From domination to contestation : the changing faces of American popular culture in Poland after 1989

The paper aims to describe and critically reflect on the presence of American popular culture in Poland after 1989. It systematizes Polish experience with American cultural texts, and analyzes their forms and functions within the context of rapidly changing reality during transformation of the political and economic system. During first 15 years after entering free market economy American pop culture provided Poles with new patterns they could follow in new reality. American pop culture became the mainstream culture and a modernization force. However, after 2004, when Poles entered the European Union and reoriented their aspirations, seeking to satisfy them within European culture, American texts have lost its leading power becoming one of many cultural products in the global cultural offer available for Polish users.