cordelianne (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cordelianne) wrote2005-12-01 08:34 pm
cordelianne) wrote2005-12-01 08:34 pm
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Sorry, Angel. Changed the locks. (btvs 2:17)
American pop culture is so dominant in Canada, that I’m always surprised when a television show isn’t aired here, or in last night’s case, that I can’t watch an alternate ending for my favourite show.
When I went to AOL last night to watch the much-hyped alternate ending to the Veronica Mars episode “My Mother, the Fiend” here’s the message I got:
“We’re sorry, but the content requested is only available for viewing from within the United States.”
Fortunately some nice folks on the televisionwithoutpity message boards described what happened. When Veronica is in Meg’s room, she hears voices so she hides. She hears Meg’s mom telling her it’s alright. When Veronica emerges she finds Meg with a pillow over her face and the heart monitor flat lining. A nurse arrives and asks Veronica what she did. Fortunately, I don’t feel that I missed much because it’s a stunt to increase viewership and the scene isn’t part of the show’s canon.
The most frustrating part of that experience is to be randomly blocked from viewing something just because I’m not in the U.S. Okay, I know that I live in Canada (and am happy and proud to be Canadian) but it can be hard to remember that I’m not part of the U.S. I can’t imagine why I have this problem when I shop at stores like The Gap, The Body Shop, and of course, American Eagle. I get all the American networks in my digital cable package and watch almost exclusively American television (the only Canadian show I watch regularly is CTV’s very funny Corner Gas). I just watched so many American Thanksgiving themed shows last week that I’m starting to believe that I also just celebrated that holiday.
This kind of reflection leads me down the super highway to American Imperialism. Living in such an overall affluent country as Canada can make it hard to remember that, like most other nations, we’re actually under the arm of the United States. It’s a lot easier to forget that type of thing when you’re reaping the benefits of American dominance.
The last time I studies politics in any depth was a political science class many years ago, so I’m not going to attempt a likely simplistic and surface critique of American Imperialism. Besides, to be quite honest, I clearly like a lot of the American capitalist trappings. I’m at my happiest when I’m sipping a totally yummy Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Starbucks while reading Entertainment Weekly, and anticipating the next Veronica Mars episode or new Harry Potter movie.
Also, I suspect that my sudden righteousness about the dominance of the U.S. in Canada is just because I couldn’t see the alternative ending. I’m now feeling happier because I watched the live online interview with VM’s creator, Rob Thomas – yea to UPN for letting me watch stuff on its site!!!
It feels silly to get upset about American pop culture being an overwhelming presence in Canadian society when I actually love it. A long time ago, I realized that I’m a big fan of American pop culture. Although my love for it is complicated, it’s the source of some of my biggest pleasures in life and helps me cope with all the horrible and upsetting things I see daily on the news. I guess it’s only appropriate that I’m embracing American presence in Canadian society as I gear up to spend spend spend in preparation for Christmas.
I’ll just comfort myself that I’m resisting full American dominance by continuing to spell words the Canadian way … wait a minute, am I actually clinging to remnants of the older Imperialist power, England? Dude, this is making my head hurt. I think I’ll go re-watch last night’s awesome Veronica Mars.
When I went to AOL last night to watch the much-hyped alternate ending to the Veronica Mars episode “My Mother, the Fiend” here’s the message I got:
“We’re sorry, but the content requested is only available for viewing from within the United States.”
Fortunately some nice folks on the televisionwithoutpity message boards described what happened. When Veronica is in Meg’s room, she hears voices so she hides. She hears Meg’s mom telling her it’s alright. When Veronica emerges she finds Meg with a pillow over her face and the heart monitor flat lining. A nurse arrives and asks Veronica what she did. Fortunately, I don’t feel that I missed much because it’s a stunt to increase viewership and the scene isn’t part of the show’s canon.
The most frustrating part of that experience is to be randomly blocked from viewing something just because I’m not in the U.S. Okay, I know that I live in Canada (and am happy and proud to be Canadian) but it can be hard to remember that I’m not part of the U.S. I can’t imagine why I have this problem when I shop at stores like The Gap, The Body Shop, and of course, American Eagle. I get all the American networks in my digital cable package and watch almost exclusively American television (the only Canadian show I watch regularly is CTV’s very funny Corner Gas). I just watched so many American Thanksgiving themed shows last week that I’m starting to believe that I also just celebrated that holiday.
This kind of reflection leads me down the super highway to American Imperialism. Living in such an overall affluent country as Canada can make it hard to remember that, like most other nations, we’re actually under the arm of the United States. It’s a lot easier to forget that type of thing when you’re reaping the benefits of American dominance.
The last time I studies politics in any depth was a political science class many years ago, so I’m not going to attempt a likely simplistic and surface critique of American Imperialism. Besides, to be quite honest, I clearly like a lot of the American capitalist trappings. I’m at my happiest when I’m sipping a totally yummy Peppermint Hot Chocolate from Starbucks while reading Entertainment Weekly, and anticipating the next Veronica Mars episode or new Harry Potter movie.
Also, I suspect that my sudden righteousness about the dominance of the U.S. in Canada is just because I couldn’t see the alternative ending. I’m now feeling happier because I watched the live online interview with VM’s creator, Rob Thomas – yea to UPN for letting me watch stuff on its site!!!
It feels silly to get upset about American pop culture being an overwhelming presence in Canadian society when I actually love it. A long time ago, I realized that I’m a big fan of American pop culture. Although my love for it is complicated, it’s the source of some of my biggest pleasures in life and helps me cope with all the horrible and upsetting things I see daily on the news. I guess it’s only appropriate that I’m embracing American presence in Canadian society as I gear up to spend spend spend in preparation for Christmas.
I’ll just comfort myself that I’m resisting full American dominance by continuing to spell words the Canadian way … wait a minute, am I actually clinging to remnants of the older Imperialist power, England? Dude, this is making my head hurt. I think I’ll go re-watch last night’s awesome Veronica Mars.