I’ve mentioned many times before of my keen interest in the culture wars (e.g. see here). But something has changed.
For example, in the Fifties, the lines were clear. Rock ‘n’ roll was the devil’s music and a tool of anti-American forces. Patti Page and Perry Como were on the side of goodness and patriotism. Today, country music is the go-to genre for patriotism, but the lyrics are also full of such adult themes as drinking and cheating. This is not a bad thing, but it demonstrates how the lines have blurred.
National politician with a pregnant unmarried teenage daughter — what does it mean? In 2008, it turns out to stand for truly living the pro-life stance. When we learned in ‘92 that Bill Clinton had inhaled, it was a big deal. Now, despite attempts by certain Republicans to make it a big deal, Obama’s well-known past drug use isn’t making waves at all. Libertarian Ron Paul attracted a lot of support from young people for his decriminalization approach to marijuana. Many conservatives have championed literacy and knowledge in the past, but are now celebrating the down-home mispronouncing of nations’ names, instead of the “ostentatiously exotic” actual pronunciation.
So, it’s a little hard today to figure out what issues define each side of the culture wars. At the same time, it’s more tempting than ever to find two opposing sides and then draw a line between them.
For example, a few weeks ago, two movies opened on the same weekend: Religulous and An American Carol. Religulous is the product of the liberal/libertarian Bill Maher and is a satirical attack on religion. An American Carol is the product of Hollywood conservatives and is a satirical attack on Michael Moore. Somewhere I had read somebody comparing their opening box office weekends. I started looking up a few figures and posted about it on Twitter (1, 2, 3, 4).
I had fallen into the trap: One movie represented one side of an argument and one represented the other and they would fight it out in the marketplace and one side would win. I haven’t seen either movie; maybe they both suck. Or maybe one is good and one is bad, but the bad one makes a ton on money and the good one tanks. or whatever.
Michelle Malkin once wrote about giving up Starbucks for Dunkin’ Donuts and, in addition to the obvious price savings, she put a political spin on it. This actually makes a bit of sense, as they are culturally different (as described in this study). But this was a bit of a theme in this election: this notion of elitist Starbucks versus regular guy Dunkin’ Donuts. Friggin’ Starbucks is everywhere; it’s the McDonald’s of coffee; it’s a potent symbol of global corporatization. How can it be elitist? It got even more confusing when Malkin accused Dunkin’ Donuts of supporting Palestinian jihad. Where does a patriot go for coffee now? The Golden Arches, enemy of frivolous lawsuits?
Then there’s eruca sativa, known as arugula or rocket. Senator Barack Obama made a comment last summer about the prices charged for argula. What an elitist! What a dimwit! Iowans are reg’lar folk — they don’t know from Whole Foods or arugula. Well, they don’t have Whole Foods in Iowa, but they got ‘em in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and other parts of the Midwest. And it turns out Iowa farmers do grow argula.
Matt Yglesias pointed out that we’ve seen “the rise of a mass gourmet culture.” Stuff like argula and espresso ain’t a cheeseburger and a six-pack, but it’s becoming increasingly mainstream.
Compare this to my post of two years ago, when I quoted from a 2004 profile of two restaurants in New Martinsville, WV. A Bob Evans customers thinks anything beyond salt & pepper is exotic.
Every one of these examples I cite provides two cultural choices. Everybody lines up on one side or the other. One thinks the other side is dumb, fascist or sheep-like. One thinks the other is arrogant, elitist and weird. They’re both right. They’re both wrong.
Film director Frank Capra was a pretty conservative guy, but his movies often espouse liberal values. Arugula might have the image of taking off in the Nineties, but years ago it would be served by conservative Italian American families.
I think there might be more than two sides…
Tags: Religulous, An American Carol, Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts, Barack Obama, arugula, Whole Foods, Bob Evans