A Brown University business professor once told me that one of America's greatest strengths is its ability to assimilate anything. While Bill O'Reilly rants on and on about our capitalistic society's moral degradation– like one of those nose hair-infested codgers who starts every sentence with "Back in MY day"– our profit-driven culture is actually extremely healthy. It takes the worst possible elements, sanitizes them and sells them into the mainstream. White suburban teens listen to gangsta rap while studying for their SATs. The gangstas end-up on Cribs, showing the world what's in their closet-sized Sub-Zero. SUVs are following a similar pattern. These planet-killas are gradually being domesticated into CUVs. The new Honda Pilot's obvious visual reference to its "no gallon of gas left unguzzled" SUV ancestors is just window dressing. I'm sure it's suitably frugal and considerably cleaner than Bill O'Reilly's phone calls. Of course, that opens a hole in the market for something "real;" a car that appeals to the street cred set. SUVs are done. Muscle cars are Avenged. What's next? Combat-styled EVs? Whatever it is, TTAC will be here to share the love. Whatever love is.
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It takes the worst possible elements, sanitizes them and sells them into the mainstream.
While I agree with this, I’d also argue that there is a negative side to it. Our culture doesn’t only take on the “worst” elements, but also dumbs down the most unique and interesting parts of society for easier mainstream consumption.
for example, a lot of early rap was meant to deal with issues of inner-city plight, now the mainstream versions talk about riding in Bentleys and having parties. The message is lost.
Same with SUVs. Jeep and Land Rover went from being unique brands whose vehicles had a definite character and utilitarian purpose to being things that tout luxury features or the ability to easily navigate a crowded parking lot. An interesting part of the automotive world got taken down to a mainstream equilibrium so everyone could experience it.
It takes the worst possible elements, sanitizes them and sells them into the mainstream.
That should read ‘It takes the worst possible elements and markets it as entertainment, while ignoring intelligent debate and fact.’
Hmmm. Well, I don’t know. This is one–interesting–point of view. I think American culture tends to homogenize stuff too much.
And as for sanitizing, maybe. But I don’t particularly like CUVs either. They’re all ugly.
I think some folks are also waiting for ECOnetic versions of Ford products. I know one Ford fanatic who is waiting for whatever hybrid/green version they produce of the Edge before purchasing one.
True dat: our society does dumb down the darker (more creative?) elements. Which accounts for the cycle I’ve described: a genre/artist goes from cutting edge to mainstream, leaving a void on the cutting edge, which gets filled, that gets taken into the mainstream. Etc.
True dat: our society does dumb down the darker (more creative?) elements. Which accounts for the cycle I’ve described: a genre/artist goes from cutting edge to mainstream, leaving a void on the cutting edge, which gets filled, that gets taken into the mainstream. Etc.
What makes this cycle a strength then? Maybe it is from a business perspective because it means nothing is off limits or too sacred for commercialization.
But from a cultural perspective, how is everything having its individuality or message diluted and replaced by the next-big-thing a societal positive?
If it were up to me it would be cars that are easy to tinker with. Something the proverbial “shadetree” mechanic can work on.
ajla :
But from a cultural perspective, how is everything having its individuality or message diluted and replaced by the next-big-thing a societal positive?
Think of it as a pressure valve. Mainstreaming keeps society from becoming dangerously stratified and polarized. For example, as you pointed out, rap’s message goes from “kill the pigs”– I mean, a cry for social justice– to who’s got the biggest spinners and how much will you pay me to appear on Law and Order?
For sure, something’s lost. But the mainstream is reinvigorated. IMHO, popular music SUCKED in the 70’s. Punk and rap reinvigorated it.
Also from my perspective, SUVs of the same period sucked. They were gas-guzzling floaty drifty barges on stilts, prone to falling over. While I still prefer a car to just about any SUV, the Ford Explorer is now a fine piece of work, one of the best luxury cars made. The woosy RAV-4 and other WTF “cute utes” (not to mention gas prices, Congress and rollover lawsuits) helped that process of mainstream evolution.
You feeling me?
Most carfactories in Eastern Europe actually aren’t that old, some were built after the demise of the USSR, but most were built when it became clear that Eastern European countries were going towards EU membership (which eventually happened in 2004, when 12 countries joined).
The per capita GDP in those countries is still generally about 1/2 to 2/3s of that in Western European countries (which in turn is more or less comparable with US, looking at purchasing power it’s probably even now with the low dollar a little better in the US, since everything is so darn cheap in your country), although it’s rising quickly.
There are also some other benefits though to invest in the Eastern European regions for car manufacturers, For instance a lot of EU funds go into new infrastructure (particularly roads) in those parts, and there’s a big divide between wealth in cities, which is pretty good, and the countryside, where there’s more unemployment and therefore lower wages. Also, the cost of property and land is relatively cheap.
Last year I was in Hungary for four months. There was a Suzuki plant which was one of the first foreign investments in the country in the early 90s, and there was a brandnew VAG plant that was only built very recently.
There were remarkably many Suzuki Swifts on the streets. There were also a lot of Audis (particularly in Budapest) and VWs, but those you see in great numbers everywhere throughout Europe, obviously…
You feeling me?
But isn’t it insincere to water things down so much that, say, an SUV can be categorized as a better luxury car than a utility vehicle? Is something reinvigorated by the cultural cycle, or is it outright replaced?
aja:
But isn’t it insincere to water things down so much that, say, an SUV can be categorized as a better luxury car than a utility vehicle? Is something is reinvigorated by the cultural cycle, or is it outright replaced?
Yes.
And what do you mean by “insincere?” The point of mainstreaming is profit, not sincerity or authenticity. And again, I would argue that taking the cutting edge (or authentic car) mainstream frees -up space for another cutting edge artist.
And what do you mean by “insincere?” The point of mainstreaming is profit, not sincerity or authenticity.
By insincere I mean artificial. If the Explorer (which I guess I need to drive) has more in common with the Town Car than a Land Cruiser what makes it an SUV? A rap song about bar-hopping in Miami is just a pop song with a different beat.
Although the point of mainstreaming is profit, that doesn’t make it good for everyone. Authenticity and sincerity holds importance to enthusiasts or social scientists. If GM built a 4-cylinder 100hp “Corvette” that somehow saves the company it would be great for GM, but Corvette fans would hate the bastardization of their car.
Land Rover still makes the Defender and Jeep still has the Wrangler for the off-roadin’ OGs. The Toyota 4WD pickup can roll with them as well.
I knew the SUV thing had jumped the shark the 1st time I saw a lift kit used on a H2to clear giant shiny rims. It was the unholy combination of the redneck and hip-hop car cultures.
I agree that all of the larger SUVs are effectively a minivan or station wagon that has been given the “Bigfoot” treatment. Heck with a few exceptions no one makes actual station wagons anymore. You can’t get mainstream cars like a Taurus, Camry or Accord in Wagon.
Ajlia
Same with SUVs. Jeep and Land Rover went from being unique brands whose vehicles had a definite character and utilitarian purpose to being things that tout luxury features or the ability to easily navigate a crowded parking lot. An interesting part of the automotive world got taken down to a mainstream equilibrium so everyone could experience it.
“I’m sure it’s suitably frugal and considerably cleaner than Bill O’Reilly’s phone calls.”
You get the Dennis Milleresque Reference of the Day Award.
Congratulations, Robert!