The Americans have done their ‘darndest’ to spread their ideas and culture globally, infiltrating, what we would call, proud nations and subcultures. When looking at American entertainment through an Irish persons’ lense, I was struck at how normalised it has become on our island. From Hollywood films, to pop stars topping our charts, to social media influencers and podcasters, it really feels like we’ve become part of the global 51st state, the Westernised world. In fairness, one has to admire the American entertainment industry. As icons, its their natural charisma and character is something that we are all drawn towards. As entertainers, they are really second to none.
Whether we like it or not, our fondest memories in front of our TVs and cinema screens are down to their doing. Our beloved childhood movies The Lion King, Toy Story, Tarazan, to name just a few, are American written and voiced. Recent blockbusters, The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, Shutter Island (yes I am a Leo-maniac), which captivated millions worldwide, were American starred and captured in state-of-the-art studios on American soil. There is no doubting they are the standards leaders globally. While Irish film holds a special place in our hearts, and is continuously finding it’s feet, the powerhouse that is Hollywood remains unchallenged, despite our adoration of home grown film and TV.
American stars have dominated our charts for years, with simple, catchy, relatable songs. Even though these songs are not my cup of tea, on the date of this blog post, Irelands’ Top 20 features Ariana Grande multiple times, The Chainsmokers (all of their songs are indistinguishable from one another) , and Ava Max the ‘Sweet but Psycho’ girl. These are the songs being pumped through our radio systems, targeting the younger generation of Ireland; to which they have responded, with views, likes and streams. We all can appreciate the classics, the spectrum covering American rock, pop and hip-hop; Fleetwood Mac, Madonna and Eminem, the stars that represent these genres. Has the well ran dry? Are there more of these icons in wait of flourishing?
A small part of each of us has been lost to American pop culture. The rise in social media has meant that we’ve lost our unique Irish perspective on things. The majority of us have been painted with the same brush, with Millennial paint. It is where Ireland has fought back against conformist oppression is where our true beauty lies. Irish entertainment is unique and should be appreciated accordingly. Our music and dance once took over the world through Riverdance. Our modern music scene is spreading by the day, with new bands and groups popping up every few months. Our comedians are some of the best in the world, and our chat, charisma and craic is made for TV and radio.
So yes, the American entertainment industry is dominant in nearly all aspects and deserves its place for its history and consistency throughout the decades. They have mastered the formula for pop culture. But our niche is still there and is being tapped more frequently by both artists and consumers. There is plenty more to come.
A Day in the Life 