ABSTRACT
In 1997 singer David Bowie released the hit single “I’m Afraid of Americans.” Although wryly described by Bowie himself as being “Not as hostile about Americans as [Bruce Springsteen’s] ‘Born in the USA’ ” (cited in Anon., 2000), the song could be read as a none-too-subtle expression of both trepidation and open hostility toward the purported trappings of American society and its attendant popular cultures. For Bowie – or more precisely the xenophobic “character” through which his narrative unfolds – while America offers the rich promises of freedom, individuality, and success (No one needs anyone . . . Johnny looks up at the stars), he actually sees cultural imposition, conformity, and moral decline (God is an American . . . Johnny wants pussy and cars). Thus, despite its allure, contemporary America is seen to be a site which evokes cultural apprehension – a warning sign to the dangers posed by commercialism without restriction.
