Transnational America: Outlines of Modern American Culture is an editorial book that includes 13 essays by different people plus one fully illustrated with the name of photo essay at work, edited by Russell Duncan and Clara Juncker. Museum Tusculanum Press has published it in 276 paperback pages under ISBN 8772899581 in 2004 in Copenhagen.
The contributors to this one-volume editorial are experts in various disciplines, primarily English literature and American studies.
The work is classified into 5 main categories: 1- Visions and reviews 2- Secrets and lies 3- Photo essay 4- New people 5- New places, which each one subcategorizes in a few essays.
This book has a pro-American structure, and tries to present the United States as a trans-model and even as an archetype that all other nations and states must follow from their nation-state model. Many countries persecute it consciously or unconsciously, and its taste and smell can be felt in the rest of the world. That’s why it’s called Transnational america.
In fact, the editors believe in an alliteration of Trans in all things America, as described in the editors’ introduction:
“A transatlantic journey can discover a new continent or start a new life, and a transcontinental exploration can lead to Manifest Destiny. Pioneers can cross borders to build a nation. To transmigrate is to travel through a country on the way to rest. more permanent Slaves are transported; immigrants make transitions; people are transformed. Transactions are necessary for the acquisition of property. Translators mediate between languages. Hopes are transmitted; communities are transplanted; nations are transfigured. media producers transcribe programs for broadcast for international offices. “
It can be said – in fact – that the book tries to normalize the concept of trans-naturalization.
“The editors commissioned articles explaining the contours of the ‘glocal’ (global and local) and ‘intermestic’ (international and domestic) trends involved in transnational America.” The language of the work is not overly complicated, but to some extent sophisticated, publishers try to give their minds by coining new words using a combination method that can be a sign and a metaphor for the interdisciplinary approach of the book itself.
“They address the complex issues of globalization, American mythology, Christian proselytism, modern slavery, conspiracy theory, apocalyptic terrorism, stories from Vietnam, international feminism, gender role reversal, resurgent regionalism , Hillary Clinton, Muhammad Ali, Latinos and the changing definitions of whether in Hungary, Nigeria, Estonia, the southern United States or Canadian cities. When the word enters the United States, the United States enters the world, without territorial limits , and experiencing ambivalent reactions of acceptance and resistance “.
It’s really hard to label it unique, but it’s certainly a great job for those of you who are newcomers to Americaology and Globalizationology. Popular culture is smelled in its entirety; examples, similes, and metaphors from different Hollywood movies lend a subtle abstract interactive vibe to the work.
However, it has a unique part and it is the photographic essay. 14 dazzling photos that can represent 14 rehearsals of the play. A well-trained eye can obviously find much and more in each one; ‘Naturalization’, ‘Mc Donaldization’, American Surrealization, Presidential Exceptionalization, American Jigsawization, Phallic Feminization, Americanization of Negro-Islam, Economic Novelization, Mexico-America Hybridization, Amerinadoization, Anti-American Assimilation; they are probable conceptualized nominations that I dare to put them, and of course all of them I coined except in quotation marks. I really recommend to anyone who is interested in the book and lacks time for the complete reading, even if skipping the rest, live a room with this photographic essay that has an encyclopedic essence.
As stated in the book American Understanding, several notions and concepts must be taken into account; ‘nationalism’, ‘racism’, ‘manhood’, ‘Christianity’, ‘globalization’, ‘immigration’, ‘classical-democratic roots’,’ militarism ‘,’ technology ‘,’ advertising banners’, ‘youth’, ‘future ”, ‘progress’ and ‘frontier’ are topics that are reviewed in this paper, thus paving the way for American Understanding. But some other points are neglected in this work if they are also concerned with as elements of modern American culture; Hip hop music, same-sex marriage, new concept of Stew as the successor to Melting Pot, voluntarism, democratization of the world and preference. However, he illuminates new horizons by seeing the United States as an infiltrator even outside of it.