McDonald's Dominates
The McDonald’s Corporation, the world’s largest
chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, has dominated the fast food industry
for years through creating a sense freedom to its customers. They have done so through creating a warming and welcoming environment to people of all classes. The
“Golden Arches” are depicted as an American cultural object of great empowerment compared to other fast food restaurants. This cultural object can be linked to American Exceptionalism, the idea that America is the greatest most sophisticated country that has ever been established. Through this concept of American Exceptionalism, one can compare that McDonald's much like America has the abilities and powers in the world to do as they please without worry or consequence. McDonald's stresses on seeking the next best thing to make sure they are on top of their competition in order to achieve greatness, very much like the minds of Americans.
I agree with Jonathan that McDonald's may be a symbol of American Exceptionalism to an extent. We can see that in the 1950s the fast food chains are dominantly emerging in popular culture. However, the reason McDonald's Corporation rose to its affluence and overwhelming success is due to franchising.
ReplyDeleteIn-and-out Burgers is also another fast-food chain that is popular around the 1950s; however, they did not rise to the level of McDonalds because they chose not to franchise until the idea became profitable in the long-run.
With that said, McDonalds did begin in the United States and served its indirect purpose to accommodate the growing suburbanization and the age of "White Flight". Ray Crock, the founder of McDonalds, sought for more profits through franchising. That's how we now have over 10,000 branches around the globe with most of it in the U.S. now serving hungry consumers. That's also part of American Exceptionalism as this cultural phenomenon could only happen in the U.S. back in the 1950s. Now, almost every corporation seems to be seeking expansions to increase their profits.
Adding to American Exceptionalism, the point is that McDonalds in its efforts for economic profits contributed to the growing suburban lifestyles Americans had in the 1950s and even now in the 21st century. One question arises, "When did we, as Americans, assimilate McDonalds as an integral part of our life?" Who knows, but one thing for sure that McDonalds captured the market and now even the thought of burgers and fries somehow revolve around McDonalds influence on pop culture.
I would like to point out how McDonalds represents the American Dream. Just like America, McDonalds did not start out as a global entity. McDonalds started as a mom and pop shop in the late 1940s. It wasn't until years later that McDonalds became a successful chain. The original owners of McDonalds started with a business and refined it until they gained fortune by their own hard work and ingenuity. The fact that it is possible to turn a single family-owned restaurant into a national chain is proof that the American dream is real.
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