Most pasta dishes in general seem to be an Italian-American invention. In my experience it's difficult to find pasta as a main meal in a non-touristy restaurant in Italy.

Replies: @Agathoklis

A lot of what’s known and popular as “X country food” throughout the world is actually American food originating in someplace that doesn't matter.
 

You respond to this user Reiner Tor. He is actually Southern or Central European and his country had as Austro-Hungary border with Italy until 1918, and the Italians conquered some of their cities.

Of course, most Italian food, ingredients and products, in his country (and still now) will arrive there directly from Italian states, which had always been very influential and exporting in that region of Europe. In addition, the national cuisines of his country seems to have many parallel recipes to Italian ones - but you can ask him about it.

The idea that Italian cuisine he eats, is something to do with some immigrants from Italy that lived in America, is rather silly.

As for the pizza which is popular in Northern Italy - it's the one from Napoli, which is different than what is most popular in America. So it's just an indigenous Italian pizza, and there is a limit to American jingoism in this area.

The place where your argument would be more sensible is in relation to Spain. In Spain, they are mainly eating American style pizza (including good ones in restaurants, but also unfortunately - Domino's Pizza).

As far as whether socialism is a default state of sorts, obviously it’s one of the basic default forms of economic and social organization. Households are generally run along socialist lines, and household management is the origin of economics and the meaning of the word “economics” in Greek. Many organizations are run internally along socialist lines.
 

"The Beatles et al are mainly popular because of the British Invasion i.e. because they became popular in the US first." - Exactly. Just like pizza: S. Italy ---> the US ---> the World including N. Italy.

Replies: @reiner Tor

Harry Potter books had a wide readership in Hungary before the movies already.

The Beatles were so long ago that they are hardly a reflection of modern British soft power, same with the popularity of Monty Python in many countries.

British soft power seems to be based on the past, it doesn't seem to be being renewed.

No, Harry Potter is popular because of books written by J.K. Rowling, while in London. It's not popular because of America.

For example, in Russia, millenials (and even Generation Z) love Harry Potter books, while the films are also very popular, but not to the same amount as the books.

Beatrix Potter is most popular in Japan, especially with young Japanese women.

Beatles are not popular because of America - they are popular because of the melodies. And all kinds of other English pop music similarly. For example, often its more popular in Japan than in America.

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As for the best American culture, sometimes it's more popular outside America, than inside America (for example, note how many great Jazz albums are produced and released only in Japan, and then American jazz fans have to order them from Japan). It's not spread by advertising, but rather by its intrinsic value.

Replies: @songbird

English culture is very popular in many many different countries. Harry Potter dominates children of all developed countries, and anything like Pink Floyd or Beatles or even is still popular with millions of adults in all kinds of countries. For example, in Japan, not only Beatles is still the most fashionable thing, but even Beatrix Potter.

Replies: @Staedtler