“America is no longer a country but a multitrillion-dollar brand, which has taken over our emotions, personalities, and core values.” (Lasn P. XII and XIII) Our culture is no longer, created by the people and we are no longer free to live an authentic life. (Lasn P. XIII) Corporate American is in control now, and it has branded the words “democracy,” “opportunity,” and “freedom.” (Lasn P XII) Our thoughts and our lives are under siege by the mass media and “American cool has become a global pandemic.” (Lasn P XIV) Consumer capitalism has taken over the established system, and our only hopes of breaking free lie in a mass rebellion, or “culture jam.” These are but a few of the ideas presented in Kalle Lasn’s book, “Culture Jam: How to Reverse America’s Suicidal Consumer Binge – And Why We Must.”

“A global network of media activist who see [themselves] as the advance shock troops of the most significant social movement of the next twenty years,” culture jammers, hold that America corporations are to blame for all of life’s problems. (Lasn P XII) Have a psychological disorder well corporate America is at fault. Are you over weight, then, corporate America is to blame for forcing you to sit in front of a t.v. Addicted to video games, again it’s not your fault. Corporate America is to blame. Unfortunately while corporate American may contribute a great deal to these problems, Lasn and culture jammers fail to acknowledge that individuals should also be held accountable for their actions.

While Lasn does make some valid points in that we as a society tend to place too much value on name brand products, and generally consumer more than we need, his solution to the problem-- to give up your car, ride your bike everywhere and become a vegetarian-- is a bit unrealistic for any society. Had Lasn stressed more our over consumption and pointed out less what we should give up, then perhaps more people would be willing to give up things. Further, had Lasn acknowledged that individuals and well as corporations are to blame for America’s current state of affairs in addition to provided a more realistic solution to the problems he posed, then his book would have been a bit more believable.

As it was, Lasn’s book was filled with to, many pathos, which relied mostly on trying to establish an emotional relationship with the reader instead of a logical one. The book was also filled with too much hyperbole, which made Lasn’s arguments appear unrealistic. Ultimately in the end, Lasn’s book appears to be more fanatically then anything else.


Citation:
Lasn, Kalle. Culture Jam: How to Reverse America’s Suicidal Consumer Binge – And Why We Must. New York: HarperCollins, 2000