Does Canada have its own pop culture? (how much, homes)

[LeJeremy]

It's ignorant of you to suggest that Canada doesn't have it's own culture. Canada has a very distinct culture, and even the provinces and regions have their own very unique sub-cultures. Every heard of Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, or Celine Dion? All Canadians!
Everything from the languages we speak, to the music we listen to, to our currents of thought and our morals/values is part of our own unique culture. Of course you can't deny that our culture is highly influenced by America, but that could be said for all Western countries.

[cityboy2]

CDN TV Show "Flashpoint", which is shot and set in Toronto gets 1.8 million CDN viewers and almost 10 million in the US.

You also have Degrassi Junior High, SCTV, Kids In The Hall... CBC.

Music: Niel Young, Joni Mitchell, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Tokyo Police Club, Feist, Gordon Lightfoot, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado.

Actors/Celebrities: Ryan Gosling, Ryan Renolds, Alex Trebek, Eugene Levy, Hayden Christiansen, John Candy, Kim Catrell (sex in the city), Martin Short, Phil Hartman (may he rest in peace), Rachel McAdams, William Shatner.

[evanusc]

Those actors are Canadian, however, the sad thing is they have become a part of American pop culture, instead of Canadian.

Originally Posted by cityboy2

CDN TV Show "Flashpoint", which is shot and set in Toronto gets 1.8 million CDN viewers and almost 10 million in the US.

You also have Degrassi Junior High, SCTV, Kids In The Hall... CBC.

Music: Niel Young, Joni Mitchell, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Tokyo Police Club, Feist, Gordon Lightfoot, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado.

Actors/Celebrities: Ryan Gosling, Ryan Renolds, Alex Trebek, Eugene Levy, Hayden Christiansen, John Candy, Kim Catrell (sex in the city), Martin Short, Phil Hartman (may he rest in peace), Rachel McAdams, William Shatner.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by LeJeremy

It's ignorant of you to suggest that Canada doesn't have it's own culture. Canada has a very distinct culture, and even the provinces and regions have their own very unique sub-cultures. Every heard of Avril Lavigne, Shania Twain, or Celine Dion? All Canadians!
Everything from the languages we speak, to the music we listen to, to our currents of thought and our morals/values is part of our own unique culture. Of course you can't deny that our culture is highly influenced by America, but that could be said for all Western countries.

Yes, it is true that American culture influences all Western countries (and even non-Western ones), but the degree to which U.S. stuff supplants the national Canadian culture in English-speaking Canada you will not find elsewhere in the world. Most everywhere else, American stuff *complements* local/national stuff, rather than squeezing it out - almost completely in many sectors.

[green_mariner]

Originally Posted by Acajack

It’s true that there are tons of Canadian celebrities that are household names in North America: Jim Carrey, Mike Myers, Michael J. Fox, Howie Mandel, Dan Aykroyd, Jason Priestly, Elisha Cuthbert, Evangeline Lilly, Ellen Page, Carrie Ann Moss, Keanu Reeves, Kiefer Sutherland, etc. It’s just that most people wouldn’t recognize them as Canadians and think they’re Americans.

I can name some: Brian Adams, Gino Vannelli, Pat Mastroiani, Stefan Brogren, Miriam McDonald, Aubrey Graham, Shane Kippel, Melissa DiMarco, Stacey Mystysyn, Andrea Lewis, Dan Woods, Adamo Ruggiero, Lauren Collins, Ryan Cooley.

[grmasterb]

Originally Posted by cityboy2

Music: Niel Young, Joni Mitchell, Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Tokyo Police Club, Feist, Gordon Lightfoot, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado.

Let's not forget Rush and Our Lady Peace. Oh, and how could anyone forget Terence and Philip??

[LeJeremy]

I guess the exception being Quebec, where even the Canadian culture is bitterly rejected in favour of Quebecois pop culture.

[ajau]

Originally Posted by evanusc

Those actors are Canadian, however, the sad thing is they have become a part of American pop culture, instead of Canadian.

I disagree. Why not have a common culture? The world is becoming more connected, not less.

[souldive]

Originally Posted by LeJeremy

I guess the exception being Quebec, where even the Canadian culture is bitterly rejected in favour of Quebecois pop culture.

Quebec films are brilliant!

[west_end_don]

Adajack and others have made some great points. I do agree that Quebec does produce a lot of quality indigenous music and film far beyond their numbers in the greater Canadian population. English Canada is sadly more often content to rely on American pop culture. But to say Canada has no pop culture is off base.
IMO, Canadian pop culture is often similar enough to American pop culture to be overlooked. Unless your talking about the corny streotypes of beavers, mounties & hockey. Quality Canadian TV - 'Da Kink in My Hair on Global.