3 ms·

I and most people my age in Eastern Europe learned English in the '90s only from American video games and movies instead of French despite us being culturally a

I and most people my age in Eastern Europe learned English in the '90s only from American video games and movies instead of French despite us being culturally and geographically closer to France that the US. If France wanted to export its culture abroad then it should invest in making some kick-ass games and movies, not breed more. US successfully exported its culture here because it made the best entertainment in the world and we couldn't get enough of it, not because it was a numerous population.

thriftwy 4y ago
I believe that population and entertainment are connected directly. If you have 4x the population you will be swimming downstream when trying to influence others culturally. Larger domestic market, more money, more eyeballs, more creators.
nostromo 4y ago
The size of the English-speaking market certainly matters. Why make a $100 million video game like GTA 5 for 200 million French speakers when you can address the market of 2 billion global English speakers? (Of course, they do localize it to French after developing it in English. But not everything gets localized and usually it’s targeted primarily at the English market.)
- ChuckNorris89 4y ago
  >The size of the English-speaking market certainly matters. Meh, yo a degree yes, but not always. Korean entertainment had some international smash hits recently that went viral like Parasite, Squid Game, and All Of Us Are Dead, and they were all in Korean not in English. Quality mattes more than language.
  - pas 4y ago
    but that's very likely also a very conscious export of South Korea, like Korean restaurants. and to a degree France has this too with their Institut Francais (French institute) ... but of course with a negligible efficacy. that said, as far as I know, Paris is still the top top top number 1 travel destination.

3 ms·

I and most people my age in Eastern Europe learned English in the '90s only from American video games and movies instead of French despite us being culturally a

by ChuckNorris89 4y ago

thriftwy 4y ago
I believe that population and entertainment are connected directly. If you have 4x the population you will be swimming downstream when trying to influence others culturally. Larger domestic market, more money, more eyeballs, more creators.
nostromo 4y ago
The size of the English-speaking market certainly matters. Why make a $100 million video game like GTA 5 for 200 million French speakers when you can address the market of 2 billion global English speakers? (Of course, they do localize it to French after developing it in English. But not everything gets localized and usually it’s targeted primarily at the English market.)
- ChuckNorris89 4y ago
  >The size of the English-speaking market certainly matters. Meh, yo a degree yes, but not always. Korean entertainment had some international smash hits recently that went viral like Parasite, Squid Game, and All Of Us Are Dead, and they were all in Korean not in English. Quality mattes more than language.
  - pas 4y ago
    but that's very likely also a very conscious export of South Korea, like Korean restaurants. and to a degree France has this too with their Institut Francais (French institute) ... but of course with a negligible efficacy. that said, as far as I know, Paris is still the top top top number 1 travel destination.