Cultural superpowers- USA

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  • Created by: Anoush
  • Created on: 06-01-16 12:37
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  • Cultural superpowers- superpower influence extends to 'global culture'
    • E.g. cricket clubs remain as a hangover of British rule,  bought by them to their colonies.
      • The Royal Family have influence; they're a symbol of Britain's power.
        • Chinese president had a state banquet to the Queen- projecting its image on a global scale.
    • Is the world now becoming Americanised?
      • Superman- created in the fight with communism, during the Cold War, is a symbol of America's cultural power.
      • The top ten global brands in 2007, 7 which are owned by American companies.
        • Coca cola is a symbol of Americanisation- selling in 200+ companies.
          • 4 of the 25 largest global companies are American computer companies- Microsoft, Apple, Dell.
            • Most of the computer software is produced by American companies.
        • TNC's like Disney Land Palace markets itself to other major global markets- Lion King, Mulan (trying to project American ideology).
      • Without adjusting for inflation, Titanic is the largest-grossing film worldwide.
        • Global box office takings= $1800m.
    • Global TV viewing
      • Follow me!, a BBC beginner's English programme, was broadcast in China during the 1980s, attracting 500m each night.
      • Beijing's 2008 Olympics were broadcast in every country in the world: attracted 4.7bn(70% of world's population).
        • Of 7.6bn viewings at the cinema, almost 3bn are Indian.
          • The film industry and Indian culture- the world's largest film industry, both in employees and number of cinema goers.
    • Cultural Imperialism refers to either:
      • An enforced spread of its culture by a larger power i.e. the British Empire. OR
        • The voluntary adoption of a foreign culture by others i.e. the adoption of American 'street' culture across the world.
      • From those on the receiving end, cultural influences from elsewhere can either enrich or threaten the local culture:
        • 'Receiving' culture absorbs a foreign culture passively by purchasing/ using its goods and services.
          • This isn't enforced like colonialism, but it's 'banal imperialism'.
            • Implies one culture that those on the receiving end are deficient as their own culture is put in 2nd place.
        • Others say that all cultures are a blend. The addition of another culture is 'enriching'.
      • Expanding global economy has led to a global culture spread by IT. Electronic colonialism has emerged- spread via multi-media TNC's, like Disney or Sony.
        • These companies operate as a hegemony. They decide: which films/TV shows people see, radio stations and music they listen to. E..g Hong Kong.
      • Some oppose 'cultural imperialism ' as it supresses cultural diversity (preservation of language, musical styles  or literature)
        • These are valuable and prevent the view that one culture is always 'right'
          • Cultural dilution, consumerism, lack a sense of independent thinking; becoming more uniform.
  • For/against USA's  cultural hegemony:
    • Spreading o English language ('language of business/trade')
      • 20% of TNC's in top 100
    • ISIS- backlash against America's cultural imperialism
      • Edward Snowden revealed that the US is collecting data from phones

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