U.S. culture is thus as variable as American individuality, it is free of a government-approved vision, and it responds to and partly reflects market forces. Commercialization has aroused the scorn of representatives of elite cultures, who condemn the compromises demanded by commercial sponsors while ignoring those demanded by the aristocratic or governmental patrons of more traditional arts. Commercialization simply doesn't bother Americans as much. What we're buying isn't a corporate image. It's a hamburger.
American culture is universalistic, it accepts influences.
So McDonalds can adapt to the countries it is in, and Disney can make films for children drawing on Chinese, Native American, Arab, and African themes - and well as on the traditional, European tales that was its earlier staples. In my opening list I mentioned two young movie stars, Gwenyth Paltrow and Leonardo DiCaprio. If these stories represent American culture, we're casting our net very wide, indeed. Of course, the same cross-fertilization works the other way as well. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones are rock 'n' roll bands deeply influenced by American models.