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Seinfeld in the 1990s was a sitcom unique for its time. There was no central plot nor were the characters blood-related, two typical characteristics of sitcoms in the 90s. Seinfeld focused on minutiae and reflected nihilism, the idea that life is pointless. Furthermore, the characters acted indifferent to the outside world and never learned their lessons at the end of an episode.[1] Yet what creators Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld did do, and perhaps unknowingly, was create multiple scenarios which reflect a modern form of American imperialism.

America’s global empire has produced a culture that is so influential that other nations both emulate and strive to please it. Achieving the “American Dream” has come to define not only our culture but other cultures as well as a result of American imperialistic domination. Yet the modern form of imperialism depicted in Seinfeld proves that American culture is so strong and influential that we can imperialize other nation’s cultures without even physically being there. Two episodes from Seinfeld, “The Café” and “The Tape” illustrate two countries pursuit for “The American Dream” through an immigrant’s failed enterprise and a prospering business overseas.

Laura Cannon, author of “The Butterfly Effect and the Virtues of the American Dream” argues that American identity is defined by our high value for materialistic goods. Moreover, she argues that our consumer culture has been exported to other countries yet at the same time is harmful to our shared environment and to the individuals producing those goods we are consuming.[2] Cannon questions “how we can behave ethically in a global age in which our personal actions may result in the gravest of consequences in places remote in time or space to ourselves?”[3] The scenes from Seinfeld suggest that this modern form of American imperialism, where we can be the most dominating force without actually being in another country, is so powerful that we are too consumed with our perceived roles as world leader and world consumer to recognize the potentially harmful effects being stowed upon other nations, the most harmful being creating a globally homogenized culture.

The episode, “The Café,” from season three is the quintessential example of an immigrant’s failure to achieve the “American Dream.” Babu Bhatt, a Pakistani immigrant, comes to New York and opens up his own café which he calls the “Dream Café.” In an attempt to succeed in America and appeal to Americans, Babu’s restaurant features an American menu and an eclectic atmosphere of various ethnic decorations and artwork. Jerry Seinfeld, the show’s central character, is distraught at the fact that the “Dream Café” has gotten no business so being the thoughtful American he perceives himself to be, he pays Babu’s café a visit. Jerry’s dining experience eventually becomes a heart-to-heart talk where Jerry is depicted as the dominant, parental figure trying to help Babu, the poor immigrant. Babu listens to Jerry intensely and tells him he is a “very smart man” as Jerry advises Babu to make the “Dream Café” a Pakistani restaurant, reflecting his native culture. Babu is hesitant to the idea initially, arguing that there are no Pakistani people in New York; Jerry assures him that it doesn’t matter, saying, “You would have the only Pakistani restaurant in the whole neighborhood.” Beaming with excitement, Babu closes the “Dream Café” and renovates it into a Pakistani restaurant.[4]

At the end of the scene Babu goes back to the kitchen and we see Jerry sitting alone and he says to himself, “I am such a great guy. Who would have gone through all this trouble to help a poor immigrant?”[5] The scene, ending with Jerry’s self-reflection, conveys multiple messages but the primary one is that Jerry is an icon for the dominant American leader and consumer. He represents the father-figure American who tries to help the little man by spreading his influence and advice. Babu strives to become “Americanized” and to attain the “American Dream” by opening up what he assumes, based on the culture we illustrate, will appeal to Americans. A restaurant with American food and an ethnic atmosphere is the exact illustration of how Americans would ideally like to envision our imperialist expansion; the American-style food is the main feature and the ethnic décor is the background. What is important to note is the presence of the ethnic décor; while it is present, it is not the main feature and is overshadowed by the “American Dream” theme of the “Dream Café.”

Jerry’s conversation and attitude with Babu is symbolic of American imperialism; like imperialists, Jerry makes a lasting foot-print in Babu’s establishment and is completely unmindful of the harm his stomp causes Babu. When Babu’s restaurant fails Jerry doesn't feel any remorse because he is too consumed with his role as both the leader, as he still tries to give Babu advice as he critiques the ethnic food, and as the consumer. Babu tried to "Americanize" himself to improve his socioeconomic status and to gain the respect and feeling of inclusion from Americans, yet he still failed, proving that Americanization does not happen immediately despite America’s strong cultural influences.

The “American Dream” is pursued in a different manner in the episode called “The Tape” where character George turns to China to purchase a hair cream the Chinese produced that is the so-called “cure for baldness.” In this example, China is striving to achieve the American dream from their own country by producing and selling a product so highly valued by Americans. They are Americanizing their commercial market by producing what Americans value most, materialistic goods that will improve their appearance. George, being the typical American consumer, is too focused on having the product to think about how the Chinese came up with the product or how the product is affecting their culture and economy. He symbolizes the materialistic obsessed American consumer who fails to take into consideration the physical and mental work put into it. Furthermore, George’s frustration with finding an English-speaker during his phone call with China strengthens the argument that he is too consumed in his role as the consumer from the dominant culture to consider any cultural, environmental, or economical ramifications this product may have on the Chinese. In this example, China has become Americanized by creating this type of product, and as a result, they have lost a little bit of their own culture by creating a product that is so valued by another nation.


[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seinfeld
[2] Cannon, Laura. “The Butterfly Effect and the Virtues of the American Dream.” Journal of Social Philosophy, Vol.
34 No. 4, Winter 2003, 545-555. 2003 Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
[3] Cannon, Laura. “The Butterfly Effect and the Virtues of the American Dream.” Journal of Social Philosophy, Vol.
34 No. 4, Winter 2003, 545-555. 2003 Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

[4] Seinfeld, “The Café,” Season 3 Disc 2. 1991 Castle Rock Entertaiment.
[5] Et al