Cultural Imperialism

This post is to help give Americans an understanding of how their countries influence is felt around the world. When you're surrounded by something it's easy to forget that others see a different side. This post will hopefully help. Imagine this scenario.

Studios, Networks & Distribution Chains

Most of the mainstream movie, TV and music studios are either owned or partly owned by British corporations. All the mainstream networks are owned or part owned by British corporations. All the major distribution rights are owned or part owned by British corporations. Between those three parts of the chain, they choose what the mainstream see. Those they don't own, they cross license with. They promote their own to make money. Any independent producers have to fight against a HUGE entrenched system with very little money. Local productions have to pay out big to gain access to these.

Movies

Imagine a world where 99 out of every 100 major studio movies you see in cinemas are British movies. The majority of the cast are British actors speaking in British accents. American actors get bit parts, or have to act in British accents to get anywhere. Many movies are set in British areas. Where the stories take them to other countries, the result is a faux picture filled with stereotypes often played by British actors speaking in a generalized local accent. Any aliens, robots etc come from another galaxy, yet speak fluent English in a British accent. Any stories written about specific towns or cities around the world won't be even looked at unless they're re-written to be set in Britain. The British are always the good guys, and anyone who stands against the British are the bad guys. The British speak for the entire planet, and step in to save the day, occasionally acknowledging the help from other nations. All multi-national forces are led by the British.

TV

A large number of mainstream promoted TV sitcoms, dramas etc all focus on parts of British life, set in British towns and cities, with British humour. Local made shows have to fight constantly against the influence of British media lobbyists who seek to ensure that any local "cultural protection" laws don't come into force that ensure a minimal percentage of "locally produced content" is shown. That way more (good and bad) British shows can be sold to local stations. It's business after all, not culture. All of the same pro-British themes apply here too.

Music

All the major mainstream record labels are either owned or partly owned by British corporations. They focus on British artists who sing in British accents about elements of British culture. Non-British artists have to sing in British accents to be accepted. This music is played almost back to back on all the major radio and music TV stations. There are of course "specials" featuring music from other nations. With all of these examples there's always the exception who rise above this despite the bias of the system.

Ad Breaks

In-between all this British lovin' there are plenty of commercial advertising breaks where 4 in 5 adverts in each break are for British corporations products or services. They are of course multi-nationals but they're formed, and based in Britain. They use their lobbying and tax evasion powers in Britain to help spread their dominance to other nations. They try to ensure that local competitors are all but invisible to the local consumers. It's about British products, made for British consumers and sold to the rest of the world.

News

The mainstream news networks are all owned by British corporations and their agenda on every story is pro-British. They show any world engagements from the British side, while taking only a cursory glance from the other side. Where there is hostility to British actions or intentions it's portrayed as "poor locals don't know what's good for them". When countries see what Britain proposes as a solution to an issue and reject it, they're portrayed as the enemy. Journalists never question the British elite too deeply on issues out of patriotism, or the knowledge that asking too many questions will lead them onto the unemployment queue.

IP (Intellectual Property AKA "I Thought Of It First")

When British companies have given up innovating on their own, they trawl the world to find things other people in other countries have innovated, and patent it. They lobby to ensure that their rights are extended around the world, so their employment growth areas like patent trolls have plenty of new business. They sue to put any competition out of business, or beholden to them with payments for nothing. They ensure the status quo, that nobody else can get in on their rackets. They also have the power and influence to avoid being the victims in patent cases. The concept is "everyone must respect British IP, but it's a one way street". They constantly lobby for all sorts of "sue your customers" laws and punishments like disconnection from the internet. I'd give a shout out to the RIAB (Recording Industry Artists of Britain) and MIPAB (Movie Industry Artists of Britain) here for this "innovation".

Branding

Every town or city has the same British chain stores, fast food outlets. Every store has large sections of the shelves packed with British goods, produced in cheap labour economies but with British branding and the profits going to fund British CEO's private jets. Due to the economies of scale, and the fact that the British have the distribution channels all but sewn up, they can protect the status quo and ensure that local products (the stuff they don't profit from) have a limited outlet.

Local Investment

Persuading other countries to loosen their rules on foreigners being able to invest in local companies is code for "we want to buy your company, so that we get the profits from your labour." The British companies do everything they can locally to ensure the laws don't apply to them, and the result is the squeezing out of local businesses. They then use their influence in local governments to get contracts they wouldn't otherwise have got.

Conclusion

The cumulative effect of this, is that British culture is spreading further and further, consuming all diversity with it. It provides a home from home for British citizens no matter where they are on the planet, with recognizable British brands everywhere. It subliminally re-enforces what we hear on the news. If we constantly see fictional shows where the British save the day, are fighting for good and right etc then see news stories about world events involving British troops, the link is made. Now replace all mentions of "Britain" and "British" with "America" and American" respectively. Welcome to the world that 94% of the planet's population experience. The concept of Globalization is fine, when we get there. What people are calling "globalization" is really "Americanization" which is equally bad regardless of which country is dominant. The idea of a "global" community is about diversity and the same rules applying to everyone, regardless of their nationality.