Essay about Gold Arches East

Everybody has a favorite place to eat. Eating out can be a very pleasant experience or a disastrous one. People are free to choose from a wide range of different restaurants where to spend time and have a meal. Although, not all restaurants are the same and each has different characteristics regarding class, interior, cuisine and service. This paper provides a comparison of 4 different restaurants (fast food, casual, upscale): McDonald’s, Panda Express, Applebee’s and Delmonico’s.

McDonalds was founded in 1943, and 1967 British Colombia was its first international expansion, advertising to middle and upper class. McDonalds decided to expand internationally, due to the enormous success in America. There was heavy research involved in the expansion. Through globalization and internationalization, McDonalds were able to develop marketing strategies according to cultural needs, to serve specific target markets. McDonalds enter India’s foreign market and 1996 and is a tough foreign market to enter, but with McDonald’s success they were able to earn high revenue in India. The success strategy is researching and the development of food. McDonalds thoroughly analyzed the preferred taste, especially to not offend locals. Their key to success is to “think global, act local.”

In Beijing, McDonald’s was like leisure time for people. For example, people could relax, chat, read, enjoy the music, and celebrate the birthdays in McDonald’s in Beijing (Yan, 72). McDonald’s in Beijing provided friendly environment and moderate place for middle-class people. When people went to McDonald’s, they were getting American culture experience that they had never been before. In Beijing, when customers entered the McDonald’s, they could see the kitchen and how their service works which is different to American culture. In addition, Beijing culture has been changed because of the familiar and peaceful place that McDonald’s provide for their customers. McDonald’s made favorite for young couples “because the eating environment is considered romantic and comfortable” (Watson 50). Also, McDonald’s was children favorite place like in American culture because kids could play and eat at the same time. Even they had receptionist whose responsibility were “to establish long-term friendships with children and other customers who frequent the restaurant” (Watson 61). McDonald’s in Beijing became most favorite placed for people because of affordable restaurant and friendly

Due to the famous, well-known symbol of the golden arch, McDonalds is seen as a worldwide trademark. “Beginning the international venture into Canada in 1967, the McDonald’s Corporation has rapidly expanded abroad” (Curtis, 1982). This can be related to the documentary watched in class, showing the rapid progression of Coca-Cola becoming a necessity in our society, and the cultural ties connected to the commodity. The fascination and popularity grew rapidly, therefore creating an international symbol profoundly. The

The McDonald’s in Beijing created these trends because they used the same menu as the American counterpart. This increased business and attracted customers because they felt more modern eating the so-called “American cuisine.” The McDonald’s in Beijing is most definitely considered an example of an American-inspired, transnational culture because the Chinese are intrigued with the western influence and this does change their culture because they are becoming more modern and opening up to outside influences. With a positive view from China, McDonald’s decided to expand even more.

So with the introduction of a foreign symbol into a host country like a new McDonald’s restaurant, the impact is not so dramatic and the host country does not fully take in the American culture but shapes it in a way to suit their lifestyle and tastes. For example, the food and names of the food at McDonald’s in Tokyo is slightly different to those in America. In India, it serves lamb burgers and in Germany beer is available. This shows that the American formula was not as international as had been hoped, and local cultural practices had to be acknowledged.

In early 1848, cries of gold findings flooded the West. White settlers flooded the area like a hurricane in search of riches never seen before to the common man. It was the single greatest migration of people in a shortest amount of time. The gold rush was a very dark period in American history and it shouldn’t be celebrated; the Native American’s were slaughtered in American thirst for gold Explosions of violence from both natives and settlers were common in this environment of prejudice and greed. Between 1850 and 1890 eighty percent of the total number of Native Americans in California died due to murder and massacre, disease, starvation, and forced migration from their native lands. The destruction of the culture and lives of the people native to California and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Greed changed the morals and values of the miners and Americans alike in the Gold Rush. The gold rush brought riches and highlighted racism of white Americans, while systematically destroying Native Americans in that region.

Billions and Billions served, American Flag, Lego, Happy Meal, Astronaut holding french fries, Play Space. People who like to be mainstream and follow the crowds might be more likely be appealed to the ‘Billions served’ statement. This also go along with the American flag capturing patriots, Lego with Lego fans, the astronaut and the double meaning of space intrigues those who are interested in the kind of things they target. Each one appeals different to another. For example, children would see the Happy Meal and think, ‘Oh, I can get a toy with it,’ however adults know it’s cheaper. Children tend to think with a more creative mind while adults are more logical. McDonald’s uses its logic and values for people on the go needing fast affordable food that is easy to access from any roadway or town. Yet, the emotional aspects that McDonald’s uses are mainly towards a person’s interests and the majority of the time is used for children.

The segment of the general environment that ranks the highest between the global and socio-cultural considerations is the socio-cultural. The reason being that McDonald’s represents a very strong aspect of the American culture and a major part of the American culture is the food industry. The food industry, in terms of American food consists of a good old- fashioned hamburger, French Fries, and soda and McDonald’s mastered this concept of American food to perfection. On the other hand the global segment especially in

McDonald’s is involved in the cultural transformations of Beijing, Seoul, and Japan in multiple ways. Watson (2006) described, “For instance, in 1992 and 1993 customers in Beijing (as in Hong Kong and Taiwan) usually left their rubbish on the table, letting the restaurant employees do the clean-up work. However, during the summer of 1994 I observed that about a fifth of the customers, many of them fashionably dressed youth, carried their own trays to the waste bins,” (page 52). The usual dining etiquette of Chinese customers is that they would leave their leftovers and remaining garbage at their seat for the restaurant employees to take care of. They believed that since McDonald’s was a formal restaurant, what they paid includes full customer service. However, this example shows that the American etiquette of McDonald’s introduces a new form of dining to Beijing customers.

The New York Times bestseller Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal is one of the most riveting books to come out about fast food restaurants to date (Schlosser, 2004). Fast food consumption has become a way of life for many in the United States as well as many other countries in the world. The author Eric Schlosser an investigative reporter whose impeccable researching and bold interviewing captures the true essence of the immense impact that fast food restaurants are having in America (2004). Beginning with McDonald’s, the first fast food restaurant, which opened on April 15, 1955 in Des Plaines, Illinois to current trends of making fast food a global realization McDonald’s has paved the way for many fast food

McDonaldization effects all aspects of today’s society—even the venues we often overlook. Two examples of some commonly overlooked McDonaldized venues are the Kimmel Center and the Hard Rock Cafe. Both of these venues emphasize the McDonald elements of success according to George Ritzer: efficiency, Calculability, predictability, and control. (14, Ritzer). Although these places may feel like a luxurious break from the everyday fast food trip, they are not all that much different.

While examining the association between McDonaldization and communal change in the American society, Ritzer points out four components of the shifting society that greatly influenced the future of McDonaldization.

Today’s society and culture is becoming more and more McDonaldized. This paper will illustrate what the process of McDonaldization is. In addition, this paper will show how today’s society has adapted to this process along with using the theories from Max Weber.

The company researched for the purpose of this paper is McDonald 's. This company 's history dates back since 1940 when Mac and Dick McDonald initially opened McDonald 's BBQ restaurant located in San Bernardino, CA. In 1948 they shut down the restaurant, just to reopen it as a self-service drive-in restaurant. According to About McDonald’s (2012), their menu included only 9 items, such as: milk, coffee, soft drinks, cheeseburger, hamburger, potato chips, and a slice of pie. Potato chips were then replaced by French fries. The history of this company is significantly market by Ray Kroc, who in 1954 at a visit to McDonald 's in San Bernardino decides to have a franchise of McDonald 's. A year later, in 1955, he opens his first restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois. The franchising plan allowed growth and by 1965 there were more than 700 restaurants across United States. McDonald 's