My whole life revolves around two distinct cultures: Chinese and American. These two cultures have worked in perfect harmony to shape my way of life. Over the course of my life, I have come to recognize both the distinctions that set the two cultures apart and the crossroads where the two cultures intersect. The first time I experienced a cultural crossroads was when I went to China. While I was there, I remember seeing T-shirts with English words written on them and wondering why that was, since the Chinese didn't know what those words meant. I didn't know that this was one of the many examples of Westernization that had taken root in China and many other countries. Western culture has not only permeated the culture of fashion and language, but also that of food, economics and music. The streets of China were filled with countless McDonald's, Burger King, Subways, KFC and many other American fast food chains. In stores, Western music was played by famous artists such as Taylor Swift. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Grocery stores have an American section full of familiar foods in shiny packages like Pringles, Twinkies, Oreos, and more. Now that I think about it, Westernization has had such a long history in China that there are even Chinese words borrowed from the English language like pizza, soda, and chocolate. To learn more about Westernization, I went to my mother who experienced it firsthand. He told me that the biggest change was from a communist economy to a capitalist market economy. This increased his family's income, which impacted his life in more ways than he could imagine. My mother, thinking back to when she was still a child and living in China, remembers the time when everyone was too poor to even buy meat and dairy products, so much so that my grandmother's dream was to be able to eat chicken once a month. After the change in economy, my grandmother's dream not only came true, but it became more than she could have ever imagined. He was now able to purchase unnecessary goods such as hamburgers, fried chicken, and French fries, the staple of the American diet. Another drastic change that occurred was the introduction of pop culture into society. Before Westernization, my mother listened to traditional Chinese songs, such as the national anthem, and there was very little variety. All the songs were controlled by the government. After Westernization, Chinese artists began producing pop songs that imitated American music of the time. For example, my mother's favorite artists were Xiao Hu Dui, who emulated the style of the Beatles. The last major change my mother observed was the increase in tourism both to and from China. Before, people were not allowed to visit China from other countries. After Westernization, many people traveled from all over the world to visit it. My mother witnessed this change firsthand, as she lived in the capital Beijing, which was home to many tourist attractions. When she first saw the foreigners, my mother was very intrigued by them because she had never seen one before. This was just the beginning for her, as she later chose to emigrate to America, which China allowed due to the Westernization that occurred at that time. According to Merriam-Webster, Westernization is the process by which a country adopts Western traditions, ideals, or techniques; the countries considered "Western" are those of North America, Europe and Australia. The question that Westernization raises is whether countries should embrace it or avoid it. Many naysayersof Westernization believe that by allowing it, countries lose their traditions and values. But this is not the case: even if Westernization has negative effects, countries should allow the flow of Western ideas to advance their societies culturally. To further expand this idea, Westernization will be examined in the countries of China, South Korea, and Japan. Westernization in China In China, many people appreciate what Westernization has brought, but are wary of what it might bring. One positive change that Westernization has brought to China is television. According to Eric Fish, a writer at the Asia Society, Hollywood themes of spontaneity, nonconformity and self-actualization have had particular resonance among young Chinese fans of American TV (Fish). American television programs and the ideas depicted through them are becoming increasingly popular among Chinese youth. The most interesting aspect is authenticity. This fascination coincides with the rise of the new "golden age" of quality television in America, with complex characters and unconventional narratives. By comparison, Chinese television can seem uninspired, with relatively predictable plots and unambiguous characters. Heroes are heroes and villains are villains. But this appreciation for Western culture is not felt by everyone in China. For example, Chinese students almost unanimously stated that they believe that Western democracy is not suitable for China (Fish). This unanimous decision reflects Chinese dissatisfaction with American foreign policy, as they have experienced and seen how America treats other countries and are dissatisfied with it. While Chinese people may be uncertain or divided about Westernization, the numbers don't lie. According to Kate Williams, Chinese FDI (foreign direct investment) in September 2013 increased by $8.8 billion (Williams). A country's foreign direct investment measures the amount of foreign investment invested in another country. Because China has such large foreign direct investments, this means that other countries, especially Western ones, are pouring money into China in the form of investments in companies and e-commerce. As a result of this increased amount of Western investment in China, the Chinese economy has prospered, as it has played an important role in China's economic development and export success. Overall, China has experienced many positive effects of Westernization in recent decades in the form of a greater variety of media and television and increased foreign direct investment leading to economic prosperity. Ultimately, opinion on Western influence in China is mixed: many will express negative feelings towards American foreign policy, but, at the same time, they will have a greater appreciation for the changes that have occurred as a result of Westernization. But unlike the conflicting views held by China, South Korea expresses a different attitude towards Westernization. Westernization in South Korea South Korea, the United States is considered a symbol of urbanization, modernization and freedom. According to Seong Won Park, many Korean women aspire to go to America because they want to escape the patriarchal Korean society” (Park 59). This is an example of indirect Americanization. Although Korea has not fully adopted the (mostly) gender-equal society in America, the idea has still seeped into society. This is evident in the many Korean women who immigrate to America to escape the patriarchal Korean society. This also shows the appeal of American culture that it hastraveled as far as Korea. But Westernization has a hidden downside that people may not realize or overlook. In South Korea, appearance is highly questioned in society and many young girls can feel the pressure put on them to look a certain way: psychiatrist Ryu In-Kyun looked at how many Korean university students have had surgery of plastic surgery in 2007. 52.5% had received plastic surgery and 82.1% wanted to have cosmetic surgery (Park 55). Koreans' excessive preferences for US values ​​lead Koreans to devalue their own culture, especially their own bodies, which is a negative effect of American influence in Korea. The reason behind the drastic number of college girls undergoing plastic surgery is the belief that “Western” faces are more attractive, with Western physical traits such as double eyelids, pale skin, and V-shaped chins. The Effects of Westernization they can also be seen through everyday speech and writing: Konglish is a cultural fusion of English words like “ice cream” or “camera” in the Korean language (Rhodes). The incorporation of English words into the Korean language is an obvious effect of Westernization. But the real question is whether this symbolizes a loss or a departure from native Korean culture. Konglish uses English words but distorts the pronunciation to fit the Hangul (Korean language), and Konglish words, when written, are distinctly Korean, so it still retains its original culture while using these half-English words. Furthermore, the Westernization of South Korea has pushed the vast majority of South Koreans to consider English language proficiency as the most important element in furthering their careers (Park 53). English is especially important for obtaining sought-after competitive jobs in large Korean companies such as Samsung, Hyundai and LG, as well as high-paying jobs in international companies. People seeking personal economic improvement; therefore, they tend to attribute Western characteristics when learning English, and Korean students generally prefer the United States as a place to learn the language. But becoming proficient in any foreign language requires more than just speaking and writing. It embodies the cultural values ​​that the language shapes, and in this sense, many Korean students are taking on Western values. In addition to the Westernization of the language, South Korean music has also been heavily influenced by Western ideas. One of the largest pop culture industries in South Korea is the famous K-pop industry. With trendy songs, complex dances and beautiful faces, K-pop is the epitome of the union of Korean and Western cultures. According to Jessica Oak and Park Young Woong, "Their combination of Western and Eastern sounds... helped K-pop stand out among other genres" (Oak and Woong). Many K-pop songs incorporate different Western styles such as EDM (electronic dance music), rap, and R&B. K-pop music videos also show the Western trend of focusing on telling a story through the music video rather than performing or dancing. Although this was not the older generation's kpop style, it is slowly changing due to Western influence. Due to the cultural fusion between the two, K-pop manages to attract both Westerners and Asians with their music and performances. While K-pop manages to attract South Koreans with its Western-infused pop, the same cannot be said of K-pop's influence in North America. According to Dal Yong Jin and Woonjae Ryoo, some Westerners see K-pop as a diluted version.