To what extent is the U.S.A. still the Child of Europe Essay

To what extent is the U.S.A. still the Child of Europe - Essay Example Since the United States is a product of the ideas, values and ideologies of the European peninsula, to what extent is the United States still the â€Å"child† of Europe? Seeking to address these questions and many more with respect to historical changes which have resulted in American cultural hegemony and a lessening of the bonds between the United States and Europe, this essay will emphatically argue that the United States is no longer a child of Europe but stands alone on the world stage. According to Kelly and Prokhovnik, â€Å"although the globalization of culture seems in some ways obvious in our daily lives, it is not an entirely straightforward matter. Culture is a complicated and pervasive phenomenon, taking many forms.† (48) Addressing charges of cultural imperialism and the role of the United States in cultivating a mass market â€Å"world culture†, the following will begin with a concise overview the charges leveled against the United States as an economic, cultural and military hegemon. The globalization of American values began in the post-World War II period following the near universal physical, economic and social devastation of the European continent. A social revolution paved the way for the export of American values and ideas across the world. For the United States, the social revolution of the 1960s was also a cultural revolution. In fact, the â€Å"rise of a specific, and extraordinarily powerful youth culture indicated a profound change in the relation between generations† (Hobsbawm 192). Leading this Cultural Revolution were the young: teenagers started wearing jeans – prior to that only farmers wore them – and rock music became the voice of a generation. In fact, industries saw the potential of this young and increasingly powerful generation and catered to it through the â€Å"flourishing industries of cosmetics, hair-care and personal hygiene† (Hobsbawm 193-4). Renowned