have positive reception of American cultural influence and policies like the wars America has been involved with in its past and some parts of the American history like colonialism, slavery and imperialism. Therefore Americanization goes both ways, but the term "Americanization" mostly deals with the popular culture and economy of the present-day USA instead of the American history like how it is founded and its economic and political history^{[citation needed]}.

Politics

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Many governments established by the United States after war or decolonization were modeled after the American system including: Japan, Germany, the Philippines, the Marshall Islands, Cuba (until 1959), South Vietnam (until 1975), South Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, Grenada and several South American countries. In some cases leading to some accusations of being puppet states and suspicions of being un-authentically independent countries.

Media

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The spread of American media including TV, film and American music artists has been the main component of Americanization of other countries. American TV shows are broadcast around the world. Many of the shows are broadcast through American broadcasters and their subsidiaries such as HBO Asia, CNBC Europe, Fox Channel and CNN International. All of what is known as the "big four" American broadcasters have international distributors, and HBO broadcasts to over 20 countries.^[2] Many of these distributors broadcast mainly American programming on their TV channels. According to a recent survey by Radio Times The Simpsons, Lost and Desperate Housewives are among the most watched shows, with CSI being the most watched show among the surveyed 20 countries.^[3] American films are also extremely popular globally. All of the top 20 grossing films ever are American made or have an American influence, either through publishers, cast or financiers.^[4] Titanic is currently the biggest grossing film worldwide without adjusting for inflation, it currently holds the top grossing film title in various countries including Germany, France, Spain among others.^[5] Adjusting for inflation, the highest grossing film of all time is Gone with the Wind. Often part of the negotiating in free trade agreements between the America and other nations involve screen quotas. One such case is Mexico, after abolishing their screen quotas after the establishment of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with the US.^[6] Recently Korea has agreed to reduce its quota under pressure from America as part of a free trade deal.^[7] Many American artists are known throughout the world, artists such as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley are recognised worldwide and have sold over 500 million albums each.^[8][9][10] Michael Jackson's album Thriller, at 100 million sales, is the biggest selling album of all time.^[11]

American business and brands

Of the top ten global brands seven are based in the United States.^[12] Coca Cola, which holds the top spot, is often viewed as a symbol of Americanization. Coca Cola has vending machines in over 200 countries worldwide.^[13] Of the 25 biggest companies, thirteen are based in the United States.^[14] Many of these companies can be viewed as selling Americanized products. Many of the world's biggest computer companies are also American, such as Microsoft, Apple Inc., Dell, and IBM. Much of the software used world wide is created by American based companies. The two largest personal computer companies, Dell and Hewlett Packard, which maintain over 30% of the market, are American based.^[15]

Fast food

A kosher McDonald's in Ashqelon, Israel.

Fast food, along with Coca-Cola, are often viewed as being symbols of American dominance and influence. Companies such as Starbucks, McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Domino's Pizza, among others have numerous outlets around the world.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Americanization

• Cocacolonization
• Westernization
• American culture in the arts and literature.
• American Empire
• Neo-colonialism
• Cultural hegemony
• Cultural imperialism
• McDonaldization

Notes

Further reading

• Karen DeBres: A Cultural Geography of McDonald's UK; Journal of Cultural Geography, 2005
• Gerald K Haines: The Americanization of Brazil: A Study of U.S.Cold War Diplomacy in the Third World, 1945-54, Scholarly Resources, 1993
• Lawrence Martin, Pledge of Allegiance: The Americanization of Canada in the Mulroney Years, Mcclelland & Stewart Ltd, 1993, ISBN 077105663X
• Robert W. Rydell, Rob Kroes: Buffalo Bill in Bologna. The Americanization of the World, 1869-1922, University of Chicago Press, 2005, ISBN 0226732428