Fascination with American culture (appointed, movies, train)

[Repubocrat]

Why are some Europeans so fascinated with American culture? I met a few young Germans in Canada and I could not believe how Americanized they were, I was actually very disappointed Same thing with people from other nationalities. Don't get me wrong, I like a lot of things about American culture, but there is so much cultural garbage and stupidity in this country

[ji603]

Been that way since the advent of coca cola and blue jeans, dude

[leaana]

it's kind of like how grandparents view grandchildren. they see them idealistically because their relationship is more recreational. if you are in one culture viewing the the ideal spin from another culture, you don't see the everyday drudgery or stupidity and so can idealize another culture or even people in a way that may not even be really representative of anything but a concept and an idea but that can be positive in other ways as it inspires.

[Interpol76]

There are not many things I like about our culture. We like crapy sports, crappy music, and we eat too much.

[Perfect Stranger]

Originally Posted by Repubocrat

Why are some Europeans so fascinated with American culture? I met a few young Germans in Canada and I could not believe how Americanized they were, I was actually very disappointed

Did you expect them to wear lederhosen?

[jacq63]

Just curious Repubocrat, what about your friends was Americanized?
I'm assuming it was something beyond a fascination with sitcoms, McDonalds and Coke, etc.

You'll find garbage and stupidity everywhere, not just the U.S. Perhaps your friends do have an idealistic view of the U.S, so I'm wondering how it seems to be at the expense of something else? It's obviously had quite an impact on you, so I'm curious. I've found Germans and Americans have a very respectful relationship with one another generally, something my partner as a German enjoys very much.

I think the words 'Americanization' is often used interchangably with 'globalization' and the line between the two is somewhat blurred. Many people fear that indigenous cultures will be swallowed up by a more dominant culture, in some cases the U.S, not always. I'm probably not making much sense so I'll leave it there.

Dont worry you U.S guys, theres enough good stuff in your country to balance out what you see as 'crap'. Enjoy it!

[Drover]

American pop culture, the proverbial train wreck: not pleasant to witness but you just can't turn away.

That said, it's absolutely fascinating what kind of ideas the rest of the world forms about the U.S. based on our popular culture.

[Tiger Beer]

Hmm...opposite experience than me.

I've always found most Europeans very proud of their own culture. Generally speaking I've found most Europeans with generally quite negative stereotypes about Americans.

What does tick me off though, is how many Europeans will go on about how they don't like American movies...and then they try to see every single American movie that comes out and know them inside and out.

I'm an American and I watch very very few movies in general...I've always been annoyed by my American counterparts who seem way to centered around movies as major conversation topic...but I get even more irked when I meet anti-Americans who say they hate American movies, but then go and see them and know them inside and out as well.

[noela]

I think there's a love/hate relationship with the US and we probably love everything we hate too, including the movie industry, the music industry, the patriotism and yet the individualism. We are Americanized (inevitably, the culture that dominates has an influence on the rest, but then America is not that different anyway) to some extent but a lot of the traditions, culture and idiosincrasy is retained. We're still deeply Europeans and deeply ___ (fill in with the nation of each). European nationalism(s) has been having some very bad press (the nazis, the fascists, blahblahblah... IMO nationalism and love of national traditions shouldn't be confused with totalitarianism) which some governments have thought best to use to cultural globalization's advantage (or to follow their own agendas), but we're still proud. The EU is such a shame that we're having second thoughts though lol.

[pigeonhole]

Why are some Europeans so fascinated with American culture? I met a few young Germans in Canada and I could not believe how Americanized they were, I was actually very disappointed Same thing

Why "disappointed", for God's sake.
I'm a French guy, and I'm regularly bashed on this Forum (of all places!) because all in all for many reasons (some very personal), I feel better at ease with let's say anglo-saxon culture (including Us and ALSO German by the way) than my own.
I guess that in times past, I would have faced the firing squad as a traitor to the national cause (lol)...