Candian Bacon

Horkheimer and Adorno’s theories would be appropriate to apply to Canadian Bacon since they focus on how beliefs and ideas are transmitted in culture. In the movie, myths about Canada are spread through the media in order to start a war against Canada. The U.S. government is at work creating myths and transmitting them through the media in their own interest, as they are the ones in positions of dominance. Horkheimer and Adorno also believed that the media dumbs people down-that they are unable to think for themselves as a result of constant exposure to messages in the media. In Canadian Bacon, America is led to believe that Canada is plotting an attack on the U.S. Boomer and Honey especially, are greatly affected by what they see on TV. It gets to them to the point where they are unable to step back and think for themselves whether what they are seeing on TV is true or not, and they just accept it and plan their own retaliation.

The cultivation effect can also be considered in relation to Horkheimer and Adorno’s theories. Individuals, in the case of Canadian Bacon, the Americans, conform to the ideologies of the government, demonstrating social organization and control exerted by the president and those working for him. The American audiences watching cultivate their own reality based on what they are seeing on TV. The propaganda created by the U.S. government allows for America to believe that Canada is secretly out to get them-this is the "reality" to Americans.

Semiotics can also be applied in analyzing Canadian Bacon. Cultural artifacts are used to reinforce myths about Canada. For example, maple syrup is shown pouring over a map of the U.S. to signify the spread of Canadian forces taking over U.S. territory. The meaning of maple syrup (the signifier) changes from being simply Canadian to mean dominance (the signified).
In applying these theories to Canadian Bacon, I am attempting to understand the inner workings of popular culture. Like theorists such as Horkheimer and Adorno, I am digging deeper to find meanings. The film uses stereotypical symbols of Canada which are used to construct a Canadian identity. Things like hockey, beer, the CN Tower, Mounties, "eh," and being nice are used humorously to reflect Canada.

Canadian TV and Film

So here we are with the introductory blog post. I didn't even know what a blog was really up until this point so bare with me on this first one. :) This one will discuss Canadian TV and Film I (or lack therof). But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jess, I'm a popular culture major at Brock University and currently my major interest is music and the industry.

Now to officially begin, I think that Canadian popular cultural texts, in comparison to America, seems to be lacking a little. Our industries are not as strong, so that is why whenever a Candadian makes a name for him or herself in the film or music industry, we appreciate it all the more. Perhaps this is better in the long run. We express greater pride-it means so much more to us. Even if the musician, band, actor, movie or TV show is not all that great (ie. boring), as Canadians we are still proud and appreciative of even having some semblance of our own film and music industry. Perhaps our lack in those areas is made up for in our hockey. When someone says "Canada" you automatically think hockey, beer, maple syrup, kindness, maple leaf, moose, beaver, hunting, fishing, Tim Hortons, snow, mounie, and igloos for the more ignorant. Typically, our culture sums up to be about nature-a state of naturalness. This could account for why we lack in film and music-industries run on the basis of making money for the most part. Fishing and hunting and all things associated are clearly not based on money, but about enjoying those simple activities for what they are.

Now to turn to our TV and film 'industry.' Off the top of my head I can't think of any Canadian films I've watched. (Guilty). And as for TV, as far as I know I've only watched one Canadian TV show besidesone or two episodes of Degrassi, which I only watched because I went to high school with one of the actors. Kenny Versus Spenny is the other show I watched a couple times. Honestly, it is funny but I can only handle so much stupidity. I guess the only thing really 'Canadian' about it is that it is filmed in Toronto and it's documentary in style. Documentaries seem to be our go-to approach in film. Probably because they are cheap(er) to produce. Does the fact that there really is not anything that defines it as decidely Canadian say anything about our industry? Orour culture? Rather than say we are lacking in culture, I would argue that either the lack of things to discuss about Canadian TV and film is a testament to the strength of our industry or that the lack of "Canadian" symbols and signs could simply be a way to get away from stereotypes. We don't lack culture. But maybe we are too nice to be in those cut-throat industries.