Along the main pedestrian street in Odessa, there is a hip taverna named after Fidel Castro, located next to MacDonald's. This combination should give people in the West a clear idea of the kind of experimentation that is underway in the Former Soviet Republics. When MacDonald's appeared on the scene, people claimed that the society was opening up. Could it be that after 13 years of "Westernization" and the fact that transition has not resulted in the kind of wealth people thought it would that now Fidel's presence suggests something new and different? Several years ago, I noticed that there were few fancy places at all for enjoying night life in a Western way - most places were free of themes and frugal. Now there is a huge growth in themed bars and cafes and a great deal of experimentation. It used to be difficult to find T-shirts here, especially ones with some form of pictures or logos on them. Now you can get soccer jerseys, but I am noticing a lot of young people sporting CCCP shirts, shorts and jogging pants. It might be appropriate afterall that Fidel being next to MacDonald's in Odessa represents more than just a coincidence - it seems to me to be a direct challenge to Americanization. If MacDonald's starts serving Castro Fries, I will be pleasantly surprised.
Комментариев нет:
Отправить комментарий