Archive for the ‘Series: Modern Americana’ Category

This installation of the series is two-fold as the Sun Records logo helps magnify two things that are distinctly modern American: the iconography of a logo, and the post-slavery cultural significance of the South. Additionally, both of these things are in the forefront of America today because both directly apply to our new President. I [...]

I still find it quite amazing that more people today—whether it be people who provide social commentary (serious or humorous) in print or on a panel amongst other talking heads, or international intelligentsia looking for a metaphor to describe America’s current economic or foreign policy woes—do not reference Mark Twain’s A Connecticut Yankee In King [...]

Argument No. 1 against including the NES in a list about America: The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is not American. Nintendo is a Japanese-based and -owned company. Argument No. 2 against including the NES in a list about America: How could you include the NES in any discussion about American gaming before Atari or Colecovision, [...]

Yes, today is Election Day and, therefore, is a serious day filled with serious talk about serious issues that seriously affect us. I was prepared to write today about a serious book that, in the minds of most, encompasses America and, by virtue of the main character in said book, is a representation of how [...]

“Flag” by Jasper Johns, 1954-55 Encaustic, oil, and collage on fabric mounted on plywood When it comes to the Pop Art and Dada movements of the first half of last century, you would be excused if the meaning did not immediately pop out at you. Why are Campbell’s soup cans, the word love, or a [...]

M&M’s will never be confused with fine chocolates from Switzerland, France, or Italy. They are not groundbreaking, and they do not excite your taste buds with a symphony of flavors. Yet these small, colored chocolates with an “m” on them are, to me, the greatest chocolate candies that you can buy in bulk. Add to [...]

“America’s greatest strength, and its greatest weakness, is our belief in second chances, our belief that we can always start over, that things can be made better.” —Anthony Walton “America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail, it knocks over a chair.” —Arnold Toynbee “America is [...]