"American Dad" is about a suburban family that has many adventures befall them. I believe this show represents American Exceptionalism through the characters presented and the events that take place. First the characters are meant to be an over typical american family as well as representing times in American history. The alien is meant to show Americas obsession with aliens, followed by the typical housewife reflecting the time of strong sexism, then the hippie daughter, the german fish, the young boy going through puberty and finding out girls, and lastly, the over American father that believes every stereotype about other countries.
This show is almost a direct parallel of American Exceptionalism. In the show they constantly make fun of every other country regardless if it is true or not. In one example, Stan, the dad, was eating breakfast and his wife, Francine, asks, "How's everyones French Toast?" in which Stan replies, "Smelly and ungrateful, but this American Toast is delicious!" This is just one example of many that shows how "American Dad" portrays American Exceptionalism in its over the top antics and play to stereotypes.
I agree that it demonstrates American Exceptionalism, but I feel as if it is a satirical point of view. Stan is over the top in his pride of America to the point that it is unrealistic. In my opinion, Seth Macfarlane does this as a satire of Republicans and American Exceptionalism(Stan is registered Republican). American Exceptionalism often makes us oblivious to the fact that other countries are great too. Stan seems to have no appreciation for non-American things (like the french toast). This is a mentality tht many Americans have, MacFarlane just pushes it to the extreme with his character Stan.
ReplyDeleteAdding on, there is an irony with the television show "American Dad." It's an evolution of an ongoing show called "Family Guy" in which the American values are portrayed in an opposite sense. Here in "American Dad" now it's how American ideals, traditions, and superstitions are exaggerated to the point of ignorance.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the French Toast, the depiction of American Exceptionalism is present to an extent: however, couldn't we see this happen in other countries as well? One striking fact is that all these different food coming from different cultures around the world have found its place in American food culture as if hegemony is in place. It's not that the idea between discriminating food was inherited in our minds, the behavior is taught by people and the environment over years and years of exposure. I strongly believe that having "American Toast" isn't American at all but how we have made food from other parts of the world come to one place and embracing it is what shapes who Americans are through food.
For starters I actually enjoy this show, and I agree it is completely satirical in nature. That being said each of the family members is their own definition of an American. I think what the show tries to get across is the clash of American values. In particular, Stan and Haley commonly collide. Stan, the conservative republican, and Haley, an extreme liberal, live under the same house but disagree on nearly every front. However both of these exaggerated characters stem from real American values.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of this class, it was made clear that there is not one definition of an American. The word American is itself a debate between different cultures.