{"id":252069,"date":"2021-07-26T08:44:47","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T08:44:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jacobinmag.com\/2021\/07\/peoples-history-hoser-canada-blue-collar-working-class-trailer-park-boys-fubar-bob-and-doug-mckenzie\/"},"modified":"2021-07-26T09:29:18","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T09:29:18","slug":"a-peoples-history-of-the-hoser-canadas-blue-collar-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/07\/26\/a-peoples-history-of-the-hoser-canadas-blue-collar-icon\/","title":{"rendered":"A People\u2019s History of the Hoser, Canada\u2019s Blue-Collar Icon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n \n\n\n\n

From Bob and Doug McKenzie to the Trailer Park Boys, the Canadian hoser is an integral part of the country\u2019s cultural landscape. The hoser is also a working-class emblem, whose uncertain fortune in the face of economic downturns reflects the wider experience of Canadian workers.<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\n The term hoser<\/cite> was first introduced by the sketch-comedy show SCTV<\/cite> and its characters Bob and Doug McKenzie (Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas).\n <\/figcaption> \n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n \n

Northrop Frye once defined a Canadian as \u201can American who rejects the revolution.\u201d America\u2019s revolutionary war famously birthed the Declaration of Independence, with its demand for \u201clife, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.\u201d Canada settled for the decidedly meeker \u201cpeace, order and good government,\u201d contained in section 91 of the British North America Act.<\/p>\n

Canadians remained British subjects until 1947. The country lacked its own flag until 1967. It was only in 1982 that Canada gained the right to amend its constitution without approval from Britain.<\/p>\n

There are two attributes to note about the character of the \u201choser,\u201d who inhabits some of the most popular television shows, films, and songs to emerge from this country. Firstly, the hoser is, above all, a non-American. Secondly, regardless of geography, time period, and exact living circumstances, the hoser demonstrates a rugged and spirited commitment to the status quo.<\/p>\n

But we must not confuse the hoser with a reactionary. He \u2014 the hoser is typically a male \u2014 is not actively resistant to change. Rather, he can only be bothered to rouse himself from the couch in search of the pocket change needed for his next purchase of Molson Canadian or Crown Royal.<\/p>\n

He can also, it\u2019s fair to say, be prompted to action if local or external dangers threaten him and his friends. For the hoser, as with Canadian society generally, profound power shifts or political realignments only happen incrementally and tend to catch their subjects unawares.<\/p>\n\n \n\n \n \n \n

What Is a Hoser?<\/h2>\n \n

The hoser was officially born in 1981, when the Toronto Star<\/em><\/a> published the word<\/a> for the first time in reference to the TV show SCTV<\/a><\/em>. The sketch-comedy program introduced the now iconic characters of the McKenzie brothers, Bob and Doug<\/a>, and their overuse of the phrase \u201cTake off, you hoser<\/a>!\u201d<\/p>\n