American Values :: essays research papers

Values Of US Culture   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Both articles, â€Å"America 2000: Fast and Furious Fun† by Jerry Adler and â€Å"Shopping† by Don DeLillo, examine various things that Americans value as a society. It may seem at first that articles are quite different, given the content variations, however, there is a similarity in purpose that authors are trying to achieve and the audience that they target. Clearly, both authors take a look at what is available to people in the US in terms of fun and entertainment, trying to address a younger portion of middle class Americans. In their own ways, Addler and DeLillo show various aspects of American live in all its richness, wealth and excessiveness. However, there is a hidden message between the lines that is common to both articles and it emphasizes a troubling trend within the society. In my opinion, authors attempt to show that US as a culture has become highly commercialized and at the rate thing are going US will soon be viewed by the world as unintelligent, exuberant, and irresponsible nation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The current entertainment and consumer retail industries in the US are the biggest insult to basic human intelligence. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week average American is being target by unavoidable and annoying commercials from TV, radio, Internet, highway billboards, etc. Brought by large corporations, they are intended to brainwash the individual and turn him/her into a loyal brainless consumer of the product that is offered. Fake promotions, grand openings and other tricks are designed specifically for these who refuse to become believers right away. For example, how many times one can hear a promotion slogans like â€Å"Free set of floor mats with every new car purchase!† or â€Å"Free mouse pad with every new computer purchase!†, etc. In my opinion, this is a clear indication of companies seeing nothing but a crowd of morons in their consumers. Jack, the main character of â€Å"Shopping†, finds himself in a store and interpret s the echoing din as â€Å"of the extinction of a species of beast.† In other words, the shopping environment is like a variety of traps set by some beast ready to hunt you down. While shopping, Jack thinks of an event as an endless well being that makes him and his family glory. Reflecting mirrors, smells of chocolates and salamis defeat Jack’s sense of reality. Deep inside he may feel that he is being fooled but in spite of that he chooses to quietly participate because â€Å"the beast traps† are too flashy to pass on.