Influential America

As an American living in the U.S. for my entire life, I knew that my country had left a pretty big stamp of influence (both positive and negative) on the rest of the world, but now that I'm living abroad, it is absolutely flabbergasting how much of American culture has been exported.

First, America rules the music industry. It's not even up for debate. Yes, each country has their own pop sensation groups and record-selling artists singing in the nation's language, but that's not really what you hear in day-to-day life, at least not in France. Almost any bar or restaurant or clothing store I step into, I hear American music. I'm actually not even sure if I've heard a French song playing in any of those places (besides when a live French band was playing at one bar), which is crazy considering I've been popping into restaurants and clothing stores since I arrived in France almost two months ago. This very same thing shocked me when I visited Japan at the age of 16: the music blasting in the subway was Katy Perry and Lady Gaga and whatever else was popular back in 2010, and I vividly remember wondering "Does anyone else besides me in this subway station actually understand all the lyrics to these songs?" Of course, I can't vouch for every remote corner of this earth, but based of my experience, American music seems to be the world winner.

Similarly, American television and movies have a special (dubbed) place in France.  One T.V. show that was apparently a big hit here was House (which the French call Dr. House). Other U.S. shows that I have seen include Friends, CSI: Miami, Lie to Me, Criminal Minds, Bones, Grey's Anatomy, and The Mentalist. This selection of shows makes me wonder why some made it to France--CSI: Miami? Really?--and others did not--come on, no Law and Order SVU? Also, Hollywood is one busy industry that seemingly can't be matched in France. I remember that my Swiss housemate from Tours, Ardianna, said that American movies were her absolute favorite--and she had seen more than I had! In cinemas, maybe a third of movies will be French in origin, and the other two-thirds are all American movies dubbed or subbed in French.

American stores, too, have infiltrated France. It is beyond weird for me to see a Claire's store here, but they are in every mall! (How did Claire's of all things make it to France? How?) As I mentioned before, Abercrombie and Fitch is here, as is Hollister, and H&M, although that is actually Swedish in origin (who knew?). France, of course, has hundreds of its own store chains (Naf Naf and Zara and Pimkie are all examples), but it always throws me off to see an American store.

What is more, numerous other American brands have wormed their way into France in all forms. Cereals here include Special K and many other Kellogg's varieties. If you crave Coca-Cola or Sprite, they're available (but be warned: they're expensive). Lays brand chips are sold in stores, along with Babybel cheese and Heinz ketchup and Dannon yogurts and even Oreos sometimes. McDonalds is, of course, found all over the world, but Pizza Hut and Subway have crash-landed here, too.

Are all of these American influences positive? I don't know. And don't get me wrong--French brands and French culture is found in every corner of Strasbourg. I'm just pointing out how much of America happens to be here as well.

So the rest of the world may hate or get annoyed by America (and I freely admit that there reasons to do so--every country has its flaws, the U.S. definitely included) but the rest of the world also seems to accept a lot of American culture, too. Or maybe it is partly forced upon them by expanding U.S. enterprises? Anyway, clues to the influence of America can be seen everywhere, and it's wonder for me. It's a small world, after all.