Super Bowl XXXVI Entertainment: Pop Culture or Propaganda?

After September 11, the representation of America has been carefully constructed to reform and reshape our identity as American citizens. Many popular forums, such as the Super Bowl pregame and halftime shows, provide the perfect opportunity for popular culture to be reshaped through recitation of significant historical texts, viewing of images, and hearing certain music, raising the question, “Is the show merely ‘pop-culture’ reflecting the current generation, or propaganda?” Through analysis of the theme, artist selection, and visuals that accompany the shows, this article illustrates the formative nature of the shows and the potential use as postmodern propaganda.