The Introduction to American Studies course focused on the study of US culture in all its various forms. We practiced doing American Studies, and this project allowed us to do just that. American foodways often refer to the intersection of food in culture, traditions, and history. Giving a background of the history of Chick-fil-A gives us a base to further understand not only the values of the company in action but also to see how it emphasizes a specific culture and way of living, specifically in the United States.
The two concepts that I chose to use from the syllabus for the course were suburbia and exceptionalism. In class, we specifically focused on the 1950s suburbia and how it was a new landscape that developed to the response of the decaying urban areas. There is a push toward “Americanism”. I would like to argue that Chick-fil-A is, in fact, suburbia, and it pushes their suburban values amongst everyone. S. Truett Cathy noted the growth of American suburbs, particularly the indoor shopping malls that were being built away from the centers of cities and small towns. He utilized this opportunity to build the first Chick-fil-A restaurant in the Greenbriar Mall. Although I could not find specific numbers of how the restaurants are divided up by area, it is safe to assume that the majority of the Chick-fil-A’s are located in suburban areas of the United States. Because of this, it gives American’s a standard of who can eat at such a restaurant and setting them on a pedestal where those who have access to the restaurant feel like they belong and those who do not strive to get to that place.
In class, we learned that American exceptionalism has two meanings. One is that they are different (‘the exception’) and are better (‘exceptional’). So, American exceptionalism is a set of beliefs about both a system of government as well as a collective identity. This is reflective of Chick-fil-A in that they obtain the title of exceptionalism. Chick-fil-A’s across the nation are closed on Sunday. This was reflective of S. Truett Cathy’s religious beliefs. The fact that this has always been a characteristic of Chick-fil-A from opening day to today speaks volumes. It shows how Chick-fil-A stands out from other competitors, being the exception, and still having so many trustworthy customers regardless of being closed once a week, being exceptional.
All in all, this project allowed me to learn more about a topic that I thought I had already known about, as I am approached by it daily through a multitude of platforms. I stand by my claim that Chick-fil-A is the epitome of American Exceptionalism, where it’s values work hand-in-hand with the values of dominant culture and America as a whole. Even though there have been a few bumps along the way with the same-sex controversy being a large one, Chick-fil-A will still most likely remain the impactful and tasteful restaurant they are today, shaping the American people along the way.
Chick-Fil-A: The Epitome of American Exceptionalism 