Discussion Questions For 9/26

In the readings today we read two articles which both discussed the idea of American culture. In 'Trans-National America' Randolph Bourne offers some biting criticism of the United States. Bourne was writing in the year 1916, but much of what he says seems to have become even more important in modern day America. Bourne accuses American culture of being vapid, one driven by the crowd and devoid of any spiritual life. How is Bourne's criticism one that foreshadows future decades of American culture? How could this essay apply to the 1950s? 80s? 2000s? Marti makes a similar point in his essay 'Coney Island', offering a critique of America's constant search for the spectacle and hangs a dark cloud over the lights of Coney Island. How has this dystopic vision of the United States spread throughout the world? In what ways has this American idea of the spectacle invaded other cultures? How does it manifest itself in our lives today? Has any progress been made towards a more spiritual American core?