Jun 23, 2010

I'm loving it.
(part one----rangy, rah-rah---am fan of Coors commercials)

I almost got 'God Bless America' printed below my address on the new set of cheques I ordered ayer (chose a waving flag instead). It's in the air, has been for a long minute (G-d and The U.S.A.). All of the sinister xenophobic (even vaguely White Power) implications/warpings/repurposings of stock, regular American patriotism (it's style, it's proclamation) in the last decade have faded (for obvious reasons). And it feels great!
And beyond the flag motif, is THE BRAND, The McDonald's, The Coca-Cola, The Disney, The Wal-Mart---these logos and slogans and whole adverts and store designs and product ranges....lifestylez---in an unremittingly complicated way----are also grand emblems of (U.S.) America and our Americaness, better/worse, sickness/health(?).
I often complain (sorry) about how the poorly stocked, strangely constructed chain megastores and restaurants of New York City (as well as my lack of truck to haul goods with) make me feel unAmerican, not in America, with its promise of big/easy/everything at once, and it bums me out.
Like in Clueless-----
"No shit you guys got coke here?!"
"Well, yeah---it's America..."------
Constant, present availability of new and various (also same, typical, universalized...) goods, franchises one just like the next, parking, air-conditioning, free samples happen here like nowhere else. And to love the flow of product and product-image is like self-love (another American talent/export/thing worth celebrating). And when done proper, self-love is not delusional; it's our stiff-upper-lip. It's our way of reconciling with forward momentum, acknowledging that nothing is wholly good; nothing is wholly wicked; that we're lucky too.....
Global-titan McDonald's originated as a single burger joint in San Bernardino in 1940! Whatever one might think of cheap meat, chemical flavors, Globalism, the Corporate model full stop, it must be noted that such growth, such ingenuity and subsequent power, is impressive, important, inherently American and a big deal. We pursue happiness, money and an idea of happiness, a McFlurry, a cartoon princess, an imprint everywhere.
I feel a little clever and powerful when I hold the symbols, the mini-carton of fries, the can of Cola, the Hannah Montana beach towel.
Irony got so busted and dumb; it seems not a proper descriptor for how we might celebrate the emblems of corporate America. Outside parties might rightly perceive irony in it, but I assure you I love these new Coors commercials straight-up, because they're not nerdy, smarmy and self-loathing. They are self-loving (and good-looking).

2 comments:

Philippa said...

I'm as sincere as they come (and I love your self-love argument), but even so, I couldn't quite take Landon Donovan saying (tearfully, of course) this afternoon that winning the game made him a surer believer that there is "good in the world."

Able said...

hmmmm. what a creep.
the general, 'borderless' energy of the world cup should inspire those feelings more than any specific win.
or, whatever he should just know not to say that stuff out loud.
his name is landon.
this is why i struggle with rooting for the u.s. futbol team----