Movies

Sarah ([|http://www.hafif.org/imaj/erususre/mtv-turkey-3.JPG)]

“Cultural imperialism” describes a power over others like old-fashioned imperialism, except the domination is over other cultures rather than over other people’s land. The critics of American cultural imperialism believe that the mass media are the vehicle for our influence over the hearts and minds of the world. The media—especially television, movies, and video games-- is everywhere. The communication time of electronic media is instant.. The media have a disproportionate influence on youth and [|third world countries]. This is because youth are especially impressionable, and because needy people come to relate certain icons of mass culture with success, pleasure, getting ahead and getting away.

America realizes exporting its entertainment is vital to accumulating profit bombings in Iraq. In 1989, it was estimated about 1/5 of the richest people obtained their wealth through the media [[|Petras 3]]. Like cigarette companies, the media realizes it needs to target the most malleable groups in order to exert influence and get products sold. To target third world countries, a misleading connection is purposely stressed, between the product and mobility and success in society. Most television shows present a comfortable environment with no poverty. By rejecting the product, a person would be [|conservative]. The trend media induces is quite apparent in South America. As hardship and low salaries increased from 1980-90, the number of television sets did as well, by 40% [[|Petras 4]]. Cultural imperialism distracts from real problems, coating them with personal satisfaction, such as [|sexuality] and [|fashion].

Inserting America’s culture into other cultures drains their personal individuality and cultural tradition. Cultural imperialism presents the threat of [|monoculturalism], in which there is little diversity and individuality [[|Caroll 1]]. The media seems to promote personal expression and improvement, while actually helping to produce a numbing sameness across cultures. For example, the television channel, [|MTV] [[|Concentrated Media 3]], advertises American [|rap] and [|pop rock]. Genres from other countries, such as German metal, [|Indian ritual music], and [|African tribal music] are omitted. [|MTV] markets the hit parade of American music rather than challenging its audience in any way. In a survey spanning 45 different countries, it was found that among middle class households, 85% of teenagers watch MTV //daily// [[|Galeota 23]]. As a result, countless teenagers repeatedly absorb what is made to please the American public, discarding personal pride in their heritage and culture. Another very popular company is [|Walt Disney]. Disney has spread to even the most isolated regions of the world, shaping the imagination of children, and preparing them for the [|consumer life] ahead of them. As a result of being fueled by goals of profit, a sugar-coated group of characters is promoted, based on a limited mostly Euro-American tradition. Every Disney film automatically comes with a complete range of advertising tools—from videogames to books to clothing, promoting the consumer society [[|Disneyfication 1]]. Theme parks display this to an even larger degree. There are major Disney amusement parks in France and Japan. The American culture also extends itself through chain restaurants and mega-malls. Walt Disney aims to develop the “Disney experience” to all aspects of life, as reflected in its [|5 magazines], Broadway musicals, more then 10 [|television stations], 29 [|radio stations], almost 30 [|Disney themed hotels/resorts], [|cruise lines], 6 music labels, 18 online quests, and more. [[|Ultra Concentrated Media 2]]. News from the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post is complemented by the cheap tabloids. These America based news corporations will obviously state things from the //American// point of view. The song “[|Amerika],” by [|Rammstein], a German band, satirizes the deceitful nature of American imperialism. “Music is coming out of the white House, and near Paris Mickey Mouse…We’re all living in America…/to Africa goes Santa Claus”—The American sense of leisure and pleasure has even made its way to Africa. The song continues, “I don’t sing my mother tongue”, emphasizing how one’s traditional heritage is discarded when America takes its place. ([|http://www.poster.net/rammstein/rammstein-amerika-3701216.jpg)] Not only does American imperialism promote a monoculture of consumerism and little ethnic diversity, but it also promotes a commercialized sexuality and violence. American films, [|television], and [|video game]s are all especially violent and sexually explicit. A method of cultural imperialism is to accustom the people to uncontrolled violence, in doing so, “desensitizing” them to real life events [[|Petras 4]]. For example, some video games were made as simulations of countless bombings in Iraq, which makes the real thing appear less serious. One of the highest selling games, Grand Theft Auto, is all about criminals who steal cars and shoot people, while picking up prostitutes on the sides of the road. [|San Andreas] was especially criticized for having a sex scene known as “[|Hot Coffee]” [San Andreas Controversy 1]. In the popular “[|James Bond]” movies, the main character is a hero who is very violent and involved with new girls constantly. Sex is portrayed as something nonchalant and fueled by booze, cigars and sports cars. According to a RAND Health and behavioral scientist, studies show when children watch explicit sex on television, this influences their views of sex and causes them to become sexually active sooner. By definition, unplanned pregnancies and [|STD]S are more likely to a person who becomes sexually active at an earlier age [Rand Health 2]. ([|http://media.teamxbox.com/dailyposts/gta_sanandreas.jpg)] Cultures everywhere are homogenizing due to the overpowering American cultural influence. Movies, television, and video games are huge contributors to the media’s influence. Although America may not have an empire such as the [|Roman Empire], its media monopoly equally controls other people, if not more. For [|cultural imperialism], there is no physical limit.

__Amerika__. Dir. Rammstien. 2004. Music Video, CD.

Carroll, Marnie. “American Television in Europe: Problematizing the Notion of Pop Cultural Hegemony.” __Bad Subjects__. 1 May 2007 <[|http://bad.eserver.org/‌issues/‌2001/‌57/‌carroll.html>.] “Does Watching Sex on Television Influence Teen’s Sexual Activity?” __RAND__ 2004. 4 May 2007 <[|http://www.rand.org/‌pubs/‌research_briefs/‌RB9068/‌index1.html>.] Galeota, Julia. “Cultural Imperialism: An American Tradition.” __The Humanist__. 4 May 2007 <[|http://www.thehumanist.org/‌humanist/‌articles/‌essay3mayjune04.pdf>.]

Healey, Rick. “The GTA: San Andreas Controversy.” __NetJack: Old School__. 21 July 2005. 7 May 2007 <[|San Andreas Controversy 1][|>.] Petras, James. “Cultural Imperialism in the Late 20th Century.” __William Bowles__. 23 Aug. 2004. 4 May 2007 <[|http://www.williambowles.info/‌guests/‌cultural_imp.html>.] “Ultra Concentrated Media-Facts .” __New Internationalist__ Apr. 2001. 3 May 2007 <[|http://live.newint.org/‌features/‌2001/‌04/‌01/‌facts/‌index.php>.] “Walt’s World: A Reader’s Guide to ‘Disneyfication.’” __New Internationalist__. 3 May 2007 <[|http://www.newint.org/‌issue308/‌guide.htm>.] [[http://www.newint.org/%E2%80%8Cissue308/%E2%80%8Cguide.htm%3E.