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I can agree with this. But most of the stuff you said can be said about American culture as well. Only in Europe will you find real hard engraved culture.
So if you're not Canadian, what would you tell people abroad when they ask what you are? I'm just curious.
You are right.
I never even hinted that the US has tons of "culture". Hollywood is some culture, but more culture should be defined as food, tradition, lifestyle, art etc., not just pop culture such as what's on TV and radio. However, at least the US created something that distinguishes it from and has a huge influence on other countries. Canada didn't and simply choose to do whatever the Americans do.
I don't agree *only* in Europe you find real hard engraved culture. This is so Euro-centric, and ignorant. Does India have no culture? China? Iran? Morocco? Egypt? Or you think only western Christian civilization is culture?
Okay, I'll bite: where does my "default" approach to fusion come from, Dr. Freud?
You really are imagining my response to you, fusion. I don't know you personally, but I really like and enjoy the online you. If I didn't, I wouldn't reply to your posts.
this is what I found extremely ironic and it is often mentioned by Canadians. So instead of looking like the US, Victoria looks more like the UK, and therefore it is more "Canadian" culture? And how is it "unique" as you admitted it only displays vestige of English culture - wouldn't England have plenty of English culture?
I guess anything non-American is proudly presented as Canadian culture, hahaha.
People say we immigrants didn't care to learn and find Canadian culture, maybe true to some extent, but if it takes that much effort to even notice it, then it is fair to say it is not that strong and widely conspicuous in the first place.
Can someone tell me what is a typical Canadian way of living? Any special drinks/food for special occasions? Special ways to celebrate Christmas or Victoria Day? Special national costumes? Any other special traditions that you don't see in other western countries? These are not rhetorical questions and I am all ears.
I am not saying Canada has no culture. Every country has culture, but that Canada's culture is extremely weak, scant and indistinguishable from the rest of the Christian world.
My goodness Botti. All cultures on this planet can inevitably trace their roots back to medieval times or before. Because we are a vestige of the British Empire our culture will of course have those tenets among it. Why on earth shouldn't we lay claim to that just as you call it British culture which in turn may have emanated largely from Roman or Scandinavian influence. Cripes; it all has to start somewhere.
By me saying our culture is identifiably different from that of the U.S. does not in any way say that there is not significant influence upon it by America with some of that being positive and embraceable.
There is far too much assumption by many on here that everyone's natural tendency to defend when treated to a measure of condescension, is an indictment upon all things American. The tolerance quotient for some of us to overlook what others do not even notice is of course going to vary with many considerations, especially experience and age.
Chevy for instance is not alone in his regard for that venerable automobile. I've only ever bought two other makes of vehicles my entire life one an MGB and the other two a couple of Dodge trucks all of my other cars and trucks starting with my first (51 Chev Deluxe torpedo back) have either been Chevs or Buicks. I've also owned no small number of motorcycles every single year since 59 with that one being a 51 Pan Head bought from Russ winters in Toronto in 1958 and can attest to the last few of them all being Harleys for a good reason. Now that's some American culture right there that has never and will never see it's equal.
No, it really can't. A LOT of American "culture" is crap, but at least it's their own. What does it say about another country - and I'm talking about ANY country - that buys into all that garbage in more ways than one? All while condemning it?
I think your posts are a welcome addition to the Canadian threads, don. It's always a pleasure to talk to Americans who know about, and appreciate, things in Canada. But have you ever actually lived in Canada?
No, but I didn't realize that I was stating Canadian culture existed either, because I don't think it does , and I'm done defending it, too. I am simply stating that Americas culture isn't theirs either. Some of it is, but a lot of it is nothing to be proud of. What kinda of culture is really "theirs"? iPhones? iPhones that were made somewhere else?
like botti said, going to places like Europe and Asia you will find real culture that is defined more than little gadgets that come out of America and materialistic images that America creates on a TV screen.
That is interesting and I do not doubt what you are saying. I just don't recall the published comics being a part of most of my Canadian friends childhood. Whereas translations like the "Black Island" was definitely something that was present in many West Indian households.
That is interesting and I do not doubt what you are saying. I just don't recall the published comics being a part of most of my Canadian friends childhood. Whereas translations like the "Black Island" was definitely something that was present in many West Indian households.
Yeah. Nelvana from Toronto got the contract to produce the animated TV series and this led to the series being shown on TV in Canada and elsewhere. It helped increase Tintin's visibility a bit I suppose but it was fairly late in the game as Tintin has been popular since the 1940s and 1950s in much of the world. Not sure if it led to a boost in actual comic album sales in Anglo Canada. My siblings' spouses are all Anglo-Canadians born and raised and had never heard of Tintin before the Spielberg movie came out a few years ago.
Before I moved here, and for the first 6 months in Canada, I really wanted to be more Canadian. Eat Canadian, do things Canadian. Watch Canadian TV and talk to friends about it.
Only to find it is impossible. People here just live like a typical American. Replace CVS with Shoppers and you have a Canadian life. My colleagues talk about Game of Thrones, and on TV I am disgusted by Canadian Idol,So you think you can Dance, Canada, Amazing Race, Canada, Top Chef Canada. It is like Canada sets its mind on recreating a smaller (and usually inferior/less interesting) version of everything American. How comes is there no "The Voice, Canada"?
And honestly Canadian news are extremely boring. Yeah, Ontario teachers are striking again, and Toronto housing market continues to be hot. Yawn.
So far the only thing where I "integrated" is my breakfast. I have been eating milk/cereal or bagels for the past 7 years, but there is really nothing Canadian about that either. Other than that, hardly anything I am aware of.
What else? Say sorry if I am in other people's way? I always did that even before I came to Canada.
I am not complaining about my life here - although not wealthy, I am satisfied with my quality of life here. But there is nothing Canadian about me or anything.
It is not about melting pot or salad bowl, or the fact the government encourages diversity. There is simply nothing to melt into.
Here in Quebec, the situation is a bit different. As most people probably know a good number of our immigrants here ''get away'' from the francophone majority culture. They adopt English as their main language (though they often know French too) but the culture they integrate into is that of the Anglo-American mainstream just like it would be had they settled in Ajax, Ontario or Calgary, Alberta. This trend is much more prevalent among the older established immigrant groups and is slowly declining as newer immigrants tend to be more French-oriented. It still happens though, but far less than it used to.
I went to university in English in Ontario. Not taking English classes at a bilingual one like Laurentian or Ottawa U. A real English language only university.
Anyone, one day in a Canadian studies class, the professor brought out a study from the Friends of Canadian Broadcasting about TV viewership in Canada.
One of the things that jumped out was the francophone Canadians devoted 75-80% of their television viewing (drama, fiction and variety) to Canadian productions.
Anglophone Canadians on the other hand devoted something like 95% of this viewing time to ''foreign productions".
The discussion initially began with a bit of chest-thumping from many of my classmates, who proclaimed how worldly anglophone Canadians were and how insular francophone Canadians (well, Quebecers really is what they had in mind) were. Here was proof of this. Remember we were all about 20 years old.
The professor, who was an old Jewish guy from Montreal, brought them down to earth when he reminded them that 93 of the 95% was simply mainstream American programming, and that it wasn't an indication of worldliness at all. Quite the contrary.
He said something like: ''We're talking Home Improvement, Baywatch and Cosby Show, guys. Not the best the world has to offer from the BBC and other high quality networks..."
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And how is it "unique" as you admitted it only displays vestige of English culture - wouldn't England have plenty of English culture? 
