Americanization is Back (Is It Gone?)

The ghost of Americanization is back in France again. As Disneyland Paris celebrates its thirtieth birthday, the gates flooded with embarrassment and complaining have opened again. Critics sharpen their knives and tongues (if not their intellects) and complain that France is selling its soul, its culture – even its food (obviously, Chocolate Chip Mickey Waffles is a thing) – for in a riot of sanitized American pottage. Of course, barbs aren’t just aimed at Disney, because the criticism is...