The Impact of American Capitalism - Americanization Phenomenon
"Americanization Phenomenon"
What
Capitalism can give?
Capitalism
has amazingly promoted a system of "Free Will". However it tends to be
benefits for few and certain group--the elites, and damages the interest
of everyone else. Thanks (not) to 'Father'? Capitalists may deny that
the poor are disadvantaged and unable to gain any wealth because they
have none to begin with. But still they create credos to those who are
poor that"free enterprise" system of capitalism is constructed so that
anyone, with hardwork, can be successful and gain wealth.
Let's
see the good news. Capitalism has increased production so people do not
have to work a way too hard to meet their need like what the ancestors
did. What they need for living is easily available. They can just grab it.
Today people are more civilized than their ancestors. people in
different countries become closer to each other. Transportation and
communication development has facilitated people around the world to
exchange ideas and culture. Capitalism also contributes in the field of
industry, agriculture, and business which have also contributed to
economic progress. It may also potentially leads to the lessening of
differences based on race, creed, caste, and nationality—displacing
borders. In the factory the workers and officials from different caste
work hard with one another and work shoulder to shoulder. This system—I have no idea—brainwashes-like
people to earn money as much as possible so that they will take things
for granted in some aspects as long as what they are working on save
their days.
American, the elites, may see it as a promising
system. America becomes the only nation in the world which has power in
many aspects like
economy sector in particular.
American capitalism is a symbol of economic strength and power. But it suggests that their power is
a way too powerful. Capitalism is a moment of inventions. Many new machines and production of goods have been tremendously increasing to support
their dream on behalf of “free will”. They go over border to expand their
business, advertise very interesting products that no way people will ignore
but buy them, and create consumerism culture. People outside America are much
more likely American than they are in
their origin country. They know better America more than their own national or
even local culture. Americanization has played its part.
Americanization: History and Postcoloniality Issue
Before Elizabeth ruled (Mary
era) it was said that many Puritans
who found corruption in
Catholics belief suffered from prosecutions well-known as Bloody Mary. Monarchy back then never embraced its people’s idea. The story continues as the Puritans finally made decision to travel
to a land where the air of freedom can be achieved—America. But they still lived under British’s occupation
until 1776.
Colonial system is both cultural oppression and
economic exploitation. In cultural studies postcoloniality contributes to the
moment of enduring as result of colonialism. So it is more on the enduring
effects instead of the end of colonialism itself. In other words the economic
system that embraces “free will” (Capitalism) is how this all begins. It was presumably
constructed against British monarchy system.
As a result of American capitalism Americanization
may be considered as a part of a more general ‘change’ or ‘progress’. Americanization concept is not far from
the ancestor-Puritans who in their belief characterize themselves as an
exceptional or elected people which mean they are a excellent people. It may be one of their
goals to attract people to watch, to observe, and to have the same ideology as
they do. It is one of ways to shape our mind how American identity look like.
Turning Table
American
media especially Television program has big role to promote American products,
customs, and lifestyles. Many British people
are now Americanized. Many British cultural products are more
acknowledged when adapted to American taste. America is somehow in a
position that is a step further and advanced than British.
American film-making technology is the
most advanced in the world, creates a high-quality films with the spectacular
visual that spends big-budget promotional campaigns of American film companies.
The abundant budgets and superior technological resources also attract the
directors, writers and best actors move to America. In many cases, it means
that the American creativity is more attractive than that of other countries
including British.
In
some cases, an original story from British is Americanized by recasting its
lead characters as American; say the first adaptation of the James Bond novel, Casino Royale, which is produced for CBS Television in 1954. In this version, the
character of Bond — a British agent in the original novel and
subsequent movie series — is changed into an American agent for the TV version.
This movie is a big hit! The phenomenon and
popular of “Harry Potter” and “Trilogy the Lord of The Ring” are believed more
widespread and probably more booming in America instead of in Britain, the
origin country and writers’ birth land.
The most popular singing talent show
“American Idol” up to now is preparing their 14th Season. America
holds the most seasons of all countries. It began airing on Fox
on June 11, 2002, as an addition to the Idols format
based on the British series Pop Idol
which holds only two seasons. American Idol has since become one of the most
successful shows in the history of American television.
(Wikipedia.com)
British music invasion in America, in
60’s may be phenomenon turning America into promising land to promote British
culture but things may go reversely. British artists even now show up in red
carpet for so many times in big event in America, say Simon Cowell (founder of The X Factor, Judge in Pop Idol, Britain's Got Talent
and American Idol.)
and Adele (singer). Their achievement is really amazing. But it is clear that
they become popular because of American media. British brilliant ideas in
entertainment are actually like a mining-land for America. So in some cases I
think Americanization makes British cultural products become acknowledged as
American’s.
Transnationality Issue: “Indonesian American”
It is not about Indonesian who is born in
America but about how they appear more likely American than Indonesian at the
recent days. The innovation principle of American capitalism has led the
capitalists to create cultural products in a very persuading way so people will
buy things they don’t need or will worship American way of life. Capitalism
provokes people to be consumerist. We cannot escape capitalism, it’s on
every billboard, every TV program. What they do is very attractive, their
appearance are so brainwashing.
Food, Film, and Music
American is well-known as fast food
nation following the term of Mcdonaldization
offering efficiency in which costumer in minimum time may get their stomach
full. It stands for fast, friendly service, hygienic food preparation, clean,
and inexpensive diets. It’s said to dominate food industry over the last thirty
years now. Food and Beverage at recent time can be indicator of social status.
There is possibly a “wow” factor when we can hang out with friends and have
dine out in Solaria, McDonald, KFC, Starbucks, or the likes.
No less surprising is going out to XXI,
Cineplex, or Cinema21 to watch Twilight, Transformer, or some great animated
movies. Indonesians are now in crisis of appreciating their own. Many national
capitalist in film industry creates movie with the similar and popular theme at
that time. Let’s say around ten years ago Indonesian movie is flooded by Horror
genre movies which are unfortunately tell lame and predictable stories and
instead full of sexual stuffs. I myself find them shocking especially their
hideous-nice-try movie titles—Suster
Keramas, Setan Budeg, Kuntilanak Kesurupan,Hantu Jeruk Purut and other cheesy ones. Still, American movies, say Hollywood, are the real thing.
Indonesian Singing Talent shows are
quite various since most of them are international level. For example, Indonesian Idol, X-Factor Indonesia,
Indonesia Got Talent, The Voice, and AFI. Sense of Americanization can be
clearly noticed by their song choice. When asked about musical influence or
musical crush, many contestants of those shows pick American singer, like
Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga or male singers
like Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Adam Levine, Chris Martin, Eminem, Jason
Derulo, David Guetta, or others famous ones. Ahmad Dhani even insists that
singer want-to be today should be able to sing western songs because he thinks
that dreaming to be international singer is much more worth fighting for than dreaming
themselves as nationalists only singing along Indonesian songs. In other word
many Indonesian singer contestant prefer American taste than local.
Wrap-up
Wikipedia:
Americanization is a term for the influence the United States has on the culture of other countries, such as their popular culture, cuisine, technology, business practices, or political
techniques.
As manifestation of American capitalism Americanization
may be considered as a part of a more general ‘change’ or ‘progress’. The power
of love ‘to money’ results in economy domination around the world. Instead of
using hard power Americanization appears transparent in educating people how to
be American. Domineering is not always done by occupation but penetration
culture to other countries may be the great weapon—Soft power. This phenomenon
was presumably born as an effect of Brtisih colonialism. America is built to
search freedom. People who lived miserably under British monarchy system were
likely to embrace this promising land.
The power of Americanization in this
paper contributes to British cultural products that seem to be acknowledged as
American products. America seems to be “better image” of British. Many British
brilliant ideas in entertainment are actually like a mining-land for America.
In Indonesia people appear more American
than Indonesian. American food, film, music becomes indicator what social class
they belong to, what kind of people they are; modernist or traditionalist.
References:
Ryan, Michael. Brett Ingram and Hanna Musiol. 2010. Cultural Studies: A Practical Introduction.
Singapore: Toppan Best-set Premedia Limited.
Story Mike, Peter
Child. 1997. British Cultural Identities.
London: Routledge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americanization
accessed on June, 25 2014 at 7.56 p.m.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Invasion
accessed on June, 26 2014 at 9.56 a.m.
http://cfkusuma.blogspot.com/2014/02/indonesian-idol-2014-part-of.html
accessed on June, 26 2014 at 10.05 a.m.
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