What Pop Culture Makes You Proud to Be American?

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

Shamelessly ripped from this great AVClub article: http://www.avclub.com/articles/american ... e,29967/1/

What piece of pop culture makes you proud to be an American?

Well, number one for me, of course, is Achewood. Goddamn does Christ Onstad know how to write, and it's amazing how well he can characterize obsessions of Americana (although he takes the foodie angle way too far for my liking). Onstad is a brilliant writer born and raised in the throes of American pop culture, and it shows.

Another piece of pop culture that makes me want to wave a flag is the Venture Bros, which is such a wonderful representation of American pop culture in general, which is America's major and most fabulous export. The shows energy and exuberant, parody-intensive universe is a love letter to the one thing America gives freely to itself and the world--pop culture itself, the mythology of the now, the zeitgeist of a teen nation. Which brings me to...

Nirvana. Hot damn do I love rock n' roll and holy shit do I love Nirvana. They may be overrated, but they are a definitive sound and Cobain is a definitive voice of the disilusioned youth I had the chance of growing up right after. And, though Nirvana gives all credit to the Pixies (the Japanese fucking love the Pixies, apparently), Nirvana has that weird energy I could only imagine coming from the disenfranchised, yet naive youth in America.

Lastly, of course, there's shit like The Simpsons which is now a universal staple...and Bruce Springsteen, fighting for the working man, his iconic song forever misinterpreted by idiots and Reagans everywhere.

NOW HOW ABOUT YOU FUCKERS?

@Li3n · Jul 3, 2009

Nirvana was only overrated because every other grunge band sucked...

Bowielee · Jul 3, 2009

I really don't think Achewood is pop culture.

Geek culture, yes, but pop culture, no.

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

Bowielee said:
I really don't think Achewood is pop culture.

Geek culture, yes, but pop culture, no.

:blue: and these are exclusive......hhhhhhoooooowwwwwww? ? ?

?

?

Bowielee · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
Bowielee said:

I really don't think Achewood is pop culture.

Geek culture, yes, but pop culture, no.

Click to expand...

:blue: and these are exclusive......hhhhhhoooooowwwwwww? ? ?

?

?

The pop in pop culture stands for Popular, as in popular with the general populace.

Jul 3, 2009

Jazz.

sixpackshaker · Jul 3, 2009

Pop Culture is normally a

See the Transformers thread.

Allen who is Quiet · Jul 3, 2009

ZenMonkey said:
Jazz.

also the blues.

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

Bowielee said:
ElJuski said:

Bowielee said:

I really don't think Achewood is pop culture.

Geek culture, yes, but pop culture, no.

Click to expand...

:blue: and these are exclusive......hhhhhhoooooowwwwwww? ? ?

?

?

Click to expand...

The pop in pop culture stands for Popular, as in popular with the general populace.

Yeah, well, when you have a country whose main export is different popular cultures, pop culture becomes an expanse. But that's okay, you can continue to believe that geek culture doesn't comprise of pop culture.

Or, you know, be anal about it on what was supposed to be a fun, easy going thread.

Shegokigo · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
Or, you know, be anal about it.

Does Bowielee have much option?

aranoid:
To relate to Juski's point however, I give you:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Fs7IpNVCo:3kvqtuz0][/youtube:3kvqtuz0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT8maUTzE48:3kvqtuz0][/youtube:3kvqtuz0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FET09MYis_g:3kvqtuz0][/youtube:3kvqtuz0]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRwNr9gp1jo:3kvqtuz0][/youtube:3kvqtuz0]

Bowielee · Jul 3, 2009

OK, I mean popular in the mainstream.

Ask the average person on the street what Achewood is and they will not know.

Ask the average person on the street what world of warcraft is, and they will know.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the american populace doesn't even know that Achewood exists.

Gurpel · Jul 3, 2009

Bowielee said:
OK, I mean popular in the mainstream.

Ask the average person on the street what Achewood is and they will not know.

Ask the average person on the street what world of warcraft is, and they will know.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the american populace doesn't even know that Achewood exists.

^ this, basically. as cool as achewood is, it isn't pop culture. ez rock, rap, and mtv are pop culture. a trendy webcomic is not pop culture. a cartoon for stoners is not pop culture. pop culture is where talent goes to die.

if you ever told kurt cobain that he was one of your favorite pop culture icons, he probably would have cried.

Bowielee · Jul 3, 2009

Gurpel said:
Bowielee said:

OK, I mean popular in the mainstream.

Ask the average person on the street what Achewood is and they will not know.

Ask the average person on the street what world of warcraft is, and they will know.

I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the american populace doesn't even know that Achewood exists.

Click to expand...

^ this, basically. as cool as achewood is, it isn't pop culture. ez rock, rap, and mtv are pop culture. a trendy webcomic is not pop culture. a cartoon for stoners is not pop culture. pop culture is where talent goes to die.

if you ever told kurt cobain that he was one of your favorite pop culture icons, he probably would have cried.

Or commited sui...

oh..

Gurpel · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

Bowielee said:
I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the american populace doesn't even know that Achewood exists.

No, that is exactly what you are trying to do, is be nitpicky. Just fucking say what pop culture makes YOU proud as YOU DEFINE it or get the fuck out of a lighthearted thread, man.

North_Ranger · Jul 3, 2009

Can us internationals pitch in with our own sources of popular culture national pride?

Allen who is Quiet · Jul 3, 2009

i would also like to submit rock and roll.

Far · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

North_Ranger said:
Can us internationals pitch in with our own sources of popular culture national pride?

Fuck yeah son

North_Ranger · Jul 3, 2009

Allen said:
i would also like to submit rock and roll.

and

?

Allen who is Quiet · Jul 3, 2009

yes, that is the gist of what i said

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

Also, having just fully digested the Kurt Cobain thing...

LOOK AROUND YOU AND TELL ME HOW KURT COBAIN DIDN'T HELP DEFINE THE MAINSTREAM ROCK N' ROLL SCENE

-- Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:47 pm --

Also: Did any of you read the linked article? That might give you some suggestions beyond your narrow, obviously pissy worldview of what "pop culture" entails.

Gurpel · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
Also, having just fully digested the Kurt Cobain thing...

LOOK AROUND YOU AND TELL ME HOW KURT COBAIN DIDN'T HELP DEFINE THE MAINSTREAM ROCK N' ROLL SCENE

well, he did. i never said he didn't. i just said that it is an honour he wouldn't have wanted.

Shegokigo · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
Also, having just fully digested the Kurt Cobain thing...

LOOK AROUND YOU AND TELL ME HOW KURT COBAIN DIDN'T HELP DEFINE THE MAINSTREAM ROCK N' ROLL SCENE

-- Fri Jul 03, 2009 12:47 pm --

Also: Did any of you read the linked article? That might give you some suggestions beyond your narrow, obviously * worldview of what "pop culture" entails.

So much for lighthearted eh? :slywink:

ElJuski · Jul 3, 2009

I know. I would go the Mav route and say modz lck plz, but...fuck it, I've got a two and a half hour drive and maybe, just maaaybe this thread could turn around.

Shegokigo · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
I know. I would go the Mav route and say modz lck plz, but...smurf it, I've got a two and a half hour drive and maybe, just maaaybe this thread could turn around.

Well not if I have anything to say about it.

My favorite pop culture icon for America is Transformers by Michael Bay. :twisted:

Charlie Don't Surf · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
I know. I would go the Mav route and say modz lck plz, but...

....you're not a pussy.

I don't think "pop music" = "popular music" the same way that "pop culture" isn't the same as "popular culture".

Shakey · Jul 3, 2009

Personally I'd say Hank Williams. His music just seemed to be truly authentic. He really threw himself out there for everyone to see, and never backed down from it. He lived and died the rock and roll lifestyle before there was even rock and roll. His lyrics translated through to just about any style of music. Most of the early rock stars covered his music when they were starting out, and people still cover his music. "Cold, Cold Heart" was recorded by Tony Bennett, Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Aretha Franklin, Bill Haley & His Comets, Norah Jones, Lucinda Williams, Freddy Fender, and others. I'm not a huge country music fan, but I love the classics. I always found it interesting that the last song he recorded was "I'll never get out of this world alive" before dying at 29.

Im not gonna worry wrinkles in my brow
cause nothins ever gonna be alright nohow
No matter how I struggle and strive
Ill never get out of this world alive.

Good enough Juicy?

Shegokigo · Jul 3, 2009

Good one Shakey, though I preferred Cash over Williams.

Shakey · Jul 3, 2009

Yeah, it's definitely a toss up between those two. I know a lot of people just don't like the twangy sound of Williams. Cash probably had more of a direct influence on rock since he was out there when everything was happening.

Allen who is Quiet · Jul 3, 2009

ElJuski said:
Also: Did any of you read the linked article? That might give you some suggestions beyond your narrow, obviously pissy worldview of what "pop culture" entails.

what? you want me to go into detail about it? eh, fine. need something to do while waiting for the water to boil.

the blues is the most american thing i can think of. the blues are made up of influences from all over, with european harmonies and instruments combined with traditional african musical sensibilities. when it came to playing the guitar, many had no idea how to play it the proper way, so they played it their way, with their own tunings and what-not.

the way the blues evolved was based off of urban migration and travel. the traditional mississippi delta blues grew into something more when many bluesmen followed the rails to chicago. the blues began to fill dance clubs, and gave jazz musicians new musical tools to play with.

eventually, the blues spawned the musical genre of rock and roll, which changed the popular music. the blues started from the bottom and worked its way up to the top, becoming one of the biggest musical genres.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A:2p9x4ip2][/youtube:2p9x4ip2]

Chazwozel · Jul 3, 2009

Mother fucking Rocky. American icon in the flesh!

figmentPez · Jul 3, 2009

Is Dirty Jobs sufficiently Americana? Seriously, that show is awesome.
"My name is Mike Rowe, and this is my job: I explore the country looking for people who aren't afraid to get dirty—hard-working men and women who earn an honest living doing the kinds of jobs that make civilized life possible for the rest of us. Now... get ready, to get dirty."
A much better celebration of hard-work in America than John Ratzenberger's Made in America (which isn't a bad show, it's just bland in comparison).

Shegokigo · Jul 3, 2009

Chazwozel said:
Mother smurfing Rocky. American icon in the flesh!

Pssst... he's Italian. :slywink:

figmentPez · Jul 3, 2009

Shegokigo said:
Pssst... he's Italian. :slywink:

Yup, Italian like spaghetti and meatballs! Or pepperoni pizza!