Showing posts with label cultural imperialism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cultural imperialism. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Export strength

"In closing this very imperfect survey of the influence of American books on the non-American world, one thing is obvious. The influence of American literature has been distinctly good. What there is of evil in it has been consumed at home. The broad Atlantic has acted as a potent antiseptic, which has killed noxious germs and only left that which is healthy, helpful, and human to reach our shores. American humor has contributed much to the gaiety of the world, and American poetry has been both refining and inspiring in its influence on the masses of our people."

-- W.T. Stead, The Americanization of the World, or: The Trend of the Twentieth Century. London: Horace Markley, 1901. p. 289.

Friday, December 12, 2008

Spreading the American Dream


Have it your way!*
You know how Muybridge's sequential motion photographs demonstrated how there was a point in a horse's full gallop in which all four legs left the ground?  Somehow this is that, but for a frame-by-frame of late capitalism.  We could call it coca-colonization, but I'm pretty sure Burger King have an exclusive contract with Pepsi.

* your = our