These shorts both highlight the changing attitudes Canadians have about their national identity in the 21st century. In “Canadian, Please”, two young Canadians try to convince viewers that they “want to be Canadian, please” by highlighting common Canadian accomplishments like inventing the zipper, having large amounts of multiculturalism and boasting “the world’s monopoly on trees”. This song plays both on Canadian nationalism and also by highlighting the differences Canada has to other countries in the world, stating that “The Brits have the monarchy/ The US has the money/ But I know that you wanna be Canadian”. Trying to give Canada a name for itself is difficult, as it shares many similarities to other countries, like the US and Great Britain, and this song emphasizes these differences.
In the Molson Canadian ad, “I am Canadian”, senses of nationalism and patriotism are heavily invoked, with the speaker basically debunking many Canadian stereotypes, claiming that “I don’t live in an igloo, or eat blubber”, and that “I pronounce it And I pronounce it ‘a-bout’, not ‘a-boot’ “. Additionally, the speaker attempts to distinguish Canada from the United States, claiming that “I speak English and French, not American” and that “I have a Prime Minister, not a President”. As with many commercials, this ad is invoking a strong emotion, in this case Canadian nationalism, and then showing their product, in this case Molson Canadian. The people whom this ad is targeted towards are people (like myself) with strong nationalist feelings who identify as Canadians.
Both these short videos show the changing Canadian ideologies in the 21st century. As Canada’s influence grows in the international community, many Canadians are searching for a clear identity. I imagine being Canadian to many people is similar to being from New Zealand and comparing yourself to Australians. Being the “little brother” of a much larger country always poses problems for national identity, and many Canadians find that identity by identifying as being specifically not American, British, French or any other nation. In my eyes, that diversity and amalgamation of different cultures is what makes Canada unique.
One of the key words that you used in this blog post–I think–is “changing;” these videos demonstrate some modern stereotypes about Canadian identity. Hopefully over the course of this term we will be able to historicize some of these stereotypes and explore how modern Canadian identity has been constructed.
The shorts are quite different, but there are several common themes and similarities that identify the key areas about Canada’s identity in the 21st century.
In both shorts, wildlife, and Canada’s natural resources are mentioned. “Canadian, Please” particularly emphasizes Canadian’s natural beauty as well as some of its native species such as the goose, moose and the beaver. The Molson ad specifically focuses on the beaver, but its “Canadian, Please” that really focuses on the advantage Canada has on its natural resources such as its lumber and its fresh water supply.
There is a common theme that both video shorts sell is the idea that Canada is different from the US. Both videos emphasize on how Canada is not as violent, and pursues a non-violent foreign policy approach. This also implies Canada to be superior to the US on this issue. “Lose the gun” is one of the rules in the music video, while in the Molson commercial its the line “I believe in peacekeeping not violence”. The Molson commercial and “Canadian, Please” further differentiates Canada from the US through language, and that in particular, Canada has a second official language. However, the Molson commercial takes this language differentiation one step further to focusing on the accents and cues of Canadian English “not zee, zed” and “I speak English + French, not American”.
Multiculturalism is another subject that both videos touch upon. Interestingly enough though, the Molson commercial mentions that Canadians believe in “multiculturalism, not assimilation”, which can be seen as an implicit criticism of the “melting pot” immigration policies of the US and is a further evidence of an attempt to differentiate Canada from the US.
Not to say that Canadian, Please doesn’t attempt to differentiate Canada from the US. The singers often bring up Canadian achievements such as the zipper, and unique institutions such as the Mouthed Police. Coupled with the lines comparing Canada to the other countries, it shows how Canadians are beginning to look into their nation’s past to craft their own identity.
This leads to probably the summation of what is being sold here and who is buying. The videos are attempting to sell a uniquely Canadian national identity that is quite patriotic and emphasizes on Canada’s natural strengths. It focuses on differentiation from the USA through perceived moral and societal differences as well as cultural and linguistic ones. The people who would buy this idea would probably be children and adolescents in Canada. Particularly, this would apply to those youth who had recently immigrated, or who came from families that immigrated to Canada and who lack a national identity. Ads and videos like these would help ingrain this particular target audience with patrioticism for their new country or the country they were born in.
Both of the videos highlight Canadian identity in a positive way in the videos…
In “Canadian, Please” the theme they emphasize on include invention of the zipper, natural resources/land (ie: fresh water), free health care, friendly-ness etc. It plays on many different things that are symbolic in Canada such as the outdoors, mounties, and beavers. It suggests that Canada’s identity is based on a wide variety of things, especially multiculturalism and freedom. The environments the actors are in also reinforces their statements b/c its showing the beauty of Canada, which could potentially be a seller to an audience.
In the Molson commercial, there is a commonality with the 1st video. It talks about some of the stereotypes associated w/ Canada, but also talks about the positive aspects connected to identity such as friendly-ness. Also, it compares Canada to other places; for example the speaker suggests he can proudly put the Canadian flag on his backpack, which compared to the states is not always the case. The theme of peace and freedom is also emphasized greatly. Symbols such as the noble beaver is suggested similar to the 1st video too.
Since Canada is known to be multicultural, I think the videos could be a potential seller to newcomers into the country who may not know their own identity, so this could be sold as a place where you can “find yourself.” The 1st video refers to other countries a few times, but in the end it tries to kind of sell Canada by saying “…you know you want to be Canadian” emphasizing that our country is compared to others. Both videos refer to all positive features of Canada, so in a sense, it is very one-sided.
Both videos suggest that Canada is the best country by mentioning tons of symbols, features, and reasons why Canada is the best place. In general, I think Canadian identity in the 21st Century is associated w/ freedom, peace, multiculturalism, and identity.
Both of these short videos “I am Canadian” and “Canadian, Please” are short little clips, yet they get the point across of a proud Canadian identity. The First video “I am Canadian” displays a proud Canadian named Joe who is listing off sever Canadian stereo-types, debunking the majority of them at the same time. However, while he lists off these stereo-types about Canada, there is proudness behind the identity of being Canadian. Joe is distinguishing the differences between Canada and other countries, proudly saying that it is ZED not ZEE. The video “Canadian, Please” displays a strong, proud Canadian identity, highlighting accomplishments coming from Canada, such as the invention of the zipper. “Canadian, Please” also highlights that Canada may not have a monarchy, or as much money as the United States, however Canada is the second largest land mass in the world, and you know you want to be Canadian. These two little shorts display a proud nationalism to Canada, and these two shorts are targeted towards Canadians who have a strong pride in the country we come from.
These shorts describe the stereotypes of Canadians and some of the most commonly things associated with Canadians. They depict the generalization of Canadian identity with certain aspects associated with Canada as shown in “Canadian, Please” when the singers are wearing RCMP uniforms that are heavily associated with the Canadian law enforcement and in the case of the Molson ad the arguments against common misrepresentations. While also bringing about Canadian nationalism and patriotism by proudly stating how Canadians may feel and stating some of our accomplishments that may be overlooked even though they are beneficial and commonly used in everyday lives. Canadian identity in the 21st century goes along with many ideas and themes presented in both shorts.However, it is the identification of some of the more outrageous claims that are not true that also make Canadians view of their own identity in the 21st century. Really, it is the irony of what is most commonly, associated with being Canadian that partly shapes Canadian identity. In the 21st century Canadian identity is the combination of these generalizations but more importantly, Canadian identity is based on each individual’s interpretation of being Canadian with some facets of the generalizations.
In both shorts they are attempting to sell to Canadians because many Canadians find them funny or ironic because we know of these stereotypes and typically brush them off as ironic. There are some non-Canadians that will watch these videos because they are so widespread but, the main audience is Canadians because of the association with our identity. In the video “Canadian, Please” they are selling the music, while in the Molson ad they are selling beer. Both shorts sell to Canadians or at least those who identify as Canadian what is said to be Canadian in the videos.
These two videos say much about what Canadian identity is in the 21st century. “I Am Canadian” attempts on its own to define what “Canadian identity” is. The ad does this specifically by defining Canadian identity in a negative fashion, defining it by specifying what it is not. In this ad the contrast is specifically with the US displaying many of the common things that Canadians view a being different between Canada and the US. This creates a negative identity that makes up being Canadian. The character on the stage is Joe, an average, white, anglophone, hockey watchin’, casually dressed guy. He is what many Canadians would probably view as being the “average Canadian”. It plays up many of the stereotypes Canadians have about themselves and delivers it with a powerful messaging to be proud of these things. This shows that much of 21st century Canadian identity is based on what makes us different from the US and that it is OK to be proud of that.
The second video shows a different, yet similar view of Canadiana. Two people, dressed as Mounties, rapping about more Canadian stereotypes. They discuss things like the monarchy and multiculturalism which would be hard pressed to make an argument that these are not part of the 21st century Canadian identity. The ethnic makeup of the second video contrasts with the first, displaying a more accurate depiction of what Canada “looks like” today. The Canada of today is much more that white and male. This video builds on what I Am Canadian talked about and displays a more nuanced approach to what 21st century Canada looks like by melding old traditions like the RCMP and modern forms of art like rap.
The audience for these videos is different for each one. For the first the beer commercial is probably targeting white, anglophone, men who enjoy drinking beer and watching hockey to unwind. This is the group that would probably be quite apologetically nationalistic and this ad plays directly to this attitude. The second video targets a younger demographic and with that will come an increase in diversity. However this video carries much of the same messaging about what Canadian identity is and that it is OK to be proud of being Canadian. It also does much of its defining by saying what it is that makes Canada different from the US. This brings into question how much of 21st century Canadian identity is defined simply as “not American”.
Both short films reflect upon the Canadian Identity and what it means to be Canadian; the use of multi media added a modern touch to older stead fast stereotypes. To be Canadian, to identify as one means that you are patriotic and proud of to be different. The message in the rap video obviously spoke to a younger crowd, its message was vague and the use of the Red Serge didn’t help selling the video’s message. The second video was entertaining, it exemplified what makes Canadian different through slam poetry with obvious commercial overtone regarding beer. The ‘I Am Canadian” slogan has stood the test of time; its message touched on iconic Canadian symbols and vocabulary form coast to coast. Canadian pride speaks to an individual freedom that we as Canadians enjoy that is envied around the globe. Ultimately, its still a beer commercial promoting a false idea that to be Canadian one must drink Canadian branded beer.
The short videos “I am Canadian” and “Canadian, Please” show many positive aspects about Canadian identity in the 21st century. The “I am Canadian” Molson Beer advertisement portrayed a sense of pride in being a Canadian. They chose elements for the advertisement that a large range of the Canadian population could relate to. It focused on the Canadian Image today such as our two official languages, the hockey sensation, the great beaver, our government and what we are well known for (peace keeping). It specifically mentions in the beginning that history does not define a Canadian, so a fur trader is not a Canadian. This video portrays Canadians as how they are viewed today by other countries and people. The examples used were all very positive and well known, as a Canadian watching the short video, I felt proud to be a Canadian. This is a good thing since the Molson is trying to sell this notion of pride to Canadians, and as a proud Canadian, we should do what all Canadians do and drink “Canadian” beer.
The “Canadian, Please” song/video suggests that others should want to be Canadian for a variety of reasons. It promotes Canadian nationalism. This video is more for the non-Canadians, showing them that us Canadians take pride in who we are. The examples used to lure in the non-Canadian population is Canada’s location, having the largest fresh water supply, free health care and so on. There is an emphasis on living multiculturally here in Canada and this is shown as a part of our identity. All these wonderful things are what make the Canadian identity. This video is aimed at the world that is not Canadian, showing them that there are plenty of reasons why they should want to have Canadian citizenship and be a true Canadian. The video makes comparisons to other countries but in the end, it is established that it means more to be a Canadian.
Both of these short clips show what it means to be a Canadian citizen in the 21st century. Each clip is able to portray one or more Canadians being very patriotic and nationalistic about their country.
The first clip is a Molson Canadian ad called “I am Canadian”. It portrays a speaker on a stage proudly speaking out to an audience discrediting many Canadian stereotypes, thus, showing a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism. ¬¬Some of these stereotypes includes that Canadians “live in an igloo” or pronounce ‘about’ rather than ‘a-boot’. In addition, the speaker shows nationalism for his country by trying to show the differences between Canada from the United States by stating that English and French are spoken here and that Canadians have a Prime Minister who runs the country. By showing the differences, the speaker is able to convey that Canada is a country that Canadians should be proud of. In this ad, Molson Canadian beer is trying to be sold to males who enjoy watching sports games, specifically hockey. When males are cheering for a specific team, they are showing a sense of patriotism, thus identifying themselves as part of that country. Molson Canadian is trying to sell their beer to these proud Canadians because they should be only drinking beer that is from their country rather than a foreign one.
The second clip is a music video called “Canadian, Please”. In this music video, two young people dressed like Royal Canadian Mounted Police showing their patriotism for their country by trying to convince all the viewers to become a Canadian. In the video, the two people brag about Canadian achievements so far such as inventing insulin and the zipper. To help people become Canadian, the singers have ‘steps’ for the viewers to follow, which are just additional stereotypes. The first step is to “lose the gun”, secondly “buy a canoe” and thirdly, “live multiculturally”. Finally, the singers further distinguish Canada from the rest of the world by stating that “Brits have got the monarchy/The US has the money…The French have got the wine and cheese/Koalas chill with the Aussies”. By differentiating Canada, they are able to show that Canadians can be just as “strong” as any other country in the world. I would say that this video is aimed towards any person who is not a Canadian. These people are trying to show all the positive features that come with being a Canadian citizen.
What these videos tell me is that Canada has an identity issue. Canadians seem to be insecure about what it means to be Canadian and have tried to form an identity for themselves, but they appear to have latched onto the stereotypes of Canadians and Canada that other countries have of them, such as Mounties and beavers. Rather than trying to create an identity that is uniquely Canadian, they try to present themselves as being proud of all the things that other countries mock them for. They also appear to try and embrace ideas of Canada removed from their reality, such as the videos’ references to a lack of guns (Canada ranked 13th in the world in handguns per capita in the Small Arms Survey 2007) and their purported bilingualism (less than a fifth of Canadians are able to speak both official languages according to Statistics Canada’s 2006 Census).
The overall impression seems to be one of denial and confusion, where Canadians are desperate to have this idea of what it means to be Canadian, but aren’t really sure what that is supposed to be. In the process they have fixated upon the stereotypes that other nations see in them, attempting to claim them as sources of national pride, while at the same time maintaining an air of self-deprecating humor, as if to have an excuse of not really being serious. In doing so, they have denied an opportunity to define for themselves what it means to be Canadian, instead defining themselves by what other countries think of them.
There is also a demonstrated defensiveness with regards to America, with efforts taken to try and differentiate Canada from its southern neighbor, and highlight Canada’s achievements. It could be seen as a slight sense of inferiority, and a desire not to be confused for their loud neighbor and instead be appreciated for their actual values. This, however, still means that Canada is defining themselves in relation to other countries to a certain degree, in that they are trying to define themselves as “Not American”, rather than emphasizing what it means to be “Canadian”.
The videos seem to be trying to sell a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of Canadian identity, but who they are selling to is more nebulous. I think that they could be trying to sell this to foreigners, in an attempt to manipulate the stereotypes they have of Canada to show themselves in a positive light, but more likely they are trying to sell this sense of identity to other Canadians, in an attempt to fill a gap in the sense of national identity that Canadians have.
Both of these videos serve to perpetuate the most common stereotypes associated with Canada. The images and ideas that they portray are those that most outsiders would associate with Canada, if they knew nothing else. Things like beer, hockey, beavers and red Mountie outfits are symbols of Canada to people of other nations, and these videos glorify them.
However, I also feel that they are displayed in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner, especially the Molson Canadian beer advertisement. Molson, one of Canada’s oldest and most storied breweries, has long played off on Canadian stereotypes to sell their products, especially their “Molson Canadian” product. This product is marketed to be an all-Canadian brew, one that takes the best of Canada and puts it into a can. So it is fitting that the marketers would build off Canadian stereotypes to sell beer to both Canadians and people in other countries, such as America.
I think that what these two short videos are trying to say that Canadians in the 21st century are proud to be Canadian, as the Molson Canadian Beer advertisement states. In the first beer commercial, what’s being sold and bought is, well of course, beer. But on a more figurative level, Molson is trying to sell the image of Canadian identity. The man on the stage begins by comparing his country, Canada, to the United States, and busts all the stereotypes of what other countries would have about Canada. Though he corrects those stereotypes, he does it in a very polite manner, just as Canadians are “supposed to be”. In the other video “Canadian, Please”, the two figures describe what living in Canada is like and many of the positive aspects of being in this country. Essentially, both shorts express how amazing Canada and being a Canadian is. It’s seems maybe slightly ironic because there is a general idea amongst foreigners that Canada is a country without much of an identity because it is a merging ground for different cultures. Throughout all of history, Canada has been a mixture of different races, beginning with the Aboriginals, then white settlers, then Spanish, following the Chinese and etc. However, it seems to be the mixture of cultures that is Canadian culture. The differences of Canadians is what unifies them and the common grounds that many Canadians have are the things stated in the videos.
The first video “Canadian, please” sounds like a praise for Canada as a country, but also for its inhabitants and their lifestyle. The basic idea of the video is to present caracteristic elements of Canada as opposed to some of other countries such as the United States of America, Australia, China, or Britain, which are all powerful nations in today’s world. The other video “I Am Canadian” also plays on stereotypes : it defines what Canada and Canadians are not based on worldwide spread clichés, then move on to what they are with positive images: multiculturalism, free healthcare, respectful and proud people, strong hockey teams etc. By doing this, the video affirm Canadian identity as something unique and now independent from that of countries with which it has historical links.
Both video definitely target two different audiences. Firstly, it targets Canadian people to enhance their sense of national pride and belonging to a great open-minded country. Especially since Molson is a Canadian brand of beer, it is important to flatter Canadians and make them want to buy and consume products from their own country to support local economy. Then the second target is broader, it includes people from the whole world and the cited countries. It is an attempt to prove that maybe these countries have renowned touristic sites, food, money or philosophers, but Canada has nothing to be jealous of because it has as much if not more to offer. I think the “Canadian, please” video is the more effective of the two for promotting Canada worldwide for two reasons. First, it is not judgemental toward the symbols used to represent other countries, consequently it is not excluding people from these countries, and finally because it refers to things that everybody can relate to in a funny way : animals, food, nature, peace, health.
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jamesrm 1:02 pm on January 6, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
These shorts both highlight the changing attitudes Canadians have about their national identity in the 21st century. In “Canadian, Please”, two young Canadians try to convince viewers that they “want to be Canadian, please” by highlighting common Canadian accomplishments like inventing the zipper, having large amounts of multiculturalism and boasting “the world’s monopoly on trees”. This song plays both on Canadian nationalism and also by highlighting the differences Canada has to other countries in the world, stating that “The Brits have the monarchy/ The US has the money/ But I know that you wanna be Canadian”. Trying to give Canada a name for itself is difficult, as it shares many similarities to other countries, like the US and Great Britain, and this song emphasizes these differences.
In the Molson Canadian ad, “I am Canadian”, senses of nationalism and patriotism are heavily invoked, with the speaker basically debunking many Canadian stereotypes, claiming that “I don’t live in an igloo, or eat blubber”, and that “I pronounce it And I pronounce it ‘a-bout’, not ‘a-boot’ “. Additionally, the speaker attempts to distinguish Canada from the United States, claiming that “I speak English and French, not American” and that “I have a Prime Minister, not a President”. As with many commercials, this ad is invoking a strong emotion, in this case Canadian nationalism, and then showing their product, in this case Molson Canadian. The people whom this ad is targeted towards are people (like myself) with strong nationalist feelings who identify as Canadians.
Both these short videos show the changing Canadian ideologies in the 21st century. As Canada’s influence grows in the international community, many Canadians are searching for a clear identity. I imagine being Canadian to many people is similar to being from New Zealand and comparing yourself to Australians. Being the “little brother” of a much larger country always poses problems for national identity, and many Canadians find that identity by identifying as being specifically not American, British, French or any other nation. In my eyes, that diversity and amalgamation of different cultures is what makes Canada unique.
rsamfenn 7:40 pm on January 12, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
One of the key words that you used in this blog post–I think–is “changing;” these videos demonstrate some modern stereotypes about Canadian identity. Hopefully over the course of this term we will be able to historicize some of these stereotypes and explore how modern Canadian identity has been constructed.
Vincent Yam 7:13 pm on January 6, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The shorts are quite different, but there are several common themes and similarities that identify the key areas about Canada’s identity in the 21st century.
In both shorts, wildlife, and Canada’s natural resources are mentioned. “Canadian, Please” particularly emphasizes Canadian’s natural beauty as well as some of its native species such as the goose, moose and the beaver. The Molson ad specifically focuses on the beaver, but its “Canadian, Please” that really focuses on the advantage Canada has on its natural resources such as its lumber and its fresh water supply.
There is a common theme that both video shorts sell is the idea that Canada is different from the US. Both videos emphasize on how Canada is not as violent, and pursues a non-violent foreign policy approach. This also implies Canada to be superior to the US on this issue. “Lose the gun” is one of the rules in the music video, while in the Molson commercial its the line “I believe in peacekeeping not violence”. The Molson commercial and “Canadian, Please” further differentiates Canada from the US through language, and that in particular, Canada has a second official language. However, the Molson commercial takes this language differentiation one step further to focusing on the accents and cues of Canadian English “not zee, zed” and “I speak English + French, not American”.
Multiculturalism is another subject that both videos touch upon. Interestingly enough though, the Molson commercial mentions that Canadians believe in “multiculturalism, not assimilation”, which can be seen as an implicit criticism of the “melting pot” immigration policies of the US and is a further evidence of an attempt to differentiate Canada from the US.
Not to say that Canadian, Please doesn’t attempt to differentiate Canada from the US. The singers often bring up Canadian achievements such as the zipper, and unique institutions such as the Mouthed Police. Coupled with the lines comparing Canada to the other countries, it shows how Canadians are beginning to look into their nation’s past to craft their own identity.
This leads to probably the summation of what is being sold here and who is buying. The videos are attempting to sell a uniquely Canadian national identity that is quite patriotic and emphasizes on Canada’s natural strengths. It focuses on differentiation from the USA through perceived moral and societal differences as well as cultural and linguistic ones. The people who would buy this idea would probably be children and adolescents in Canada. Particularly, this would apply to those youth who had recently immigrated, or who came from families that immigrated to Canada and who lack a national identity. Ads and videos like these would help ingrain this particular target audience with patrioticism for their new country or the country they were born in.
Susanna Chan 11:00 pm on January 8, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Both of the videos highlight Canadian identity in a positive way in the videos…
In “Canadian, Please” the theme they emphasize on include invention of the zipper, natural resources/land (ie: fresh water), free health care, friendly-ness etc. It plays on many different things that are symbolic in Canada such as the outdoors, mounties, and beavers. It suggests that Canada’s identity is based on a wide variety of things, especially multiculturalism and freedom. The environments the actors are in also reinforces their statements b/c its showing the beauty of Canada, which could potentially be a seller to an audience.
In the Molson commercial, there is a commonality with the 1st video. It talks about some of the stereotypes associated w/ Canada, but also talks about the positive aspects connected to identity such as friendly-ness. Also, it compares Canada to other places; for example the speaker suggests he can proudly put the Canadian flag on his backpack, which compared to the states is not always the case. The theme of peace and freedom is also emphasized greatly. Symbols such as the noble beaver is suggested similar to the 1st video too.
Since Canada is known to be multicultural, I think the videos could be a potential seller to newcomers into the country who may not know their own identity, so this could be sold as a place where you can “find yourself.” The 1st video refers to other countries a few times, but in the end it tries to kind of sell Canada by saying “…you know you want to be Canadian” emphasizing that our country is compared to others. Both videos refer to all positive features of Canada, so in a sense, it is very one-sided.
Both videos suggest that Canada is the best country by mentioning tons of symbols, features, and reasons why Canada is the best place. In general, I think Canadian identity in the 21st Century is associated w/ freedom, peace, multiculturalism, and identity.
bedard 2:26 pm on January 9, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Both of these short videos “I am Canadian” and “Canadian, Please” are short little clips, yet they get the point across of a proud Canadian identity. The First video “I am Canadian” displays a proud Canadian named Joe who is listing off sever Canadian stereo-types, debunking the majority of them at the same time. However, while he lists off these stereo-types about Canada, there is proudness behind the identity of being Canadian. Joe is distinguishing the differences between Canada and other countries, proudly saying that it is ZED not ZEE. The video “Canadian, Please” displays a strong, proud Canadian identity, highlighting accomplishments coming from Canada, such as the invention of the zipper. “Canadian, Please” also highlights that Canada may not have a monarchy, or as much money as the United States, however Canada is the second largest land mass in the world, and you know you want to be Canadian. These two little shorts display a proud nationalism to Canada, and these two shorts are targeted towards Canadians who have a strong pride in the country we come from.
Connor Munro 5:54 pm on January 9, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
These shorts describe the stereotypes of Canadians and some of the most commonly things associated with Canadians. They depict the generalization of Canadian identity with certain aspects associated with Canada as shown in “Canadian, Please” when the singers are wearing RCMP uniforms that are heavily associated with the Canadian law enforcement and in the case of the Molson ad the arguments against common misrepresentations. While also bringing about Canadian nationalism and patriotism by proudly stating how Canadians may feel and stating some of our accomplishments that may be overlooked even though they are beneficial and commonly used in everyday lives. Canadian identity in the 21st century goes along with many ideas and themes presented in both shorts.However, it is the identification of some of the more outrageous claims that are not true that also make Canadians view of their own identity in the 21st century. Really, it is the irony of what is most commonly, associated with being Canadian that partly shapes Canadian identity. In the 21st century Canadian identity is the combination of these generalizations but more importantly, Canadian identity is based on each individual’s interpretation of being Canadian with some facets of the generalizations.
In both shorts they are attempting to sell to Canadians because many Canadians find them funny or ironic because we know of these stereotypes and typically brush them off as ironic. There are some non-Canadians that will watch these videos because they are so widespread but, the main audience is Canadians because of the association with our identity. In the video “Canadian, Please” they are selling the music, while in the Molson ad they are selling beer. Both shorts sell to Canadians or at least those who identify as Canadian what is said to be Canadian in the videos.
maxgardiner 7:12 pm on January 9, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
These two videos say much about what Canadian identity is in the 21st century. “I Am Canadian” attempts on its own to define what “Canadian identity” is. The ad does this specifically by defining Canadian identity in a negative fashion, defining it by specifying what it is not. In this ad the contrast is specifically with the US displaying many of the common things that Canadians view a being different between Canada and the US. This creates a negative identity that makes up being Canadian. The character on the stage is Joe, an average, white, anglophone, hockey watchin’, casually dressed guy. He is what many Canadians would probably view as being the “average Canadian”. It plays up many of the stereotypes Canadians have about themselves and delivers it with a powerful messaging to be proud of these things. This shows that much of 21st century Canadian identity is based on what makes us different from the US and that it is OK to be proud of that.
The second video shows a different, yet similar view of Canadiana. Two people, dressed as Mounties, rapping about more Canadian stereotypes. They discuss things like the monarchy and multiculturalism which would be hard pressed to make an argument that these are not part of the 21st century Canadian identity. The ethnic makeup of the second video contrasts with the first, displaying a more accurate depiction of what Canada “looks like” today. The Canada of today is much more that white and male. This video builds on what I Am Canadian talked about and displays a more nuanced approach to what 21st century Canada looks like by melding old traditions like the RCMP and modern forms of art like rap.
The audience for these videos is different for each one. For the first the beer commercial is probably targeting white, anglophone, men who enjoy drinking beer and watching hockey to unwind. This is the group that would probably be quite apologetically nationalistic and this ad plays directly to this attitude. The second video targets a younger demographic and with that will come an increase in diversity. However this video carries much of the same messaging about what Canadian identity is and that it is OK to be proud of being Canadian. It also does much of its defining by saying what it is that makes Canada different from the US. This brings into question how much of 21st century Canadian identity is defined simply as “not American”.
richardj 9:16 pm on January 9, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Both short films reflect upon the Canadian Identity and what it means to be Canadian; the use of multi media added a modern touch to older stead fast stereotypes. To be Canadian, to identify as one means that you are patriotic and proud of to be different. The message in the rap video obviously spoke to a younger crowd, its message was vague and the use of the Red Serge didn’t help selling the video’s message. The second video was entertaining, it exemplified what makes Canadian different through slam poetry with obvious commercial overtone regarding beer. The ‘I Am Canadian” slogan has stood the test of time; its message touched on iconic Canadian symbols and vocabulary form coast to coast. Canadian pride speaks to an individual freedom that we as Canadians enjoy that is envied around the globe. Ultimately, its still a beer commercial promoting a false idea that to be Canadian one must drink Canadian branded beer.
slali 9:53 pm on January 9, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The short videos “I am Canadian” and “Canadian, Please” show many positive aspects about Canadian identity in the 21st century. The “I am Canadian” Molson Beer advertisement portrayed a sense of pride in being a Canadian. They chose elements for the advertisement that a large range of the Canadian population could relate to. It focused on the Canadian Image today such as our two official languages, the hockey sensation, the great beaver, our government and what we are well known for (peace keeping). It specifically mentions in the beginning that history does not define a Canadian, so a fur trader is not a Canadian. This video portrays Canadians as how they are viewed today by other countries and people. The examples used were all very positive and well known, as a Canadian watching the short video, I felt proud to be a Canadian. This is a good thing since the Molson is trying to sell this notion of pride to Canadians, and as a proud Canadian, we should do what all Canadians do and drink “Canadian” beer.
The “Canadian, Please” song/video suggests that others should want to be Canadian for a variety of reasons. It promotes Canadian nationalism. This video is more for the non-Canadians, showing them that us Canadians take pride in who we are. The examples used to lure in the non-Canadian population is Canada’s location, having the largest fresh water supply, free health care and so on. There is an emphasis on living multiculturally here in Canada and this is shown as a part of our identity. All these wonderful things are what make the Canadian identity. This video is aimed at the world that is not Canadian, showing them that there are plenty of reasons why they should want to have Canadian citizenship and be a true Canadian. The video makes comparisons to other countries but in the end, it is established that it means more to be a Canadian.
Tamara Ling 12:39 am on January 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Both of these short clips show what it means to be a Canadian citizen in the 21st century. Each clip is able to portray one or more Canadians being very patriotic and nationalistic about their country.
The first clip is a Molson Canadian ad called “I am Canadian”. It portrays a speaker on a stage proudly speaking out to an audience discrediting many Canadian stereotypes, thus, showing a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism. ¬¬Some of these stereotypes includes that Canadians “live in an igloo” or pronounce ‘about’ rather than ‘a-boot’. In addition, the speaker shows nationalism for his country by trying to show the differences between Canada from the United States by stating that English and French are spoken here and that Canadians have a Prime Minister who runs the country. By showing the differences, the speaker is able to convey that Canada is a country that Canadians should be proud of. In this ad, Molson Canadian beer is trying to be sold to males who enjoy watching sports games, specifically hockey. When males are cheering for a specific team, they are showing a sense of patriotism, thus identifying themselves as part of that country. Molson Canadian is trying to sell their beer to these proud Canadians because they should be only drinking beer that is from their country rather than a foreign one.
The second clip is a music video called “Canadian, Please”. In this music video, two young people dressed like Royal Canadian Mounted Police showing their patriotism for their country by trying to convince all the viewers to become a Canadian. In the video, the two people brag about Canadian achievements so far such as inventing insulin and the zipper. To help people become Canadian, the singers have ‘steps’ for the viewers to follow, which are just additional stereotypes. The first step is to “lose the gun”, secondly “buy a canoe” and thirdly, “live multiculturally”. Finally, the singers further distinguish Canada from the rest of the world by stating that “Brits have got the monarchy/The US has the money…The French have got the wine and cheese/Koalas chill with the Aussies”. By differentiating Canada, they are able to show that Canadians can be just as “strong” as any other country in the world. I would say that this video is aimed towards any person who is not a Canadian. These people are trying to show all the positive features that come with being a Canadian citizen.
brendanjf 11:35 am on January 10, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
What these videos tell me is that Canada has an identity issue. Canadians seem to be insecure about what it means to be Canadian and have tried to form an identity for themselves, but they appear to have latched onto the stereotypes of Canadians and Canada that other countries have of them, such as Mounties and beavers. Rather than trying to create an identity that is uniquely Canadian, they try to present themselves as being proud of all the things that other countries mock them for. They also appear to try and embrace ideas of Canada removed from their reality, such as the videos’ references to a lack of guns (Canada ranked 13th in the world in handguns per capita in the Small Arms Survey 2007) and their purported bilingualism (less than a fifth of Canadians are able to speak both official languages according to Statistics Canada’s 2006 Census).
The overall impression seems to be one of denial and confusion, where Canadians are desperate to have this idea of what it means to be Canadian, but aren’t really sure what that is supposed to be. In the process they have fixated upon the stereotypes that other nations see in them, attempting to claim them as sources of national pride, while at the same time maintaining an air of self-deprecating humor, as if to have an excuse of not really being serious. In doing so, they have denied an opportunity to define for themselves what it means to be Canadian, instead defining themselves by what other countries think of them.
There is also a demonstrated defensiveness with regards to America, with efforts taken to try and differentiate Canada from its southern neighbor, and highlight Canada’s achievements. It could be seen as a slight sense of inferiority, and a desire not to be confused for their loud neighbor and instead be appreciated for their actual values. This, however, still means that Canada is defining themselves in relation to other countries to a certain degree, in that they are trying to define themselves as “Not American”, rather than emphasizing what it means to be “Canadian”.
The videos seem to be trying to sell a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of Canadian identity, but who they are selling to is more nebulous. I think that they could be trying to sell this to foreigners, in an attempt to manipulate the stereotypes they have of Canada to show themselves in a positive light, but more likely they are trying to sell this sense of identity to other Canadians, in an attempt to fill a gap in the sense of national identity that Canadians have.
Tyler Cole 10:16 pm on January 13, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Both of these videos serve to perpetuate the most common stereotypes associated with Canada. The images and ideas that they portray are those that most outsiders would associate with Canada, if they knew nothing else. Things like beer, hockey, beavers and red Mountie outfits are symbols of Canada to people of other nations, and these videos glorify them.
However, I also feel that they are displayed in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner, especially the Molson Canadian beer advertisement. Molson, one of Canada’s oldest and most storied breweries, has long played off on Canadian stereotypes to sell their products, especially their “Molson Canadian” product. This product is marketed to be an all-Canadian brew, one that takes the best of Canada and puts it into a can. So it is fitting that the marketers would build off Canadian stereotypes to sell beer to both Canadians and people in other countries, such as America.
doraleung 3:17 pm on February 3, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
I think that what these two short videos are trying to say that Canadians in the 21st century are proud to be Canadian, as the Molson Canadian Beer advertisement states. In the first beer commercial, what’s being sold and bought is, well of course, beer. But on a more figurative level, Molson is trying to sell the image of Canadian identity. The man on the stage begins by comparing his country, Canada, to the United States, and busts all the stereotypes of what other countries would have about Canada. Though he corrects those stereotypes, he does it in a very polite manner, just as Canadians are “supposed to be”. In the other video “Canadian, Please”, the two figures describe what living in Canada is like and many of the positive aspects of being in this country. Essentially, both shorts express how amazing Canada and being a Canadian is. It’s seems maybe slightly ironic because there is a general idea amongst foreigners that Canada is a country without much of an identity because it is a merging ground for different cultures. Throughout all of history, Canada has been a mixture of different races, beginning with the Aboriginals, then white settlers, then Spanish, following the Chinese and etc. However, it seems to be the mixture of cultures that is Canadian culture. The differences of Canadians is what unifies them and the common grounds that many Canadians have are the things stated in the videos.
Pierre-Marie B. 8:12 pm on February 15, 2014 Permalink | Log in to Reply
The first video “Canadian, please” sounds like a praise for Canada as a country, but also for its inhabitants and their lifestyle. The basic idea of the video is to present caracteristic elements of Canada as opposed to some of other countries such as the United States of America, Australia, China, or Britain, which are all powerful nations in today’s world. The other video “I Am Canadian” also plays on stereotypes : it defines what Canada and Canadians are not based on worldwide spread clichés, then move on to what they are with positive images: multiculturalism, free healthcare, respectful and proud people, strong hockey teams etc. By doing this, the video affirm Canadian identity as something unique and now independent from that of countries with which it has historical links.
Both video definitely target two different audiences. Firstly, it targets Canadian people to enhance their sense of national pride and belonging to a great open-minded country. Especially since Molson is a Canadian brand of beer, it is important to flatter Canadians and make them want to buy and consume products from their own country to support local economy. Then the second target is broader, it includes people from the whole world and the cited countries. It is an attempt to prove that maybe these countries have renowned touristic sites, food, money or philosophers, but Canada has nothing to be jealous of because it has as much if not more to offer. I think the “Canadian, please” video is the more effective of the two for promotting Canada worldwide for two reasons. First, it is not judgemental toward the symbols used to represent other countries, consequently it is not excluding people from these countries, and finally because it refers to things that everybody can relate to in a funny way : animals, food, nature, peace, health.