Americanization

Americanization is the term used for the influence the United States of America has on the culture of other countries, substituting local culture with something of an American culture. When encountered unwillingly or perforce, it has a negative connotation; when sought voluntarily, it has a positive connotation. The changing of the Buenos Aires emergency numbers from 101 to 911 is an example of this meaning.

Related Topics:
United States of America - Countries - American culture - Buenos Aires - 911

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One of the principal reasons for this is the U.S.' highly visible global brands (for example, McDonald's) and widely distributed media output.

Related Topics:
Brand - McDonald's - Media

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Americanization can also refer to the process of immigrants to the United States becoming American. This process often involves learning American English and adjusting to American culture, customs, and dress. See also assimilation.

Related Topics:
American English - Assimilation

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In Sweden, there is a humourous expression stating that it is the most Americanized country in the world (and USA is number two).

Related Topics:
Sweden - Americanized

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Arthur Koestler described this process as "coca-colonisation" in his book The Lotus and the Robot.

Related Topics:
Arthur Koestler - The Lotus and the Robot

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In American media, the term is used negatively to describe the censoring and editing of a foreign show or movie that is brought over to U.S. stations that are done to make the show or movie better understood and more appropriate for American audiences, usually to such an extent that very little - if any - evidence of the media's true origin remains.

Related Topics:
Censoring - Editing

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