The Impact Of American Culture On Culture

Some believe that Britain is the 51st state. That claim can be considered logical from a cultural perspective. The global spread of American culture contributed by America’s dominance and rooted by ideas of exceptionalism has had an effect on the whole world, particularly the UK. America’s soft power-culture, political values, and foreign policies- has had an effect on culture leading to the Americanization of it, even more now since the Brexit happened. Henry R. Luce’s famous Life magazine essay of 1941 was titled “The American century” showing the importance and the position of the USA in the 20th century. This hasn’t changed much since then as it continues to play a major role both political and cultural. Being previously a colony and now a modern superpower, America really has found its way to people’s lives. As Barber states “The war against the hard hegemony of American colonialism, political sovereignty, and economic empire is fought in a way which advances the soft hegemony of American pop culture and the English language”.

In the aftermath of World War II, American English became the dominant world language variety due to the USA’s cultural impact, technological and economic advancements. From that David Crystal realized that there is an interconnection between language and power. With the invention of the telephone, the computer, the internet and other means of communication, new terms and words were introduced, bringing new linguistic opportunities thus American English gradually replacing English as an accepted standard. Americanisms are according to John Witherspoon, who coined the term in 1781, “phrases or terms used even among persons of rank and education, different from the use of Great Britain.” Some of the words which have replaced their equivalent are fries instead of chips, film instead of movie, issue instead of problem etc. Some grammatical structures which are also included are the use of get instead of gotten, I’m good for I’m well, a half hour instead of half an hour, wait on instead of wait for, etc. Additionally, the use of American (internet) slang and colloquial words cannot go unnoticed.

During the emergence of American language as the prevalent variety of English, the growth of the European Film industry was stunted and dominance soon passed to American industry – Hollywood, star system, and grand studios. At first, tried to resist the decline of the film industry implementing the Cinematograph Films Act in 1927 which set requirements to filmmaking, production, distribution, and exhibition. This was proved later unsuccessful and was dropped. Nowadays, as critic Geoff Brown maintained, ‘In film as in society at large, America’s influence has now reached levels and depths previously unimaginable.’

Such inter-connection is supported by the state as a good relationship between the two countries is maintained. Action movies with superheroes, blockbusters with simple humor and formulaic and predictable plots, the glorification of sex and violence, openness, modernity have fostered “Americanization”. The hedonistic and glamorous side, although unrealistic has an appeal to the masses, specifically the working class and the younger generation. The portrayal of living “the good life” in such films contributes to the mass consumerism in society and their appropriation or adoption of them such as being more straightforward and relaxed (behavioral/ mentality changes) or celebrating traditions such as Halloween which they didn’t before.

Except for the cinema, the recording industry can testify to the dominance of English popular music. pop music of the 60s was an American-derived product. Jazz, blues, and rock ‘n’ roll originating from the African-American culture had affected the music genres and styles in the UK. Bill Haley and the Comets and Elvis Presley set a precedent and inspired a wave of new artists and teen idols such as the Beatles and The Rolling Stones which exported rock ‘n’ roll back in America (The Invasion). With the continuing rise of hip-hop and rap listeners in the USA, the UK’s music scene is influenced too, as American hip-hop and rap artists are predominant in the industry. Not only does this help American artists establish themselves on the international scene, but it also promotes American English slang and their way of life.

Conclusively, American culture does have an impact on culture particularly through the media (cinema and music), thus taking an effect on English. The media and all the features that comprise the American culture are the common currency between the USA and the UK and the whole world and these are which define the image of it domestically and internationally. The onslaught of Americanisms and their exposure to American media-produced mass culture might seem threatening to some but all this fear-mongering and exaggeration is far-fetched and redundant especially about the possible disappearance of English. For such an instance, time will tell.