America is currently the only global superpower and undoubtedly the main driving force of globalisation – the process through which people all over the world supposedly become members of a “shared community”. An incredible number of global icons (Micheal Jordan, Bill Gates, 50cents, Brad Pitt, Will Smith) brands (Coca Cola, Microsoft, Nike), celebrities (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton [the one who thinks West Africa is a great country]), film makers (Martin Scorcese, Steven Spielberg) are American. Then, of course, there’s MTV and American Idol…
“Zinedine who….?”
It is therefore fascinating to realise that virtually all expressions of globalization that are NOT American are largely unknown in the United States – be it global icons such as Che Guevara, Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nelson Mandela; brands such as Nutella, Nokia or Kinder; musicians (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue, Boyzone; athletes (Roger Federer, Herman Maier, Paolo Maldini, Haile Gebrselassie); celebrities (Asterix, Tin Tin); filmmakers (Emil Kusturica, Pedro Almodóvar, Lars von Trier) or actors (Penelope Cruz, Aishwarya Rai, Lisa Ray).
You might like a book called No Logo, by Naomi Klein.