American Cultural Imperialism

AMERICAN CULTURAL

IMPERIALISM 06.1.E.1- Group 3. Vu Thi Kim Chi Tran Thi Huong Giang Le Thanh Huong Pham Thi Hoa Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh 1

Outline • Definition • Manifestation • Reasons • Pros and Cons

2

DEFINITION • What is culture? • What is culture imperialism?

3

knowledge

experience hierarchies

beliefs

CULTURE

values behaviors

religion

meanings

attitudes

notions of time

communication 4

CULTURE IMPERIALISM ONE SOCIETY

ANOTHER

5

The manifestation of American cultural imperialism • Language • Literature • Food & drink • Music • Movie 6

Language • English  international language E.g: – 20% of the world population speak English – fluency in English  prerequisite in upper level positions in international politics and trade – signs in almost capitals are in English – 90% information on the Internet is in English http://gsevenier.online.fr/culturalImperialism.html 7

Language • After WWII: American English > British English E.g: – 70% of native English speakers speak A.E. – Modiano (2008): Europe students are more interested in A.E. – Cambell (2008): American English is popular among young people in Europe, Asia, Brazil and former territory of British English influence. – American English words like “campus”, “guy”, “movie” are now widely used http://www.jianzhi8.com/lunwen/86.html

8

Food & drink American fast food has reached hundreds of countries all over the world and is loved by many youngsters. Eg: • Mc Donald: 31,000 restaurants in over 100 countries all over the world. According to Eric Schlosser, Mc Donald’s restaurants are more widely recognized than the Christian cross.  “Mc Donaldization” • Coco-cola: today world’s most popular soft drink, is sold to more than 195 countries all over the world  “Coca-colization” • KFC, Burger King, Pepsi, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast_food 9

- Poinsettias - Poinsettias - Poinsettias - Poinsettias - Poinsettias -

A CULTURAL SYMBOL OF THE U.S.

- Poinsettias - Poinsettias - Poinsettias - Poinsettias Poinsettias -

10

11

Movie American movie industry is spreading its influence all over the world. Millions of people from every corner of the world love seeing American movies. Eg: • The Guardian (2003): American films accounted for ~ 80% of the global box office revenue • Hollywood • Disney : “Disneyization” • Famous Characters http://www.littlespeck.com/world/CForeign-US-040125.htm http://www.google.com.vn/url?sa=t&source=web&c 12

Literature • In the 19th and 20th century, the greatest influence of American literature could be observed in detective fiction. Eg: The Série Noire ( a famous French publishing imprint) was from the outset dominated by translations from the American, just as the Hollywood thriller has been an inescapable model for the post-war cinema. • HP Lovecraft (US) was the most influential writers of all time according to surveys conducted by European author in 1970 and late 1990s 13

Music American popular music forms; Blues, Jazz, Country, Rock, R&B, RAP, and Hip-Hop, are loved, and studied world wide Eg: • Country music: all the contributions made by Americans to world culture... (American popular music) has been taken (most) to heart by the entire world" • Funk, the basis for West African Afrobeat, R&B, a major source for Jamaican reggae • Rock, country, jazz and hip hop have become an entrenched part of many countries, leading to local varieties like Australian country music, Tanzanian Bongo Flava and Russian rock 14

Reasons 1. From the U.S. History foundation American characters Contemporary climate

2. From the local countries. •

Benefits

•

Trend 15

1. From the U.S. History foundation.

 America, compared to most countries, has a short history, and within its short history, is focused on itself. → imposing hegemony over others

 Additionally, American history is as a country of immigrants who, for the most part, quickly become participants in as well as contributors to American culture. 16

1. From the U.S. American characters.

American characters are shown typically as:

• “looking forward” much more than “looking backward”

• Competitive

17

1. From the U.S. Contemporary climate. The time is ripe with: • Economic expansion • The development of technology • Popularity of English language 18

2. From the local countries. Benefits

Trend

19

PROS • Zero-sum situation • Win-win situation

20

Zero-sum situation Zero-sum situation is one in which one country benefits more than the other → America is the one who benefits and other countries suffer. – What America gains? – Economic roots – Political consequences

21

Win-win situation Other countries actively absorb America culture and they benefit from that.

22

What other countries gain?

23

Benefit 1 David Rothkopf, a former senior official in Clinton’s Department of Commerce cites Samuel Huntington’s theory from The Clash of Civilizations and the Beginning of the World Order: “The greater the cultural disparities in the world, the more likely it is that conflict will occur.” → the removal of cultural barriers through US cultural imperialism will promote a more stable world. 24

Benefit 2 American cultural imperialism brings out new experience and gives the best that the world can offer

25

Benefit 3 English is used as the international language

26

Benefit 4 America spreads ideas of freedom of expression, democracy and equality → more freedom to children, women, minorities → promote anti-racist, anti-sexist or anti-authoritarian messages. 27

CONS Culture Erosion

Example: Individualism influences African people’s view about the “self” English interference into Vietnamese’s use of mother tongue 28

Exercise Exercise 1: Decide whether each of these following sentences is TRUE or FALSE

1.

American people are well-known for the “looking backward” character.

2. As most Americans are immigrants, they tend to care for their old traditions more than their new home country. 3. Economic factor is the most influential one. 4. The spread of culture brings America economic benefits but no political ones. 5. According to Samuel Huntinton: “The greater the cultural disparities in the world, the more likely it is that conflict will occur.” 29

Crossword

30

Dicussion To which extent do you think has the American Cultural imperialism affected VN?

31

Dicussion What do you think is the biggest advantage that American Cultural imperialism has brought to Vietnam?

32

REFERENCE • • • • • • •

http://www.detnovel.com/ http://www.answers.com/topic/british-irish-and-american-influences http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/240409/hp_lovecraft_is_one_of http://polleymusiclibraryscadenza.blogspot.com/2009/02/influence-of-afric http://www.essortment.com/all/americanmusicw_rhaj.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_popular_music#endnote_Kershaw http://www.idebate.org/debatabase/topic_details.php?topicID=268

33

Thank you for listening! 34