The Couch Potato Report – September 26th, 2006
This week The Couch Potato Report shines the spotlight on Canada, our home and native land.
Douglas Coupland is a Canadian fiction writer, playwright and visual artist.
His first book, the 1991 novel ìGeneration X: Tales for an Accelerated Cultureî, became an international bestseller and popularized the term ëGeneration Xí.
Most of Coupland’s work explores the unexpected cultural shifts created by the impact of new technologies on middle class North American culture.
ìSouvenir of Canadaî was a book Coupland wrote in 2002.
In the book’s introduction, Coupland states his intention was to author a book about Canada ìÖthat only Canadians would get.î
The book profiles bilingualism, beer bottles, cigarette warning labels, the Trans-Canada Highway, Terry Foxís prosthetic leg, the Canadarm, stubby beer bottles, bilingual cereal boxes, Ookpik, and many other things that are uniquely Canadian.
In addition to being a book, SOUVENIR OF CANADA is now a documentary film as well.
In the film Coupland shows us some of the things that ìonly Canadians would getî as he puts together an interactive art exhibit called Canada House with Canadian content front and center.
As the author buildís his Canada House there are stories and features on some of the things that make Canadians, Canadians, and some of the things that were designed years ago to try and make us more Canadian.
For instance, he brings back the greeting ìchimoî, an Inuit word that was supposed to become Canada’s version of ìAlohaî.
SOUVENIR OF CANADA is just that, a souvenir of a Canada full of memories that we all collectively share, and I really, really enjoyed the film.
The one negative thing that I have to say about SOUVENIR OF CANADA is the fact that at times there is too much of a focus put on Douglas Coupland and his family and thus the things that ìonly Canadians would getî take a back seat
However, as someone who has had his entire family on his show at one point or another, I guess I shouldnít talk.
SOUVENIR OF CANADA is a wonderfully enjoyable trip down memory lane and if you are a Canadian who grew up in the sixties and seventies it is a must see.
And SOUVENIR OF CANADA is available now on DVD at a store near you.
Coming up on the next Couch Potato Report
CORNER GAS: SEASON THREE features all 19 episodes of the made-in-Saskatchewan series, including one of my favourites: ìThe Littlest Yarboî where Hank is outwitted by a German Shepherd while trying to prove itís the dog from the legendary TV show ñ The Littlest Hobo.
Also next week THANK YOU FOR SMOKING is a satirical comedy about a tobacco spokesman, who is trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son; and the Disney classic THE LITTLE MERMAID is being released in a two-disc special edition with a wide array of special features!
I’m Dan Reynish. I’ll have more on those, and some other releases, in seven days.
For now, that’s this week’s COUCH POTATO REPORT.
Enjoy the movies and I’ll see you back here next time on The Couch!
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