It is common knowledge that there are differences across cultures. We do not eat the same foods, speak the same language, worship the same God, among many other different values, attitudes, behaviors, and more. However, when reading Ha Jin’s stories, I began to question the impact that American culture has had on other cultures. For better or for worse, American culture has found its way in influencing other countries and those cultures.
“After Cowboy Chicken Came to Town” is a humorous example of this influence. The fast food restaurant is a commonplace for Americans, but Cowboy Chicken modified the cultural landscape in China. Wedding parties wanted their wedding dinners at the restaurant and patrons wanted to learn more about the American way of running restaurants. A real-life example of this is how McDonald’s has become part of the cultural landscape far beyond the borders of the United States.
When reading “A Tiger Fighter is Hard to Find,” I questioned what impact the Hollywood movie scene had on the production of the film in the story. If there was pressure to produce an “Americanized movie,” this could have influenced the negative treatment of the actors and animals on set.
I am reading a book called “The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy” by Pietra Rivoli. This book examines that life of cotton from an economist’s perspective. America is the number one producer of cotton on the globe, but China is the number one producer of cotton textiles on the globe. America’s supply of cotton and demand for cheap cotton textiles has changed the labor environment in China.
The labor environment in China could be several blog posts on its own but examining these stories by Ha Jin and the trade patterns that exist do make me question if the America’s cultural influence on other countries has been too strong. Every culture is unique and should be appreciated for its differences. Do you think America has had too much of an influence on other country’s cultures, including China?