Review

So class is over for the year! Yeah! I can't wait till summer begins and I get to enjoy the weather! But first, review for the exam.

The theme that has really circled each unit studied in this course would be Canada's struggle for identity. Because Canada is so close to America, and America owns so many businesses and enterprises in Canada, we struggle to be different from the United States. Canadians identify with American music, movies, magazines and tons of other products including food and household items. An issue that Canada struggles with is media consumption. At least 90% of TV, movies and music listened to by Canadians is American owned and made. Although Canada can identify with a few Canadian actors and musicians, they all have to travel to the United States in order to become super stars and make a lot of money.

Because of the age of technology, Canada no longer wants to identify with the wilderness and our Canadian symbol of the beaver for example. Canada wants to be like America in this technological age. America identifies with their popular culture or entertainment industry. America has the biggest english speaking entertainment industry in the world. Canada wants this identity. Canada wants to identify with the media and entertainment. They no longer want to identify with the country, they want to identify with American popular culture.

The problem with Canadian Popular Culture is that, as a Canadian, we have lost sight of our nationality. It seems that the borders between America and Canada have blurred and we all consume the same products. Canada needs to fight to be individual and we need to take control of our own nation. It seems pathetic that Canada relies so much on American popular culture.

Personally I think there should be a nice in between. Canadians should be allowed to consume American products (including movies) but Canada needs to come up with their own to support our own economy. Being a film student and a future filmmaker for this country, I'm concerned about the film industry in this country. Because all theatre enterprises in Canada are American owned Canadian films can't get distribution. None of the exhibitors have faith in the Canadian film which is rightly believed after the disaster with One Week, but they need to give other films a chance. And Canada has to figure out some way to be able to put more money in their films if they are ever to compete with American big budget films. The least the American exhibitors could do would be have an evening once a week to play a featured Canadian film. At least give Canada the opportunity to see their own nations films.

So this is my final blog and all I can say is... it has been......... interesting.