Americans love their cars! But you knew that.
So today's culture post is about my love affair with cars: their symbolism and reality.
"My Name is James Tiberius Kirk"
This scene from Star Trek (2010) just really makes me joyous. Growing up as a kid I worshipped Captain Kirk on TV and this scene with young Kirk embodies that free spirit, middle finger at "the man" attitude I admire so much.
I love it that the movie kept Kirk's personality from the 60s tv series. William Shatner is a great actor who is Canadian and the fact he can play this over-the-top American (not sure if it's called that in the 23rd century) from Iowa is a testament to his acting ability.
Kirk's rule breaking and boldness are characteristics I admire in every day life. But these characteristics also happen to get him and his crew in a lot of trouble which makes for great conflict and storytelling.
There's a line somewhere, where rule breaking goes the wrong way, or the right way, and the answer is never really revealed because there's no definitive answer. But sometimes rule breaking is so epically beautiful as I find this scene and the pounding soundtrack of the Beastie Boys Sabatoge only makes it better.
In a deleted scene from Star Trek, it is revealed that the 1965 Corvette Stingray actually belonged to George Kirk. In the aftermath of George's death, Jim and George Jr.'s uncle, Frank, treated the car as his own. Jim found the keys to the car while washing it, and drove off with it in an act of defiance against the abusive Frank.
Source: http://memory-alpha.wikia.com/wiki/Corvette
When you know these kinds of things about Kirk it makes his relationship with Spock that more interesting and meaningful. While Kirk's rule breaking and space cowboy can be seen as self-centered and egocentric, Spock's self sacrifice is even more poignant in the Wrath of Khan:
Spock says, “Don’t grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh . . .” Kirk finishes for him, “The needs of the few.” Spock replies, “Or the one.”
Source: The Needs of the Many Outweigh the Needs of the Few, Objective Standard, 09/12/2013.
Pure Muscle
Steve McQueen in Bullitt (1968)
And, there is a 2018 Ford Mustang Bullitt, on the 50th anniversary of the movie...
I just want this so much. I can guarantee you though no one could drive like that in San Francisco these days anymore brcause of the high population growth and insurgence (infestation? ooooh ouch) of Silicon Valley employees. The Bullitt clip is really out of its time now.
Muscle cars are very impractical. They get horrible gas mileage. The police love to follow them. Other drivers act competitive and want to race or tail gate pushing the driver to go faster.
I have a muscle car and absolutely love it. But it's a 5 speed and horrible to drive in the Bay Area traffic and I tire of the tailgating and impatient drivers around me. People get resentful when you drive a fast car and don't go fast.
I'm surrounded by Priuses and it's clear to me electric cars are the best thing at least for this environment and better for the Earth as well. I'm not without a conscience. On the other extreme are the large SUVs people drive or as I call them a phrase I've heard long ago and have long forgotten the source: "hurtling buffaloes."
I find it disconcerting how quiet electric vehicles are. There's a safety issue with that in my opinion. Pedestrians rarely jay walk on front of me... the throaty idle and growl of downshifting warns most ahead of time to give me my precious space. I had similar experiences when I rode motorcycles. A loud motorcycle is safer than a quiet one for the fact other cars and pedestrians can hear it.
Reality
The reality is, we need a car. Our public transportation is not very good unless you're in a big city. It's just never prioritzed in any one city's plan to make more public transport. There's a lot of reasons for this but the main one is America's dependency on oil and the huge special interests with the oil corporations. I would say that's a big one.
There's a big part of our culture (held up by reason #1) that car ownership is a means of travel and independence. Of course we know we're not truly "free" - just check out that $4 a gallon for gas price tag and it becomes more a matter of how much money you have.
There is something nice about being able to get in your car and go whenever, wherever you want at any time. We drive great distances and think nothing of it. It's not uncommon to drive 3 hours to a given destination for a casual event, say, lunch. It's like a quest!
And with that I leave you with this very silly road trip movie that actually has truth to its quest plot... I (and many others) have done similarly and driven long distances for a favorite comfort food.
Harold & Kumar go to White Castle
Wow filmed in Canada! This boggles my mind.
Harold & Kumar began filming on May 12, 2003.[7] The film is set in New Jersey, but was mainly filmed in Toronto, Canada. Scenes set at Princeton University were actually filmed at the University of Toronto's Victoria College and Knox College.[8] The production design team had to build a White Castle franchise especially for the shoot since Canada does not have White Castle restaurants. During filming, Penn ate veggie burgers as he is a vegetarian.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_%26_Kumar_Go_to_White_Castle
Do love cars? Hate em'?
Tell me your favorite car story below
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I was nominated by @conradt for this culture challenge. Thank you Conradt! :)
The rules:
Write a post about an aspect of your culture - e.g. food, arts, dance, economy, money, governement etc. Do this for 7 days in a row if you get nominated. Mention three people who should do this on each day. Tag it with #7dayculturechallenge and include these rules at the bottom of your post. Include a picture of something from your culutre related to yoru story if possible. Post these rules at the bottom of your post. Note - if you like the idea of this and would like to participate but weren't nominated, feel free to join in and just mention that I nominated you :)