Some things are quintessentially American. Barbeque, baseball, obesity, and fanny packs did not catch on in Europe. As if crepes, soccer, fitness, and "man purses" can compare!
I would have added spray-painted graffiti to the list of All-American items. What is more American than Cool Earl's name in fat, intertwined, 6 foot high letters on the side of a bridge abutment or a subway car? Alas, spray-painted graffiti is all over Europe nowadays. But why?
I blame the Digital Revolution. Now that everyone is wired into the Internet 24 / 7 with laptops, iPads, Blackberries, and Smart Phones, there is no need to physically take pen to paper any more. Students take class notes on their laptops. Classroom lessons are on Power Point. Everyone texts and tweets instead of writing a personal letter. Students learn the QWERTY keyboard in 3rd grade. The Palmer Method of Cursive Handwriting is passe'.
But old habits die hard. We feel an innate need to express our individuality in a unique written script rather than limiting ourselves to Times New Roman. Hence, graffiti exploded onto the American scene simultaneously with the Digital Revolution. And when Steve Jobs' brainchild made its way to Europe so did spray-painted graffiti.
As our trade deficit shows, we were unable to export barbeque, baseball, obesity, or fanny packs. Spray-painted graffiti, though, is as popular world-wide as Barbie dolls.
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