How MERIKA killed culture

It is the year 2025. Innumerable amounts of people right now are listening to the latest trends in music, or the newest show on their streaming services. This my friends, is the decay of American culture and here is why. We have become consumers of what I call “fast food entertainment”.

Now, what is MERIKA? This word, that is usually found in memes, is a way to describe the worldwide stereotype of the typical American. A person who is focused only on beer, guns, and the F-150, while ignoring the damage that their government/handlers does or has done to different parts of the world.

This unawaken or dreamlike state that Americans seem to have fallen for can be seen in our love of fast food. We live such busy lives that it is almost a blissful experience to receive a savory meal, quickly prepared for you, for such a “low” price. We do not consider the damage we do to our health and how we could instead, make healthier food at home.

Another example of this could be how, nowadays, everyone seems to have a reduced attention span and suffering social media addiction. This is, of course, a result of our bondage with instant gratification and a culture that promotes such thing.

America culture has been taken over by greedy capitalists that have put us all in a so called “corporate slavery”. An economy so fractured by inflation has given in to companies offering soul crushing jobs to the common man, who is entrapped by his financial situation.

What does this have to do with culture?, you may ask. Well, we can see the side effects of this in our modern music. To be a musician or singer in the past meant that someone knew how to play an instrument or sing. Nowadays, a meeting is held where old men in suits find their most suitable candidate for stardom. This candidate must be good-looking and with a bit of charisma. Most importantly, this person must be submissive and manageable. Add a production team, auto tune, and an expensive marketing campaign and you’ve got yourself a new star. The music is so easy to make that they never stop releasing. Musically, we consume the equivalent of fast food.

This talentless superstar phenomena can be seen in the so called “influencers” or famous Youtubers. Mix in an attractive face, a plastic lifestyle, bright colors, crazy thumbnails and you will be an online success.

And how could we forget the famous Hollywood? This American cinematic empire now focuses on being a messenger of political agendas and hiring actors based on “inclusion”. In the end, all of these factors have contributed to the dropping IQs and the dumbing down of the American nation.

I believe there is still hope. Hope in those who struggle and will not be brought with money. The underdog. The starving artist. He or she will save American culture.

Daniel Flores Hernandez is a writer and multidisciplinary artist exploring the intersection of the occult, philosophy, and human nature. Drawing inspiration from neo-noir aesthetics, esoteric traditions, and the works of Nietzsche and Hunter S Thompson, he crafts evocative poetry and essays that delve into the shadows of the psyche. When not writing, he immerses himself in researching, reading, watching classic films, and spending time with family and friends.