Please give me evidence of ways in which unique culture exists in America beyond the influence of corporations. Where do you see music that is free of the music industry grasp? Where do you find unique clothing? Where do you go to eat unique food? Do you have other examples of unique culture? I worry that corporations are destroying, dictating and creating our culture.
One thing that has been bugging me is the corporate version of culture that we see decorating chain restaurants like Applebees, Max and Erma's, Friday's, Chili's, Bennigan's, The Olive Garden, etc. The cultural artifacts that decorate the walls don't seem real to me--it's like stepping into the Matrix, an artificially generated world. Yet I wonder if this "culture" isn't taking the place of real American culture as these restaurants spread and take the place of individually owned restaurants. Who decides what goes on the restaurants' walls? Are there companies that specialize in American culture manufacturing from which the decorations are purchased? Please note that I feel that American culture incorporates cultures from all over the world--so I include the fake Italian culture that you get at The Olive Garden or the fake Mexican culture that you get at Chi Chi's. Please give me some feedback that will show that culture in America is not in jeopardy.
Article comments
1 - Doyce
Role-playing games and gamers. Social interaction, social groups, all formed around an activity that is designed and contributed to by other fans of the hobby. There are some corporations involved in the hobby (HasBro, etc.), but they generally influence only the 'fad' games -- adult RP gamers tend to use homebrew and small press products, free of the kind of mass culture seep you see from corporate products.
2 - duane
Physics.
3 - Jonathan
Illegal gambling ?