America

For a large part of my life the United States of America has fascinated me. It’s history, the landscape, the cities, the accents, the sports, the politics, the food and the vast output of culture that the USA pours over the world like coca cola. I have visited and travelled there often, read dozens of books, watched documentaries, listen to podcasts and subscribed to their newspapers. I have friends who live there. I have adored the place. It has amazed me, amused me, had me in awe at their achievements and dumbstruck at their ignorance.

Lately and increasingly the place appals and disappoints me and yet even now after all these years and despite their slow decline the USA still catches my attention in so many ways. I am of course obsessed and obsession means you ignore the object of your obsession’s faults and weaknesses. That has become impossible to do.

I believe what is happening in the USA now is not just brought about by one obnoxious and immoral sociopathic individual but another sign of an inevitable decline. And in a way that is ok, every dog has its day, empires, and the USA in its way has been very much an empire, rise and fall. I think like even the best party, at some point peak good times are reached. That time is now. There are no shortage of ways and places where you can go and learn more about this and whether I am right or wrong so I am not going to do that. Instead I want to write about house hunting and home renovation done the USA way.

So I am thinking about the TV network HGTV and how in it’s own way it encapsulates everything that makes the USA the USA, both the good and the bad. HGTV specialises in reality TV shows around real estate and renovation. Even though it is realty TV the shows are not like the usual reality shit that I can’t stand. There is no or little competition and no prizes so there is much less of the soap opera antics and emotional bullshit setups that normally fill these shows. Instead we have individuals or teams [usually related], all with excellent skills and imagination, buying properties and doing them up for sale. There is some gentle humour, a few one liners and a bit of manufactured stress as the concrete truck runs late but after a day at work it is a good way to wind down.

As these programmes are based in different cities and towns the viewer has the extra bonus in that you get to see a peek at different cities and their architecture, history, climate etc. So the shows are 80% a home improvement show with a bit of travel thrown in. Some of these programs have become relatively famous and have helped to reinvigorate suburbs or small towns that have been suffering since the GFC.  Also the shows capture so much of the USA culture, identity and belief system. The constant reinvention, the belief in work bringing reward, appeal of small town values, doing deals, advancement, Christian values etc. are all on display.

These things are seldom overtly said and shown but filter through in the comments, the décor selection, the history of the homes and the area and the comments and attitudes of the potential buyers or renovation clients.

Some of the shows can become repetitive, especially when based in a small town where the housing stock and what the potential sellers/ renovators want is a bit same same.  Generally this is just what I need in these stressful times. My favourites are the mother/daughter team out of Indianapolis in Good Bones, the husband/wife team in small town Mississippi in Hometown and the funkiest, the brother/sister team working in Pittsburgh in Restored by The Fords.  I am positive the brother is a total stoner and is off his nut during the episodes. There are lots of other programs around building mountain cabins, renovating old barns, installing amazing swimming pools so there is plenty to catch up on if you haven’t had a look before.

Also interesting from a cultural study viewpoint but more amusing and even more appealing as a travel show is the other subgenre of productions from HGTV. These programs are more on the purchasing side and features couples, mostly from the USA looking to buy or rent a home in exotic locations around the world due to study or work opportunities. Interesting locations like Costa Rica, Poland, Columbia, Malaysia, Denmark and even Perth have made the grade as well as the usual Tokyo, London etc.

There are also a number of different niche programs like beachside off the grid hideaways, house hunting with kids and once again the shows give great little snippets of info about what life in certain cities might be like. Budgets vary so you can see some real palaces and just everyday homes.

This is where some of the less likable aspects of American culture become visible. Their general assumption that everyone does it their way, the need for all rooms to be enormous, the weird surprise they have that it is noisy in the middle of Bangkok. It is a bit of snobby fun watching insular Americans who have never left the USA before come to grips with foreign toilets, different kitchen facilities and how big other countries think a “master“ bedroom really needs to be. Not to mention the pleasure watching and listening to the children involved and having the adventure of their lives while their parents keep saying they want to experience something new but then can’t understand why rooms or appliances or whole suburbs aren’t just like home. Some of the looks that the real estate agents get on their faces are gold.

Again it has been great non-demanding viewing during COVID and I have a whole list of new places I want to visit. Sadly I have to replace the USA that I am falling out of love with.

Six Songs About Moving

She’s Leaving Home – The Beatles although I prefer Billy Bragg’s version

Moving – Supergrass

Going to California – Led Zep

The Promised Land – Chuck Berry

Leaving Home – Jebediah

Moving Out- West Thebarton- champion band from Adelaide