American and Canadian Relations Wednesday January 5 th, 2011

Learning Target We will discuss America’s Influence on Canada through pop culture. Success Criteria I will be able to determine the effect America has had on my life in Canada by analyzing specific interests I have in pop culture.

Agenda Holiday Break Homework (Immigration Worksheet) So You Think Your Canadian, Eh? Worksheet Note on American Influence on Canada – Popular Culture Massey Report Poster

So, You Think Your Canadian, Eh? Let’s see if you really are Canadian. Take the quiz! We’ll take it up in 2 minutes!

Culture and Identity Using your notebook, individually create a mind- map and come up with what culture includes! Is having a distinct Canadian Culture important? Why or Why not?

Canadian Idols Brainstorm with a friend (2 minutes), your favourite: Movie Actor/Actress TV Show Writer Out of all your answers, how many were Canadian?

American Influence on Canadian Culture in the 1950s In the 1950s and 1960s, there was a big concern among Canadians of becoming too “American” With the introduction of television, Canadian stations imported American programs to keep high ratings. The only Canadian television that remained popular in the 1950s was NEWS or SPORTS

Evolution of Television

American Influence on Canadian Culture in the 1950s Canadian talent was usually unsuccessful in Canada, so most performers found jobs in America After WWII, American companies opened branch plants in Canada: American companies came to Canada and produced goods in this country to sell to Canadians Created jobs for Canadians, but what about the money?

Canadian High Culture After WWII there was an effort to make “high culture” the official Canadian culture What did this mean? CBC and National Film Board were created Popular American culture was vulgar Canadian government began to sponsor fine arts Most inspiration came from New York

Canadian High Culture CBC received money from the Federal governments Other private networks relied on American programs and advertising As a result, Canadian talent had to travel to the United States to gain recognition and success. What happened?

Massey Report Critics feared that US television would swamp Canadian stations in cities and towns near the border In response to these concerns, the federal government in 1949, established the Royal Commission on National Development in the Arts, Letters and Science. Five Members (Vincent Massey) In 1951 they presented their findings and made to preserve Canadian culture and curb US influence. The Canadian Council would emerge from this.

Was the Massey Report necessary for the survival of Canadian culture?

Show Your Canadian-ism Create a poster (either for or against) the federal government’s role in promoting Canadian culture.

Homework Read the handout on the Auto Pact, Vietnam War and Popular culture and make notes