Search

The article discusses the issue of Americanization of Europe, England in particular, and the critiques of British critic and academician F.R. Leavis. It presents the general attitude present in Europe after the World War I, among its intelligentsia, that considered the U.S. to be posing a cultural threat and hegemony. While some perceived the U.S. as a beneficial new source of commodified pleasure, like jazz records, Hollywood films and Ford motor cars, some considered it to be a threat to European values. For instance, Leavis wanted only English novels in the college curriculum. His attitude was like other European scholars, Theodor Adorno of Germany and French social commentator Andre Siegfried. The only difference was that Leavis' critique was more political.