• came_apart_at_Kmart [he/him, comrade/them]
    ·
    2 years ago

    consumption choices are what americans mean by culture

    walmart vs trader joes
    light beer vs white wine
    iHeartMedia radio vs npr

    when i was a kid watching action movies, i never understood what the antagonists (invariably international terrorists) meant when they accused americans of having a bankrupt culture. seeing festivals, events, and holidays in other countries that weren't 100% coopted into corporate branding schemes is what did it. or rather, returning to the US and seeing all the branding on every surface for every moment of attention did it.

    a big MetLife Snoopy floating in the sky for Thanksgiving, Coca Cola Polar Bears on Christmas, everything leading to the only uniquely US Cultural Event: the Super Bowl... a cavalcade of brand new, never before seen and high production value commercials everyone is expected to watch and like and rehash at work the next day.