Celebrate the idea 'America'
May. 12th, 2008 09:44 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
imomusI spotted these posters -- a campaign entitled "Make yourself an agent of BRAND AMERICA" -- on the mushroom-shaped billboard at the Maybachufer market near my house in Neukolln.
The posters purport to be cultural tips for Americans visiting other countries. I haven't seen them anywhere else, and I can't find any reference to them on the web. I guess they're an art project of some sort.
CELEBRATE THE IDEA 'AMERICA'. Americans have specialized in selling dreams, fears, and folklore of other people back to them. So bring back the best of the world and leave a little of the best of yourself wherever you go.
THINK BIG. ACT SMALL. BE HUMBLE. When Americans meet each other for the first time, our job and implied status is a key part of "who" we are, and how we introduce ourselves. This is less important elsewhere. Disguise your immediate business affiliations. While thinking big, act small. Be humble.
TRY THE LANGUAGE. Try to speak some of the language. It's easier than you think and ok to sound like a child. "Hallo" means "hello" and "Danke" "thank you".
SMILE. GENUINELY. IT'S A UNIVERSAL EQUALIZER.
The posters purport to be cultural tips for Americans visiting other countries. I haven't seen them anywhere else, and I can't find any reference to them on the web. I guess they're an art project of some sort.
CELEBRATE THE IDEA 'AMERICA'. Americans have specialized in selling dreams, fears, and folklore of other people back to them. So bring back the best of the world and leave a little of the best of yourself wherever you go.
THINK BIG. ACT SMALL. BE HUMBLE. When Americans meet each other for the first time, our job and implied status is a key part of "who" we are, and how we introduce ourselves. This is less important elsewhere. Disguise your immediate business affiliations. While thinking big, act small. Be humble.
TRY THE LANGUAGE. Try to speak some of the language. It's easier than you think and ok to sound like a child. "Hallo" means "hello" and "Danke" "thank you".
SMILE. GENUINELY. IT'S A UNIVERSAL EQUALIZER.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 08:08 am (UTC)Then again, I'm from Canada, so anything that pokes fun at our noisy neighbours downstairs is a-ok by me.
Eh.
evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 10:17 am (UTC)http://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/;art772,2460147
all the best,f.
Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 12:12 pm (UTC)Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 12:40 pm (UTC)That's a sentiment I can get behind.
The posters themselves are rather toothless, though, if they're genuinely targeting Americans abroad.
The first poster calls to mind both Hollywood's love-letters to itself and classic cubscout/camper slogans about the proper treatment of campsites. Since they're tactfully short on specific suggestions, the average American reader is likely to nod along and claim to be doing just that.
The second poster strikes me as off; maybe it's just the circles I travel in, but leading off with, "I'm Bob and I'm an account manager at Wells Fargo" is exceedingly rare unless you're at a business meeting. Americans are very used to hearing their culture constructed as being less hierarchical than "stuffy Old Europe", so the artists need to be more direct if they want to pierce the veil of Amerikajinron and make a point about the importance of socioeconomic status in America. It's something that's genuinely invisible to many of the people who are privileged enough to travel to Europe.
The third poster I agree with completely. I think there's a segment of the US that in a twisted way looks down on bilingualism. Middle America's "English Only" sentiment is definitely something that needs to be educated away.
The 4th one, I promise, will get exactly this reaction: "What's this motivational poster doing here? It kinda reminds me of 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen).' Remember that? Haha, and then Chris Rock did that parody where he was like 'Gemini: You're gonna die. TWICE.' That was awesome. Hey look, a headshop! You think they'll have like, totenkopf bongs?" -- And speaking of totenkopfs, I thought death was supposed to be the great equalizer. Is a "genuine smile" supposed to be the rictus of death? It's unaffected, I suppose.
The idea is similar to something Laurie Anderson talked about on "The Ugly One With The Jewels," where she travels to Israel in the 90s and is given advice on how to travel discreetly and disguise the fact that she's an American. "It's really something to hear your entire culture broken down into 6 give-away signs!"
Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 12:42 pm (UTC)Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 12:44 pm (UTC)This should explain a lot.
Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-13 02:22 am (UTC)Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 01:00 pm (UTC)Re: evil knievel
Date: 2008-05-12 01:41 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 10:20 am (UTC)wewillbecome.com
Der Amerikanische Freund
Date: 2008-05-12 12:34 pm (UTC)three americans will play in das kleine field recordings festival.
One from California, but living in Berlin now, one from New York City, who is on a visit, and one from Alaska, but on a nomadic trail for some time now.
I wonder what their stories will sound like.
Re: Der Amerikanische Freund
Date: 2008-05-12 12:34 pm (UTC)America Will Rise Again
Date: 2008-05-12 01:06 pm (UTC)"Anybody who would prefer China's communists needs to see their doctor."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/may/11/usa
Re: America Will Rise Again
Date: 2008-05-12 09:01 pm (UTC)If they can afford health insurance.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 02:53 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 07:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 08:53 pm (UTC)Americans have been getting by with the "we saved your ass in WWII" for too long. Nobody likes a favor counter.
Truth is, we have plenty of pre-Bush history to be ashamed of and even after Barak and Michelle boot George and Laura out the front door there will be plenty more.
So as you Brits might say - carry on, stiff upper lip, mus'nt grumble.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 10:27 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 10:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 11:34 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 11:35 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-13 02:24 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-13 08:51 am (UTC)Well, recently I've almost finished my current work, No Longer Tapeworm, and I'm hoping to start soon on my next work, No Longer Virus.
Carping little islands
Date: 2008-05-12 08:58 pm (UTC)Criticising our political leaders, our government and our culture is part of what we are.
It's one laudable aspect of our culture, patriotism is such a dreary, witless little vice.
Re: Carping little islands
Date: 2008-05-12 10:31 pm (UTC)Re: Carping little islands
Date: 2008-05-13 08:50 pm (UTC)Agreed... just know that there are many of us over here who find it just as dreary...
Re: Carping little islands
Date: 2008-05-13 09:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 03:10 pm (UTC)seem like to me.
Date: 2008-05-12 04:32 pm (UTC)one 'instruction' really ought to be
Date: 2008-05-12 03:33 pm (UTC)Re: one 'instruction' really ought to be
Date: 2008-05-12 04:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 05:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-12 08:47 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-13 01:45 pm (UTC)http://www.liquidaciontotal.org/arte_valores_sociedad.htm
---looks like a good event, a few gallery/alterntive space people I know from here are going. if you go along, do us a write- up!
celebrate the idea
Date: 2008-05-13 05:49 pm (UTC)http://www.amazon.com/Theory-Practice-Oligarchic-Collectivism-Goldstein/dp/1438212852/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1210700842&sr=1-1
m.
Re: celebrate the idea
Date: 2008-05-13 07:55 pm (UTC)There's a difference between the american norm and the american free. There's can be a hegemony in european cultural tyrrany.
Re: celebrate the idea
Date: 2008-05-13 08:06 pm (UTC)California is still Germania's westen promised land, the way I've caught each and every Bavarian i've ever known dreamily talk about it.