Stella Lamari 3

http://gsevenier.free.fr/culturalImperialism.html

“American Cultural Imperialism: Gift or Threat?”

Gaelle Sévenier points some positive and negative features out about American culture and how it affects million lives.

America is often seen as a role model who is spreading universal values and human rights. It stands for equality, freedom and democracy and battles against anti-authoritarian messages and racism. Many articles discuss how American culture has changed the world, but what about America itself?

How are Americans affected by their own culture?

Fact is that America has also problems like every other country. If we check the American system out we will find lots of features which do not fit in some values and even the human rights. European countries are against the death penalty.

What about America?

The government has the right to convict somebody to death. No matter which crime this person committed nobody has the right to decide about death or life. It is also against the Ten Commandments and we all know that America trusts in God, but is not GOD!

“Equality” is also an aspect which disagrees with some American values, because not every American has the chance to study due to the high fees. There is a gap between the poor and the rich and many Americans cannot afford a health insurance. They do not get any medical care. For European countries health care is something essential that everyone has and is also important for human dignity. Before American spread its values, it should change the situation in its own state.

In spite of these contradictions America and its culture often affects the world in a positive way. Gaelle Sévenier claims that Superman, Spider-Man and Batman replaced local heroes and Coca Cola and Pepsi local drinks. This may be true but American ideas and products can inspire different nations in different ways. American music inspired many people. After the Second World War “Jazz” become a creative spirit of Blacks and was a way to express feelings and opinions against war, racial and economic oppression and commercialism. French youth used jazz as cultural resistance against the German occupation. In 1980s French people created their own style of hip hop in their own language. (American Cultural Studies, page 328/329).

American movies, music and products must not replace local things but they can be used to create something new and unique! America was also affected by other cultures due to immigration and the diversity of nationalities.

I think that we should not only consider how American culture affects our daily lives but how Americans really feel and think about their own culture. America is not perfect and struggles for a better future.

But who is really perfect?

The answer is: Nobody!

Fact is that we all should look and learn from each other!