...S. popular culture is at the forefront of globalization, so much so that globalization can largely be viewed as the spread of American culture. Globalization by definition is generally used to describe the way the transportation, communication, technology, and cultural change have facilitated the movement of materials, goods, and ideas across continents and national borders (Johnson, p. 501). McDonald’s, for instance, is the largest fast food chain in the world that offers a wide range of products to its customers. Among them are hamburgers, milkshakes, coffee, and many more. However, in some countries, McDonald’s serve culturally different menus (Johnson, p. 269). For example, McDonald’s is offering rice in Hong Kong, and beer in Germany. After all, the majority of their outlets outside the United States are franchises. This illustrates the effect of McDonald’s on the global environment. Consider the following question: Does an item's history and origin make it inevitably American? According to Johnson (2014), some people examining the international music scene claim that cultural globalization has brought new possibilities of pleasing everyone. She continues to state that music critics say the American music industry is fueling healthy competition, encouraging musicians and performers to create more innovative mixed expressions of their own national cultures. Culture encompasses various aspects of communication, beliefs, food, art, music, jewelry, film...
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...basis for Test Though created in the United States by African Americans, hip hop culture and music is now global in scope. Youth culture and opinion is meted out in both Israeli hip hop and Palestinian hip hop, while Canada, France, Germany, the U.K., Poland, Brazil, Japan, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean have long-established hip hop followings. According to the U.S. Department of State, hip hop is "now the center of a mega music and fashion industry around the world," that crosses social barriers and cuts across racial lines. National Geographic recognizes hip hop as "the world's favorite youth culture" in which "just about every country on the planet seems to have developed its own local rap scene." Through its international travels, hip hop is now considered a “global musical epidemic,” and has diverged from its ethnic roots by way of globalization and localization. Although some non-American rappers may still relate with young black Americans, hip hop now transcends its original culture, and is appealing because it is “custommade to combat the anomie that preys on adolescents wherever nobody knows their name.” Hip hop is attractive in its ability to give a voice to disenfranchised youth in any country, and as music with a message it is a form available to all societies worldwide. From its early spread to Europe and Japan to an almost worldwide acceptance through Asia and South American countries such as Brazil, the musical influence has been global. Hip...
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...American Pop music has been and will continue to be one of the versatile genres in music. Pop music can be defined as a combination of country, rock and roll, hip hop, as well as other elements from an assortment of musical styles that has grown over the decades and will continue to change as more countries are exposed musically to one another. According to Lane Crothers, author of “Globalization & American Popular Culture”, popular culture such as movies, music, and television has become one of the top exporting businesses in the United States. The end of the Cold War played a major contributing factor in exposing other countries to American culture due to the increase of technology, such as the internet, cell phones and satellites for example, which allowed other countries to be exposed to the growing music industry in the United States. Even though the American Pop Music is composed of a variety of styles and elements, three of the biggest contributors are Country, Rock and Roll, and Hip Hop. Each genre focuses on different subjects, however it’s popularity in different countries have increased due to how easy it is for individuals to relate to the lyrics. For example, Country music emphasizes on day-to-day struggles, such as an unhappy relationship, career, substance abuse addiction. Rock and Roll emphasizes on individual desires such as sex, and on human emotion. Lastly, Hip Hop emphasizes on the anger and frustration caused in oppressed environments. In conclusion...
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...Modern American music is one of the greatest contribution to the arts in the United States’ history, but it wasn’t developed overnight. The origin story of modern American music, and all of its genres, is a long one filled with tragedy, exploration, and a fusion of cultures. While many of people have a particular genre of music they like more than the others, it’s appalling that they don’t know how these pieces of art were constructed for their enjoyment. Before people can learn about the development of modern American music, they must first learn about the origin of music itself. It’s safe to assume that ever since human beings have been on this planet we’ve been humming a tune or tapping a beat. However, the first documented record of music came from ancient Mesopotamia in the form of religious chant. It is very...
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...“Is Australian Popular Music of the 20th Century a mere imitation of American Popular Music of the 20th Century?” Validate your viewpoint by referencing specific music styles, characteristic features of music styles (instrumentation, performance style, rhythm, melody, intervals/scales/blue notes, harmony, texture, and form), bands, vocalists and specific songs. The 20th century has provided music that was the soundtrack for a generation. During this period there was a rise of pop music and its demand. American bands and artists were monopolizing the market, pumping out band after band. Record labels that were prominent at the time were Atlantic, EMI and Warner Bro’s records. The rise of the Billboard charts and magazine also played a significant role in the success of pop music. Australia was also producing bands that were ranking very high on the charts with smash hits. This phenomenon of pop music and pop culture has defiantly defined the generations that it came from. By analyzing and discussing the popular music of the 20th century, we can see that Australia is not just a mere imitation of American popular music. Musical Roots The cultural music of Australia can be traced beck through to the Aborigines. They practiced music not as an art form or means of entertainment but rather as a spiritual ritual or a method of story telling. Their influence on Australian mainstream music can be heard today through their instruments the didgeridoo and the clap sticks. In the...
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...American mass media is telecasted into homes throughout the world. However, it is justifiably argued that the spread of western values and western pop culture is media imperialism. As a result, the national cultures are influenced by western values and soon the national culture and values are no longer traditional, but have clearly evolved into a society heavily influenced by western civilization. However, others oppose this perspective of American mass media in foreign countries. In countries like India, parents worried about the influence of an American based pop culture, more specifically music television, on their children. An India born professor conducted research on this topic, analyzed the data, and wrote Becoming a Global Audience: Longing and Belonging in Indian Music Television, an analysis of the impact of music television on the people of India. Three years of research by a University of San Francisco academic, Vamsee Juluri, was conducted to assess the influence of an American based pop culture music television, mainly MTV and Channel V, on the traditional culture of the people of India. Juluri interviewed nine groups of Indian teenagers to adults in their early thirty’s who watched music television. In the early 1990’s, MTV and Channel V realized that when they entered Indian living rooms, the rebellious, anti-parent youth which succeeded in the West will not work in India. However, there are differences between the American household and Indian household that...
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...similar, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, I experience this blending of cultures everyday. And having attended a nearly all white school when I was younger, I vastly prefer high school which was a mix of latinos,whites and blacks, where students come from all backgrounds. Some Americans may not be aware of it, but the integration of cultures in America has changed popular culture, music, and daily life for the better. Each culture adds different values and a different perspective to form the entirety that is American life. On the weekends, my neighbors sometimes decide to serenade the entire block by turning up their traditional Spanish music. I don’t mind, however I am Columbian,but the message that the music delivers is universal. The soulful blend of vocals and acoustic guitar speaks of heartache, while the fiery trumpets and trombones speak of passion. No other music delivers so direct and powerful a message about love than Hispanic music, a music which has influenced modern hip-hop. Every afternoon, I hear on the streets the lively, hip-hop beat of “Reggaeton,” a music that blends Jamaican and Latino influences. But the influence of different cultures is hardly restricted to music. Not only have contemporary movies began incorporate elements from diverse cultures, foreign films have also become more popular in America. These films broaden our understanding of the struggles and triumphs of cultures around the world, connecting every individual to the global community...
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...Culture and the Mass media in the Bahamian Society To me culture is the learnt characteristics of a particular group of people within a country and helps define it from any other country. Examples of Bahamian culture include our cuisine, music and arts, dress, social habits and dialect. The culture of the Bahamas, like any other country, can be influenced by many factors and one of these factors is the mass media. During our group discussion it was brought up that the Bahamian diet is influenced by other cultures, for example American and Chinese, and that the media does this through television and radio advertisements. Daily on all media outlets we can see and hear promotions for American fast food franchises like Wendy’s and Kentucky Fried Chicken; however, advertisements for Bahamian food establishments are very limited. I believe this may result in many young Bahamians becoming heavily influenced by foreign cultures and eventually not knowing how to prepare native cuisines, for example stew fish and pea soup and dumpling. In addition, our group discussed Bahamian music and art. When one hears the word “reggae” Jamaica instantly comes to mind; this shows how music can be related to a country. For the Bahamas, music like Junkanoo and rake&scrap are associated with the Bahamian culture, but we realized that these forms of Bahamian music are not predominating on various local radio stations. Furthermore, Junkanoo music is only played frequently during a certain time of...
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...American Culture Since the beginning of the Second World War in 1945, America appears as the first world economic power. Nowadays, it is the most powerful country in a lot of domains, that’s why it represents a model for most of the countries and particularly for the developing countries. However, like Ian Ralston said in The Christian Science Monitor, America’s supremacy is mostly spread through its culture. It leads us to wonder how American culture invades the world. In order to answer this question, we will see in a first step the different areas of it and the major role played by globalization. Then, in a second step, the consequences of this domination. First, the term globalization can be described as a process by which the people of the world are unified into a single society and function together. Obviously, we can say that the world is unified into the American society through its widespread culture. Indeed globalization implies all the communication systems such as television, radios, magazines, newspapers, advertisement…etc. These communication systems are essentials in order to diffuse the American culture. Moreover, as it is mentioned in the statement, by American culture, we understand Hollywood, popular music and literature. Hollywood is the place where the most broadcasted and the most famous movies are produced like, for example, Gone with the Wind or Titanic. Then, American artists, poor before to get rich and famous, have introduced new kinds of...
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...Name goes here International Marketing U.S. Culture September 15, 2015 When we look down a busy street, we can see rows of cars, people walking and talking, advertisements, lights, and architecture. The cars are all different makes and models, the people walking are dressed differently and talking differently, the advertisements are bold and in-your-face, the lights can be for the cars or another signal to get your attention, and the architecture is shaped by the structure and soundness of the building and what it is designed for. All of these facets are a symbol of our culture. Our culture is passed down from our elders on to us through life norms and the morals and values learned. This culture has been our way of life and unsurprisingly, is all that we know. But why? I, like most Americans, root to another continent. I am always curious about where we, people, come from originally. Although I cannot trace my heritage, I can trace my name etymology. I am classified as a legal American citizen is by jus soli. More simply stated, I was born here, and this is what I call my home. It is all I know. Since I know this about myself, it allows me to be more open minded to other cultures, languages, and inquire about their traditions. Most people in the world share a common sense of universal values, they are a set standard, i.e. trustworthiness, honesty, et cetera. These universal values are also in every major religion in some form. Along with the universal values, there...
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...Music and American Youth in the 1960s Richard Whaley COMP/155 December 6, 2013 University of Phoenix Music and American Youth in the 1960s When defined, how music influenced and shaped American Youth in the 60s and changes that it created. Music combines different aspects of American social and cultural identity, through economic status, race, gender, religious beliefs, and sexuality. There are many different types of music listened to. Religious, race and economic status is just a few. Economic status is the wealthier people tend to listen and attend symphony concerts while the middle class and poor listen to folk music, country, pop, and rock again are just a few of them. New styles of music come our way about as often as a new generation comes of age. The American youth culture of the 1960s saw many changes and was very complex. A number of factors attributed to this. This generation was the largest by number of this age group ever in history. American culture up until that time was stereotyped so to speak, there were many set ideas youth were expected to follow. Upon graduation from high school you either went to college or got a job, got married and settled down to raise a family. The youth of that time had different ideas; they wanted to experience most everything that they could. They wanted the freedom to express themselves...
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...Cultural Imperialism and the Attenuation of Ethnic Barriers Six soldiers, as immortalized in Rosenthal’s famous photo of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima in 1945, are seen working together to lift, not a flag, but a ‘G Clef’. The Good Rats’ 1981 album, Great American Music, featured this painting by Pasqual D'Angelo as its album cover. The band’s name, prominently displayed across the top in bulky, stenciled letters, gives this image a militaristic appearance, a characteristic that can have different meanings to different audiences. To many Americans, the military represents the unification of American strength and spirit to better defend its freedom. To others, the military is viewed as the oppressive arm of the Americans’ will to dominate and conquer. Could this be a depiction of American military dominance and cultural imperialism? Or is it a testament to the unifying power of music – crossing racial and ethnic barriers to bind people of all cultures under one flag? Throughout this paper we will examine the painting, the band and the history behind it all to discover the message intended for us. The parallels between this image and the photo it emulates are made evident, not just by its stenciled letters, or even the soldiers themselves – but the painting’s background and overlay. Consisting of a faded, yellowish tint, the painting closely resembles the original photo of Iwo Jima. Yet, while the fading is nearly identical to that of the original photo, the yellow tinting is...
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...PURPOSE Fundamentally, product placement roots in the USA, which is commonly considered to be an American phenomenon, and used primarily as a movie-based tactic. To define, product placement is the deliberate placement of branded products or services within media content. For example the scene where Will Smith drink Coca-Cola in film. As a result of global flow, and access to media content and technology, the practice of product placement has become media-neutral and spread across other cultures. Due to this circumstances, there is a need to develop an expanded understanding of how non-US consumers perceive such placements. Product placement like traditional forms of advertising, transmit and reflect the important symbolic meanings and values within a culture. To add in, consumer attitudes toward product placement may also vary depending on the fundamental cultural orientations and values of a particular society. In general, there are abundant cross-cultural comparisons of advertising and promotion but little is known regarding how consumers from different cultures perceive and process product placement in their mind. Other than that, there has also been very limited knowledge on how and to what extent the medium of placement affects perceptions of the tactic. The main purpose of this research is to examine: i. US and Korean college student consumers’ attitudes towards product placements in three different media (films, TV shows, and songs). ...
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...hop music caused the dominant culture to depict the listeners of this music and its creators within negative depictions, when in reality the stories and experiences that are being expressed within this music are accurate portrayals of the current realities of these people that are being denied by the institutions who created and maintain this oppression. This music in both Tanzania and the states is used to empower those whose dignity and humanity has been stolen. Tanzania’s depicted “hooligans” of this music is the states’ “thugs,” which are both racialized stereotypes. As one anonymous writer describes the loss of jobs has led to increased drug dealing and crime in these Tanzania neighborhoods within Dar es Salaam,...
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...foreigners see Brazilian culture from an average outsider point of view. To achieve this, we tried to identify some of the stereotypes that the interviewees had towards Brazilian culture, particularly in music. The purpose of the collected information is to give the readers insights of how stereotypes are prejudicial and how they can have huge impacts in big social matters that can increase social inequality, and therefore prevent prejudice. This work was based on concepts of stereotypes described by Claire Kramsch in the book Language and Culture (1998). Basically, she said our perception of a group's social identity is culturally determined. What we perceive about a culture of the other is because we were conditioned by our own culture to see, with limited models that were built around us. It was also used, to endorse the study, O Brasil dos Gringos, written by Tunico Amâncio. His thesis is about the representation of Brazil and Brazilians in foreign fiction films. It was found the incidence of stereotypes and clichés throughout history, and it was studied in more details through 10 films. Beyond this Introduction section, this report contains a Description section, of our activities on this research, a Discussion, analysis and results section, about the study, and finally, a Conclusion section. Description Our group intended to uncover or confirm some of the stereotypes we thought foreign people would have in mind when talking about Brazilian music. Firstly, we picked two...
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