Iconography of
the U.S.

Find
an icon of the U.S. that imposed upon other cultures in an attempt to persuade or gain favor or to
achieve business purposes.  Using this icon, answer the following questions:

A. What is the icon?

The icon is Six Flags.  It is a very popular amusement park.  Most people would know what the flags stand for just by seeing the image.  

B. How did it become iconic in the U.S.?

Six Flags kept expanding and becoming more and more popular.  Not too many other amusement park companies competed with it.  

C. How is it employed outside of the U.S.?

Currently there are two Six Flags outside of the US, one in Canada and one in Mexico.  There were several in France, Belgium and Spain, but due to lack of money they had to sell them. They wanted to earn more money and become more well known around the world.  Around this same time, DreamWorks and Universal Studios were trying to expand as well.

D. Was the cultural response to this usage positive or negative? Was the U.S. response to this usage positive or negative? Why or why not?

From what I have found, the response was positive both for the U. S and for other cultures.  People enjoy roller coasters and the atmospheres of the parks.  The downfall was that Six Flags was in trouble financially and had to make budget cuts. Now there are only two in other cultures.  They are both going strong and excepted well.  

E. What might have been a more culturally relative?
I think in this case, Six Flags is a very universal icon and place.  It can relate to every culture and can be for everyone.  I am not sure anything could have been more culturally relative.  The only thing I can think of is if instead of having the "Looney Toon" feel, they could have changed the feel to fit the culture that particular park was in.