The Argument Essay: The Influence Of American Pop Culture

The Levin Institutes article “Pop Culture” state's “Former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell observed that images of America are so pervasive in this global village that it is almost as if instead of the world immigrating to America, America has emigrated to the world, allowing people to aspire to be Americans even in distant countries” (Barthin, 1998). Thus, proving just how influential American pop-culture is that countries do not appreciate their own culture as being just as magnificent. Claire McAdams, who has a BA in political science says, “that the global dominance of American pop culture amounts to cultural imperialism and has the potential to dilute local cultures” (McAdams). Admittedly, countries do not realize how easy, yet detrimental it is for another culture to mix with their own, especially when it’s as influential as American pop culture. This is not to say that the pop culture of America is a negative culture in anyway. According to Berndt Ostendorf, “American popular culture is so popular because its’ message to the consumers the world over resonates with the promise of consumption at American levels (Ostendorf 362). This well-known culture is sought-after by many other countries because of the image it holds. As previously stated above, “The American Dream” is what first comes to mind when foreigners

envision the land of red, white, and blue. The American lifestyle is often times characterized as being dazzling and being financially successful. The American Dream is harbored deep in American pop-culture (Sule). Other countries aspire to attain this stature and will do whatever it takes to get a glimpse of this lifestyle even if it means trading up a “Coco Frio” for a “Coca-Cola”.
The way in which American pop culture became so popular is through advertisement. Regarding this, the poem makes a reference about American advertising by relaying, “ the boy marveled at an island where the people drank Coca-Cola and sang jingles from World War II in a language they did not speak” (MLA). In other words, Espada is showing just how Americanized the island has become that this spanish speaking nation is so fascinated with American pop culture that they sing the catchy jingles while indulging in the popular soft drink with no hesitation. Nonetheless, it has become a conditioned activity worldwide stemming from America. Advertisement has given America the ability to disseminate its culture around the world instantaneously. America hands down is the largest producer of popular culture goods, showcasing itself through a various media outlets such as movies, music, and advertisement. This is to say, “American popular culture and the world of goods carry as a subplot not only the promise of personal fulfilment, but also of material wealth and of the deliverance from the curse of labor”(Berndt). Above all, America has been able to create an everlasting impression that makes foreigners what to attain “The American Dream”.
These foreign countries are left believing that with American goods they are one step closer to happiness.

For example, “Coca-Cola exploits basic human desires to the point where people are consuming the interpretation of the product rather than the actual liquid” (Jabbar 4). When a non-native gets the chance to sip on a Coca-Cola they aren’t just quenching their thirst but are indulging in the American lifestyle. Having that Coca-Cola gives a sense of hope and for a moment they are apart of that dazzling lifestyle. Ultimately, this is detrimental to other cultures because they don’t believe their culture is as luxuries as America’s

culture.
Puerto Rico is faced with a challenge of forgetting the true beauty its own culture. Globalization is not a terrible deed but when a country neglects its own beauty for American luxuries, that is when the problem is injurious. In disbelief, Espada expresses in his writing how after that visit still marvels at how they chose Coca-Cola over their very own delicious Coco Frio. In the end, many foreign countries are deal with the cultural diffusion of America being so abundant and influential, it pushes out their very own cultural leaving them to be a mainstream version of “The American Dream”.