Is Americanization a Good Thing?

A central issue that we spend a lot of time talking about in sixth grade is whether or not Americanization--the adoption of American customs, traditions, music, movies and food--is a good thing or not.  You see, many of the world's largest companies are American---and in an effort to make more money, they are opening stores and selling products in places ranging from China to Chile. 

That means that when you travel to "foreign" countries, you're likely to see all kinds of stores, shops, foods and products that you're already familiar with!  Heck, I spent an entire week in Denmark drinking Diet Cokes!  Denmark has also adopted tons of other uniquely American stores and restaurants. 

Don't believe me?  Then check out this video:

Click To Play

Or take a look at who was performing in Copenhagen during the week I was there:

So my critical question is should we be concerned about Americanization?  Is it a good thing that foreign countries are becoming more "American" in their musical, food and shopping tastes?  Or does Americanization end up making the world a little more boring?

I asked a Danish friend that same question and she had an interesting answer.  She said that she sees Americanization as a neat form of borrowing because Danish people then take American ideas and "tweak" them, making something new---and often better!

I'm not so sure, though.....I love studying new customs, cultures and traditions----and if American ideas continue to become more and more common, there will be fewer unique places in the world.

What do you think?  Leave a comment to share your thinking and join us again soon on Get Lost!

Oh yeah...and remember that there are two sides to every story!

Signed,

Bam Bam Bigelow

Image retrieved from http://www.interarteonline.com/Paul_Kaleja/altas/AMERICANIZATION.jpg on July 13, 2007.

Comments

[Super Gymnast (who likes teletubbies)]

I think Americanization is a good thing because you can express your culture and ideas in other countries. The other countries will understand what America thinks about things and why America does things such as politics and religion.

Although expressing American ideas is a good thing, it might take away from the country’s culture. If our culture is taking over they won’t be able to express their own culture and ideas. Danish citizens might get annoyed that our American products are taking over the Danish ones. If the people of Demark don’t want the products and ideas from America they can refuse the offers and keep the Danish stores, restaurants and factories.

From Denmark’s point of view with Americanization or from America’s point of view with Asian-ization or Mexican-ization how would you think we can change the bad things about Americanization? Could it be to stop the deals with another country’s business? Or to build Danish ideas into America’s choices like using wind farms for green energy?

-Super Gymnast (who likes teletubbies)

[sloppy joe and pooh bear]

Question: Is Americanization a good thing or a bad thing? Yes or no and why?

No, because you (spend a lot of money) and travel to a different countries to learn about their culture and their way of living. If you go to Europe, you want to experience their customs and their culture. That’s why people travel! You don’t want to eat the same thing you would eat back at home, that’s boring! When you see a Burger King on a street corner in Denmark, it seems totally out of place.

How do you think the people of Denmark feel about Americanization?

If you were to move to Europe, would you be thankful for Americanization, and that a peice of home followed you there? Why or why not?

- Sloppy Joe and Pooh Bear :D

[Emily S.]

Mr. F. asked . . . . Is Americanization is a good thing or a bad thing?

I think that for the companies it is a terrific thing, expanding all over the world. But for ordinary people I think it is also on a good thing, our ideas are liked and proven to be liked. People like the food, products, stores, and clothes.

Americanization is also good because if you are traveling to another country you might want a Coke or Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket and all you have to do is look around and you might find one.

But Americanization is also a bad thing, think about all the greasy foods that Danes might eat, and they are already fit and healthy, do we want more obese and fat people in the world? Another question to ponder about is, do we want people to steal our ideas, our thoughts, and our products? Do we want them to steal all that hard work, all the thinking, should we work while they just sell our ideas?

[Cheesy McPheasy]

Mr. Ferriter asked if Americanization was a good thing or a bad thing.

And I think that that’s a very hard question to answer. I mean, I’m a really picky eater, and I like fast food and everything, so I’d say yes because of that. But I also like studying different cultures and restaurants and things like that.

From a traveling standpoint, I’d say no, because if they keep on adding American restaurants and American cultures, then it won’t be any fun going to different countries. It’ll be traveling without ever going anywhere.

But from a political standpoint, I’d say it was a good thing, because it shows that they appreciate our ideas and that they think that we’re on the right track. Why? Because if it wasn’t good they wouldn’t put three of our restaurants on one street corner.

So my answer to your question is different depending what I’m thinking about.

[Char]

I am Danish and have been living in the US since 1991.
Am currently working on a project about americanization and fell over this article.

Can't really comment, because I am biased.
I love Europe and I love the US.

BUT the news paper with Justin is Not Danish. It is Swedish...