20th Century Was the American Century

409 Words2 Pages
The United States were and still are powerful in many ways – that is why I think the 20th century was the American century. American taste and attitude have conquered the world in many areas of life: music, film, food, mass production. There are many more fields influenced by American attitude. The cultural impact of the US, often known as Americanization, is seen in the influence on other countries of US music, TV, films, art, and fashion. By the 1960s television programs had become an important American export. Other countries found it cheaper to buy American programs than to make their own. Music was greatly influenced by the United States, too. It could be seen most clearly in the great international popularity of rock. US pop stars such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Madonna have become global celebrities. To rock-and-roll enthusiast, Presley came to symbolize a new culture of youth, he became an icon. And rock itself became an international phenomenon, one that millions of people worldwide saw as their cultural language. The United States influenced cuisine as well. The growing popularity of hamburger, fried chicken on other ‘fast food’ could be noticed. Ways of dressing was another facet inspired by American attitude – blue jeans and T-shirts became very popular on every continent. The way of doing shopping was Americanized – supermarkets appeared. With their great variety of foods and other goods, they gave consumers a much wider range of choices. When supermarkets turned out to be successful in USA, they quickly spread to other countries. American business and brands had a great international impact as well. Of the top ten global brands, seven are based in the United States. Coca-Cola, which holds the top spot, is often viewed as a symbol of Americanization. Fast food is also often viewed as being a symbol of U.S. marketing dominance. Companies
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