While in Germany, I saw a teen girl, who looked to be about 14, who'd decorated her backpack with silver magic markered versions of U.S. corporate logos - among them the Nike swoosh, of course, and FUBU (For Us By Us, intensely popular in black urban neighborhoods). What does that mean? Why did she do that? Is is "manipulation," or was she expressing some desire? "America" represents something to people outside this lovely country - what is it? "Manipulation" is just too simple an answer; people aren't *that* malleable, are they?
Doug
Consider last years fad in Britain: Ali G; outrageous carrier of commercial signifiers and mimicry of the moronic side of Ghetto culture, bigging up a parodic identity roles of young rappers and yardies and the way these are stylised and commodified- (still wearing reeboks, ha ha etc) but also playing on supposed mainstream acceptance and stereotypes of young people. A full on piss take, that was in turn copied by young clubbers as a kind of identity of its own. West side, keep it large!
"America" represents something to people outside this lovely country - what is it?
Big, anomynous, rich, and the association of freedom and self determination with these things.
Or your girl was just reacting to her leftie green Anti-american parents; fed up no doubt of organic strawberries and linsen suppe!