Entering the Conversation

As you respond to the following prompts, support your argument with references to at least three sources in this Conversation on Exporting American Pop Culture. For help using sources, see Chapter 4.

  1. Write an essay explaining why the export of American culture has either a positive or a negative effect on the cultures and societies that adopt it.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 11 - Entering the Conversation: Write an essay explaining why the export of American culture has either a positive or a negative effect on the cultures and societies that adopt it.
  2. Access to the Internet is spreading throughout the world. What do you think America’s role is in this medium? Write an essay in which you imagine the future of the Internet and its effects on “cosmopolitanism.” Refer to at least three sources as you consider the effects of the possible spread of American popular culture through the Internet.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 11 - Entering the Conversation: Access to the Internet is spreading throughout the world. What do you think America’s role is in this medium? Write an essay in which you imagine the future of the Internet and its effects on “cosmopolitanism.” Refer to at least three sources as you consider the effects of the possible spread of American popular culture through the Internet.
  3. In the foreword to Amusing Ourselves to Death, media critic Neil Postman (1931–2003) suggests that the vision of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) turned out to be more terrifyingly true than the vision George Orwell created in 1984 (1949):

    What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.” In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.

    Write an essay explaining the extent to which you believe the export of American popular culture has proven Postman right or wrong. Refer to at least three sources.

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 11 - Entering the Conversation: In the foreword to Amusing Ourselves to Death, media critic Neil Postman (1931–2003) suggests that the vision of Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) turned out to be more terrifyingly true than the vision George Orwell created in 1984 (1949): What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny “failed to take into account man’s almost infinite appetite for distractions.” In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us. Write an essay explaining the extent to which you believe the export of American popular culture has proven Postman right or wrong. Refer to at least three sources.
  4. Using the arguments and evidence in this Conversation, answer the following question in an essay: Should countries adopt policies that limit cultural imperialism in order to preserve cultures?

    Question

    uZxg83qH9uNZ3NUqyV8wT7hdxc9/5MQeJeZaOsQNhvI0w6Xk3EOeDQ1B873FE1s7
    Chapter 11 - Entering the Conversation: Using the arguments and evidence in this Conversation, answer the following question in an essay: Should countries adopt policies that limit cultural imperialism in order to preserve cultures?