BubbaNub Hebdige

  Going against the norm or against culture has played an interesting role in the revolution of development of society.  However, as with most things these rebellious subtexts merely become another niche market that media and the American consumer culture devalue to the American Dollar.  Hebdige talks in length about the punk subculture and how it was perceived as threatening at first, but if you look around today the punk culture has become another area of exploitation of values.

Now you can walk into stores such as "Hot Topic" and go against everything that the punk culture stood for as you pay the corporations major money so you can buy their clothes and patches to "look punk".  It is scary when you realize how quickly our economy catches onto fads and turns them around in their favor, so they can make a profit.  Now we have people walking around thinking that they embody a punk philosophy or lifestyle when in reality, the Chuck Taylor's they are wearing were bought out by Nike and are now made in sweatshops in China.  Just like the American Dreams illusion of freedom, our exploited subcultures have become illusions of choice, illusions of personality, and illusions of culture.

The only culture America has is that which we produce and exchange for the almighty coin.  Money is our culture and money is our religion.  We have heard that America is a melting pot, a mix of various cultures that construct our identity.  I agree that we are a melting pot, but to me this does not carry positive connotations.  When we all melt together we lose our individuality, our culture, and melt into a new kind of currency.