There's No Giant Scarier Than The Media Giant.

For a relatively conservative culture like Singapore's, some (especially the older generation) may find that Americanisation is a negative phenomenon. The low context culture of Singapore is slowly metamorphosing into an Americanised culture - for instance, just like Americans, we are (suddenly daring enough to) also fight for our freedom of speech! But what exactly is Americanisation?

Wikipedia states that it is the term used for the influence the United States of America has on the culture of other countries, resulting in such phenomena as the substitution of a given culture with American culture. When encountered unwillingly or perforce, it has a negative connotation; when sought voluntarily, it has a positive connotation.

This impactful phenomenon derived from the United State is so influential that a term "Americanisation" is coined for it. But how IMPACTFUL is impactful? Let's look at it media-wise...

The spread of American media including TV, film and American music artists, has been the main component of Americanization of other countries. American TV shows are broadcast around the world. Many of the shows are broadcast through American broadcasters and their subsidiaries such as HBO Asia, CNBC Europe, Fox Channel and CNN International. All of what is known as the "big four" American broadcasters have international distributors, for example HBO broadcasts to over 20 countries. Many of these distributors broadcast mainly American programming on their TV channels.

According to a recent survey by Radio Times The Simpsons, Lost and Desperate Housewives are among the most watched shows, with CSI being the most watched show among the surveyed 20 countries. American films are also extremely popular globally. All of the top 20 grossing films ever are American made or have an American influence, either through publishers, cast or financiers.

Its hard not to become a US media product consumer when its tv programs are widely available and made widely accessible by our own government. Most of us will also prefer watching US-made movies, especially when it is a box office hit, than watching local shows made by say... Jack Neo. Try asking the Americans who is Jack Neo. They'll most probabably be scratching their heads. But most Singaporeans (or Malaysians, or the Japanese) can tell you who Steven Spielberg is.

Cultural imperialism of the US continues to dominate globally and influence countries that consume their media products. It probably will never have a end to it. What are your views? Do you think that in the future, other developed countries (say England?) will overtake this imperialism?