America's Identity

Last week during group presentations on AIS Day, my group presented on Americans' connection to cars, their lawns, and fast food. We found that these topics contribute to three significant factors in the American identity: speed, freedom and class. We also talked about the way these factors are included in American literature, such as "The Great Gatsby'. However, the topics are ingrained in our current culture more than I at first thought.  Watching the NBA Playoff's Eastern Conference Finals showdown between the Chicago Bulls, and the Miami Heat, I decided to monitor the commercials during the breaks. I tabulated the number and type of commercials played during most of the first two quarters. Out of twenty seven commercials, ten were car and fast food commercials. The dominating amount of commercials from just these two topics shows how important they are to the American consumer and to our identity.

Commercials are not randomly shown; marketing experts choose which time slots to play their commercials. Nielsen Ratings shows that the median age for the NBA is 39.3, and most likely the majority of the audience is male. Although this could contribute to more fast food and car commercials, I would believe that has a minimum effect. Learning through my partners' presentations, I learned that the car was hugely important to the freedom of women, and therefore, I would assume that females also are large consumers of cars. I know personally, my mom is the one in my family who chooses what car we should buy.

When I was a kid, my mom was the one to choose what I ate.  When we went out for a quick meal, it was ultimately my mom's decision if we ate fast food or not. Commercials for fast food must also be for the audience of mothers as well, because mothers often choose what we eat when we are young. These commercials are not only popular commercials during NBA playoff games, but popular commercials in general. This is further evidence that cars and fast food, as advertised during the basketball playoffs, are directed at both men and women and are further proof of the importance of cars and fast food to the American identity.