Media and Nostalgia: Yearning for the Past, Present and Future

Abstract

Claude S. Fischer's *Made in America: A Social History of American Culture and Character* (2011) embarks on an ambitious exploration of the evolution of the "American character" from colonial times to the present. Fischer challenges common misconceptions about contemporary Americans, such as increased mobility, secularism, violence, alienation, selfishness, and consumerism, by demonstrating cultural continuity over three centuries. Drawing upon extensive historical, social, and psychological research, he argues that nostalgia for a simpler past is misplaced; the "good old days" were not always better. Fischer contends that there has been no significant break with tradition as some revisionist historians suggest. Instead, he posits that American values—such as independence, egalitarianism, and community engagement through volunteerism and charity—have remained resilient despite societal changes. These core beliefs have been reinforced by greater security, affluence, and cultural progress, rather than eroded by them. Fischer's work thus provides a nuanced understanding of how the American character has both adapted to and retained its essential qualities over time, offering valuable insights into the nation’s enduring social fabric.

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