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PenName
Joined: 27 Apr 2010
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 Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 11:56 am Post subject: Tired of U.S. culture |
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Has anyone else become tired of American culture?
I'm not from the USA, but as an English speaker it seems nearly impossible to avoid Americans and their culture, for obvious reasons. A large portion of English language news, movies, books, etc. are produced in the USA. Perhaps because Americans are always trying to "make a quick buck", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid American media, and prefer to watch international movies, and read novels by non-American authors. It just seems that anything produced by Americans these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and commercial, like it is produced for profit first, and creativity later. Maybe the truly creative stuff just doesn't get promoted, and only the trash floats... who knows. And lets not even talk about their foolish entertainment-politics. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:23 pm Post subject: Re: Tired of U.S. culture |
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| PenName wrote: |
Has anyone else become tired of American culture?
I'm not from the USA, but as an English speaker it seems nearly impossible to avoid Americans and their culture, for obvious reasons. A large portion of English language news, movies, books, etc. are produced in the USA. Perhaps because Americans are always trying to "make a quick buck", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid American media, and prefer to watch international movies, and read novels by non-American authors. It just seems that anything produced by Americans these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and commercial, like it is produced for profit first, and creativity later. Maybe the truly creative stuff just doesn't get promoted, and only the trash floats... who knows. And lets not even talk about their foolish entertainment-politics. |
As a patriotic American and as a Nationalist I gotta say... you're right.
My TV is so caked in dust I'm afraid to turn it on lest it catch fire. How many good movies come out every year (and hundreds of millions of dollars) from Hollywood? The good books only penetrate the large book shops where niche markets are still found in the wild. Music? Well, since Tool has been on hiatus for some time now...
Here is the problem. Someone along the line drank Central American tap water and acted out causality on a canvas, then sold it to a real bonny pure-bred in NYC for a steamy million.
Another untalented and uncreative hack is inspired and writes a viral article using Marxist theory (what theory in the arts hasn't become Marxist?) and claims that the proletariat have an equally valid voice in appraising aesthetic value as the educated and respected critic.
Combine this with the Modernist hard-on for Al Prufrocks and suddenly you've got a perfect storm for brainless drivel:
1. Fixation with the mundane;
2. Aversion to scholarship and canon;
3. Dismissal of old-world aesthetic standards.
Now value is ascribed to popularity. The educated, cultured -- actual -- critics are ignored, sometimes ridiculed, because they're seen as "out of touch" and dinosaurs.
So what's a fellow to do? Dig. Dig deep. It's still out there. Not all post modernism is paragon garbage. There are alternatives to Hollywood -- but you're probably going to need an international DVD player.
North America is becoming a cultural wasteland. Discourse everyday resembles Youtube comments more and more. Even our political systems are becoming pluralistic and baseless.
To some this is a good thing. Some see this as a form of democracy where the vulgar take the reigns of cultural institutions to propagate their interests, their needs, their goals. As the culture is dragged down to their level, the necessity of education for participation in macro society becomes less... Before long, even minimal education ruins the genitally geared mass culture...
You can't ferment piss into wine.
An excellent book on the subject (and much more elegant than my vulgar yankee tongue) is "Our Culture, What's Left of It" by Theodore Dalrymple. It covers many aspects of the decline in British culture. It applies smartly to American culture as well -- both critters are dying from the same poison. |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 2:31 pm Post subject: |
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| I weep for you ! |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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Culture is so DIVERSE in the U.S. that the op is clearly (as stated) an outsider looking at only the superficial hyped stuff.
I'm not American but on my many visits I've noted the enormous variety in everything from music to books to films to live performances, really a treasure trove once you get past the Hollywood blockbusters, top-40 pop and New York Times bestsellers.
Pick up an Edward P. Jones, Reynolds Price or Timothy Egan.
Have you seen the Cohen's A Serious Man or Kathryn Bigelow�s The Hurt Locker? I am sure you didn't see John Malkovich in Disgrace or Michelle Monaghan in Trucker.
A nation of a quarter billion people living very different lives from the coasts to points inbetween has produced and continues to produce a mountain of great works. Don't be fooled by the lowness of the common denominator sold to export markets 
Remember: Rambo, Michael Jackson and Dan Brown took the world by storm but don't by any means represent the quality of cultural works available if one goes looking for it in the US of A. |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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I enjoyed Rambo. Just sayin' 
Seriously, VanIslander is right. Dig, baby, dig. You'll find it. It's getting harder to find a flower in this vast field of uniformly cut grass, but they're out there. |
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The Gipkik
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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The Clash said it many years ago:
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do? |
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.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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| The Gipkik wrote: |
The Clash said it many years ago:
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
I'm so bored with the U.S.A.
But what can I do? |
................. you mean other than leave?
heheheheheheheh
I'm so naughty.  |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| I'd be bored stupid here if it wasn't for USA TV shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, Curb your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, plus many more. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| yeah, it's so much better to immerse yourself in Non-American media because it is so original and distinct from the American version. You know, like all the Korean music, tv shows, and movies. Now that's refreshing! |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:29 pm Post subject: |
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US culture is great. US pop culture, not so much.
I can't stand shows like American Idol or Jersey Shore.
However, I love shows like The Office, Always Sunny, HBO shows, and Family Guy. I don't like Lady Gaga or other pop songs, but I love Mae, Jimmy Eat World, Something Corporate, etc... |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Let's be honest here. When it comes to TV, Korean TV is quite awful and a lot of it makes Korean men come across as complete asshats (using the US vernacular). |
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yoja
Joined: 30 May 2008
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:49 pm Post subject: |
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Has anyone else become tired of trolls on Dave's?
I'm not often on Dave's, but as an English speaker in Korea, it seems nearly impossible to avoid trolls and their culture on Dave's, for obvious reasons. A large portion of threads are produced by trolls. Perhaps because trolls are always trying to "push someone's button", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid threads with trolls, and prefer to read things by non-trolling authors. It just seems that anything produced by trolls on Dave's these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and over-the-top, like it is produced merely to provoke reactions first, and with a flourish of creativity only as an afterthought. Maybe the truly good stuff just doesn't get bumped, and only the trash floats... who knows. And let's not even talk about the trolls' propensity to use Dave's for their foolish entertainment-politics. |
Fixed it for you.  |
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kabrams
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Location: your Dad's house
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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| yoja wrote: |
| Quote: |
Has anyone else become tired of trolls on Dave's?
I'm not often on Dave's, but as an English speaker in Korea, it seems nearly impossible to avoid trolls and their culture on Dave's, for obvious reasons. A large portion of threads are produced by trolls. Perhaps because trolls are always trying to "push someone's button", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid threads with trolls, and prefer to read things by non-trolling authors. It just seems that anything produced by trolls on Dave's these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and over-the-top, like it is produced merely to provoke reactions first, and with a flourish of creativity only as an afterthought. Maybe the truly good stuff just doesn't get bumped, and only the trash floats... who knows. And let's not even talk about the trolls' propensity to use Dave's for their foolish entertainment-politics. |
Fixed it for you. |
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oskinny1
Joined: 10 Nov 2006
Location: Right behind you!
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:26 pm Post subject: Re: Tired of U.S. culture |
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| PenName wrote: |
Has anyone else become tired of American culture?
I'm not from the USA, but as an English speaker it seems nearly impossible to avoid Americans and their culture, for obvious reasons. A large portion of English language news, movies, books, etc. are produced in the USA. Perhaps because Americans are always trying to "make a quick buck", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid American media, and prefer to watch international movies, and read novels by non-American authors. It just seems that anything produced by Americans these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and commercial, like it is produced for profit first, and creativity later. Maybe the truly creative stuff just doesn't get promoted, and only the trash floats... who knows. And lets not even talk about their foolish entertainment-politics. |
I agree, the world needs more Spice Girls and Jordans. |
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chellovek
Joined: 29 Feb 2008
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| Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 8:41 pm Post subject: Re: Tired of U.S. culture |
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| oskinny1 wrote: |
| PenName wrote: |
Has anyone else become tired of American culture?
I'm not from the USA, but as an English speaker it seems nearly impossible to avoid Americans and their culture, for obvious reasons. A large portion of English language news, movies, books, etc. are produced in the USA. Perhaps because Americans are always trying to "make a quick buck", a lot of the things they put out are utter rubbish!
I try to avoid American media, and prefer to watch international movies, and read novels by non-American authors. It just seems that anything produced by Americans these days is so very superficial, manufactured, and commercial, like it is produced for profit first, and creativity later. Maybe the truly creative stuff just doesn't get promoted, and only the trash floats... who knows. And lets not even talk about their foolish entertainment-politics. |
I agree, the world needs more Spice Girls and Jordans. |
Can't beat good old plastic-surgery-enhanced *beep*.
Edit- guh, since when has using the 't' word for breasts become something that gets blocked out? |
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