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American culture really is no different than others, how many crappy Bollywood movies have you seen from India or cheesy Japanese songs?
I agree. Celebrity and youth are worshipped in most other industrialized nations. Britain is just as bad if not worse with tabloid culture, and Japan has a CRAZY idol worship culture of bizarre (often American) pop tarts. Latin America is similarly enveloped in their own celebrity distractions.
Maybe if you go to some remote place where people are too worried about where their next meal is coming from rather than entertainment, you'd find things to be different, but in my travels, celebrity and youth worship is almost universal.
America doesn't have a Homer or Shakespeare to begin with. That's the real problem.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex Libman
Looking from a distance, we judge all other cultures by their greatest accomplishments, not pop culture trivia. We don't know if Homer or Shakespeare was the most popular personality of his day, maybe some flatulence artist or professional heretic torturer was far more popular!
Too fast paced, too materialistic, lack of empathy. Its a disease I call Americanism and its spreading.
Yes, I agree, and also remember, we are a culture that "chases happiness". Think about that. Even if we "catch" what we are chasing, that will never be enough. Happiness, in the minds of many people, lies is endless aquisition. Reminds me of an old "Peanuts" cartoon, in which Lucy is voicing her desire for "ups" and "more ups" and "upper ups. . . . .", even the sky cannot be the limit, with that kind of thinking!
Very nice post!! You have shown thousands of people that you cannot attack a point only a screen name .. I would assume your parents are proud of you??? Or by pointing out the flaws in this country i hit a nerve? Was it the fat bloated couch potato thing??
Because of the obvious irony in your post, no more, no less. It deserved mocking.
I just don't watch much TV anymore outside of the History Channel, Comedy Central and some sports. If I don't feel like doing a physical activity I'd much prefer playing a video game, surfing the net or reading a book than watching television.
That being said, there are/were several good shows on cable. I loved the Sopranos, 6 Feet under and Oz and enjoy Weeds and Dexter.
America doesn't have a Homer or Shakespeare to begin with. That's the real problem.
Well, from Mark Twain to Arthur Miller to Emily Dickinson to Norman Mailer, we've had plenty of literary giants.
I don't think that's the problem.
I mentioned lotus-eaters before, and I think that's part of what is wrong with us. We've become awfully passive, and more than a little superficial.
I think some people work so hard, when they come home at night, they just want to veg out in front of a screen.
Good luck abroad because you will find the exact same thing although it might appeal to you as with everything abroad, "its a little different", to cop a line from Tarantino.
Anyone who spent more than an hour watching TV in Italy knows the land of Dante, Da Vinci and Fellini produces a surplus of drech centering on talk shows featuring busty bombshells (not without their appeal mind you).
Rod Stewart told Charlie Rose that American tabloids are "pussycats" compared to their British counterparts. I guess Shakespeare does not have the monopoly on culture there.
I have resided in Germany. Their TV and newstands are saturated with softcore porn, idiotic talk shows ("Neighbors who date Foreigners!!!") and mindless drivel regarding "music" videos. Goethe and Grass wept.
And let us not forget that the most overrated and vapid celeb of all, Lady or Princess Diana, died in France while being chased by photographers eager to feed a hungering public. Where were you Jean-Paul Sartre?
So by all means move abroad! But instead of espresso sipping intellectuals discussing Existentialism in the cafes, you will find Budweiser-swilling fans of Tom Cruise. Just like here.
Thanks for the tips, but I was speaking of Bologna, Italy. I have a few very good friends there and I have been there a couple of times. Have you been? Quite different than a typical American city and too much great art, music, wine and food to worry about what is on TV.
Last edited by sickofnyc; 12-29-2008 at 12:30 PM..
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Don't know if that's a proper Haiku setup, syllable wise....
