After the defeat of fascism in World War II, Italy definitively became part of the American sphere of influence, undergoing a profound transformation that affected its society and its cultural symbols of reference. The protagonists of this transformation were Hollywood, jazz music and consumer products like Coca-Cola, which embodied the American dream proposed by the dominant narrative of the time.

Hollywood was the first major vehicle for spreading the American dream in Italy. Italian cinemas were filled with films that recounted a world very different from the one that had just transpired in Italy: a world of freedom, opportunity and endless modernity. Films like Casablanca, Singing in the Rain and Gone with the Wind were not mere entertainment products, but vehicles of the American political narrative that represented America as the land of freedom par excellence. Movie stars like James Dean and Marilyn Monroe became extremely popular icons in Italy as well.

Many Italians began to change their habits, their clothing and to imitate the behaviour seen in Hollywood films. American cinema gradually introduced a completely new set of values into Italian society. At the same time, jazz music invaded the radios, clubs and homes of Italians, embodying the rebellious and libertine spirit of America at the time. Musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington became the symbols of a generation that wanted to recover from the trauma of war. Jazz would influence Italian artists for decades, even in the composition of music and songs in Italian.

Another great revolution was the introduction of Coca-Cola in Italy, which officially took place in 1949. Coca-Cola was one of the most tangible symbols of the Americanisation of the country. An element as foreign to the Italian tradition as it was fascinating and popular, it won the hearts of Italians in a short time. It was an extremely sugary, addictive drink. Thanks to these simple yet effective vehicles, America succeeded in shaping republican Italy.