Automobile’s Contribution to Identity in America Essay -- Automobile C

The Automobiles Contribution to Identity in the States Nostalgia, Nationalism and StatusIntroductionOver one billion cars make been manufactured world-wide in the past century, with nearly 700 million on the bridle-path today (Urry, 2006). As important as flight, computers, and mass communication, the elevator car has been a key contributor to the growth and globalization of our world (Sheller, 2000). While the automobile is rarely the topic of sociological argueion and cultural study, this article allow discuss the iconicism of the automobile and how it contributes to an individuals identity.For some this is the Volkswagen Beetle a car that embodies nostalgia and the by-gone era of the 60s (Wilson, 2005). For others, the identity is the nationalism and surcharge invoked by owning a car that typifies a true red-blooded American (Edensor, 2004). And for others identity is defined by the status or image a car provides (Belk, 1988). These three aspects of identity will be used to discuss and answer my research question How does the automobile contribute to identity in America?As the owner of a vintage 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle, I produce always been curious about the bond of nostalgia that is common amongst Volkswagen owners, introductory owners and admirers. This infectious enthusiasm for the Volkswagen between owners combined with a general provoke in the themes of how icons are born and the perceived societal status bestowed upon their owners have prompted me to write this article.2The Volkswagen Beetle is an iconic automobile that for many, imparts nostalgia (Wilson, 2005). The camaraderie and coming-of-age that is personified by the Volkswagen is a common, underlying characteristic amongst those who strongly identify with ... ...rica. New York thaumaturgy Wiley & Sons, Inc.* Levinson, H. (2004). Highways, People, and Places Past, Present, and Future. daybook of Transportation Engineering, 130 (4), 406 412.Macworld. (2003). Volkswagen, Apple T eam Up In Pods Unite Promotion. http//www.macworld.com/news/2003/07/15/vw/, Accessed December 9, 2006.* Sheller, M. (2000). The City and the Car. International Journal of urban and Regional Research. 24 (4), 737 757.* Sheller, M. (2004). Automotive Emotions Feeling the Car. Theory, Culture & Society, 21 (4/5), 221242.* Urry, J. (2006). Inhabiting the Car. The column Board of the Sociological Review, 54 (1), 17 31.Vanden Bergh, B. (1992). Volkswagen as Little Man. Journal of American Culture, 15 (4), 95 119.* Wilson, J. (2005). Nostalgia Sanctuary of Meaning. Lewisburg Bucknell University Press.* Denotes scholarly source.10