Automobile’s Contribution to Identity in America

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The Automobile’s Contribution to Identity in America: Nostalgia, Nationalism and Status

Introduction

Over one billion cars have been manufactured world-wide in the past century, with nearly 700 million on the road today (Urry, 2006). As important as flight, computers, and mass communication, the automobile has been a key contributor to the growth and globalization of our world (Sheller, 2000). While the automobile is rarely the topic of sociological discussion and cultural study, this article will discuss the iconicism of the automobile and how it contributes to an individual’s identity.

For some this is the Volkswagen Beetle – a car that embodies nostalgia and the by-gone era of the 60’s (Wilson, 2005). For others, the identity is the nationalism and pride invoked by owning a car that typifies a true red-blooded American (Edensor, 2004). And for others identity is defined by the status or image a car provides (Belk, 1988). These three aspects of identity will be used to discuss and answer my research question: “How does the automobile contribute to identity in America?”

As the owner of a vintage 1974 Volkswagen Super Beetle, I have always been curious about the bond of nostalgia that is common amongst Volkswagen owners, prior owners and admirers. This infectious enthusiasm for the Volkswagen between owners combined with a general interest in the themes of how icons are born and the perceived societal status bestowed upon their owners have prompted me to write this article.

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The Volkswagen Beetle is an iconic automobile that for many, imparts nostalgia (Wilson, 2005). The camaraderie and coming-of-age that is personified by the Volkswagen is a common, underlying characteristic amongst those who strongly identify with ...

... middle of paper ...

...rica. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

* Levinson, H. (2004). Highways, People, and Places: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Transportation Engineering, 130 (4), 406 – 412.

Macworld. (2003). Volkswagen, Apple Team Up In 'Pods Unite' Promotion. http://www.macworld.com/news/2003/07/15/vw/, Accessed December 9, 2006.

* Sheller, M. (2000). The City and the Car. International Journal of Urban and Regional Research. 24 (4), 737 – 757.

* Sheller, M. (2004). Automotive Emotions: Feeling the Car. Theory, Culture & Society, 21 (4/5), 221–242.

* Urry, J. (2006). Inhabiting the Car. The Editorial Board of the Sociological Review, 54 (1), 17 – 31.

Vanden Bergh, B. (1992). Volkswagen as “Little Man.” Journal of American Culture, 15 (4), 95 – 119.

* Wilson, J. (2005). Nostalgia: Sanctuary of Meaning. Lewisburg: Bucknell University Press.

* Denotes scholarly source.

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