Benny Holiday
My Mail is Forwarded Here
- Messages
- 3,795
- Location
- Sydney Australia
And then there's the entire gamut of American popular culture that has been exported to the rest of the world, starting with American servicemen visiting overseas cities during WWII. Here's a link to an interesting article about the influence of visiting GIs on Australian youth, particularly African-American GIs, during and after the War:
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/bodgies_and_african_american_influences_in_sydney
Hollywood as well has had a big role to play in exporting all things American to the world. In Australia in the 50s journalists coined a phrase, the "cultural cringe", to describe the change in social focus from the traditional English to a more American influence at that time. Australia fell in love with all things USA, from big cars with even bigger fins all the way through to hip hop and rap today. In the 50s, the "Cultural cringe" described Australian society's desire to be more like America; IMO I think things balanced out over time and in spite of a continuing fascination with American music, fashion and culture, Australians are still quite a distinct people in many ways.
What do you think of the world's love affair with US culture? Does it make you proud that you've created a culture that's touched a chord with so many other nations? Or does it seem strange that French kids in 1950s went to rock'n'roll dances and combed their hair in DAs, or that there are teenagers in the UK who are heavily into rap? I'm interested in the American perspective there.
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/bodgies_and_african_american_influences_in_sydney
Hollywood as well has had a big role to play in exporting all things American to the world. In Australia in the 50s journalists coined a phrase, the "cultural cringe", to describe the change in social focus from the traditional English to a more American influence at that time. Australia fell in love with all things USA, from big cars with even bigger fins all the way through to hip hop and rap today. In the 50s, the "Cultural cringe" described Australian society's desire to be more like America; IMO I think things balanced out over time and in spite of a continuing fascination with American music, fashion and culture, Australians are still quite a distinct people in many ways.
What do you think of the world's love affair with US culture? Does it make you proud that you've created a culture that's touched a chord with so many other nations? Or does it seem strange that French kids in 1950s went to rock'n'roll dances and combed their hair in DAs, or that there are teenagers in the UK who are heavily into rap? I'm interested in the American perspective there.