March 5th, 2009
If you would have asked me what defines American culture just a week ago, I would have prattled on about apple pie, folk art, fast food and maybe The Grand Canyon. The thing is that I’m always quick to go for what has been drilled into my head for all of these years. But here’s the thing…American culture is so much more than that. From every nook and crevice in the United States, we get a piece of something new and something different.
So – why aren’t we talking about *that*?
Last night I decided to slow down for just a moment and listen to Clearly You’re Retarded, where the subject for debate was “assimilation into American culture” and all that goes with it. At some point in time, the great melting pot metaphor was brought up and hacked to death but with good reason. How in the hell does one actually define American culture without taking into consideration the fact that our culture is a mixture of things from many different countries? I’ve been wracking my brain, with the help of some interesting Twitter discussions, to try to think of things that are completely and totally defined as “American culture”. I mean hell, I’ve heard people say, “Sigh…only in America” but usually that denotes something negative about our culture like the fact that we eat too much fast food and are the second most obese nation in the world. By the way, until recently, we’ve held the title as the MOST obese nation in the world.
What else have I discovered? Oh yes, we’re a “loud and proud” nation that feels it is proper to share every little thing that we are thinking and boy howdy, we love our freedom of speech. Even when it’s not even relevant, we’ll roar a battle cry about how we are free to say whatever we want and whenever we want! You know, until someone gets lawsuit happy and cries “defamation of character”. Oh yes, did I mention that we’re a litigious nation as well? We’re not always knowledgeable about our own country, which I proved by taking a test to see if I could name all of the states on a map. I failed epically and although I know not everyone would do so, you have to think that there are a lot who would. We’re all about Hollywood and The Grand Canyon and yet I wonder how many people could name the state capitals of both California and Arizona?
We’re rich in folk art, state fairs and cotton candy. We’ve also been influenced by some amazing American playwrights and authors throughout the years. Honestly, I have to tell you that “Our Town” is just as American to me as anything else. We’re known for being avid readers of comic books and being lovers of wild architecture. We’ve got Broadway, Rodeo Drive, Route 66 and hallelujah – Las Vegas!
I’m sure if I actually had used Google or Wikipedia to come up with half of this stuff, I could have presented you with a more “essay-like” post but uh, that’s sort of the point. In defining American culture, using an outside resource would be cheating, especially if I am trying to define what it means to *me* (and not sound like someone pounding out an essay for my 6th grade History teacher). I wanted this to be from my heart and contain things that I’ve actually discovered along the way. So, that is what you are getting. This isn’t me laying my knowledge bomb all over you, rather it’s me thinking aloud about my culture and heritage.
Which leads me to this…American culture is not just those things that we are taught in the history books. You can use the things that I have mentioned above to define our culture but we are so much more than that. We’re a nation filled with people from so many different countries and walks of life, all of which influence the American experience. What’s culture to one American may not be so to another. The thing about being this great diverse nation of ours? It makes our culture subjective, depending on where we live and what we’re all about. I’m much more prone to be a part of California culture than an all encompassing American culture. In fact, when you ask me about American Culture, I’d start rattling off things about trips to Sutter’s Fort, surfing, beach culture, being laid back, valley girl slang, the unfortunate location of every MLK Boulevard, and all of the other wonderfully rich experiences that go with being Californian (believe me, I know I left a ton of them out). In fact, I know that the other coast is much more prone to know about their ethnic heritage and celebrate *that* as part of their culture yet over here? Eh, not so much. Hell, we get excited when some sort of ethnic festival comes to town yet are usually stuck with the Gilroy Garlic Festival.
In conclusion (although completely far from it), I still have no idea what exactly defines “American Culture”. Can we put a label on it? Does it mean something different to each of us that live here? Does Wikipedia really write the rules on what is in our hearts? These are questions and a topic that I would love to share with you and open up for discussion because I have a feeling that all of us might have a different answer.
Off Broadway Kisses,
Me
24 Responses to “Pop Goes America…”
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March 5th, 2009 at 9:14 am
In all honesty, I have never thought of the USA as having a culture. But it’s not really our fault… this country is comprised of an amalgamation of many, many other cultures, and who we are is a reflection of that.
Whenever I visit foreign countries, I remain inundated with American movies, television, music and, of course, global brands and exports like McDonalds hamburgers and Starbucks coffee. It would be easy to label this “American culture” (or, if you’re in America, “pop culture”)… but it really isn’t. It’s just products.
People can label things what they like. If somebody wants to say “Gone With the Wind” is a piece of American culture, I have no problem with that. In many respects, that could be true. But I still look at it as a product. Still feel we have no singular culture. And honestly feel that’s not a bad thing at all. It’s uniquely American.
Dave2s last blog post..Shaq
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March 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Yeaaah, hard topic to wrap your arms around! I’d just say the definition of American culture is, “Anything goes,” and leave it at that. To attempt an all-encompassing definition just makes my head hurt a little.
Lauras last blog post..I just heaved the biggest sigh of my life.
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March 5th, 2009 at 10:10 am
“what exactly defines “American Culture”. Can we put a label on it? Does it mean something different to each of us that live here? ”
I think that says it all.
We’re still a very young country – heck, many of us are only 1st or 2nd generation American born citizens!
Miss Britts last blog post..The Second Chance Dad
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March 5th, 2009 at 10:40 am
I was kind of agreeing with Dave, until he said “it’s uniquely American” and then I realized that no- Americans do have a culture.
Canada is in the same situation, we’re a young country and we’re made up of people who came over on boats, with the exception of the Aboriginal population.
And yet, our countries in some ways are the same, and in others, completely different. If you compare the two of us, you realize that it’s the differences between us that make up the national culture/attitude/feeling.
From an outsider looking in? I would say that Americans are, as you say, “loud and proud” in your patriotism. And I think that comes from history- you guys broke off from the sovereignty and declared yourselves your own independant people. (As opposed to us “loyalists” who still have a monarch)
But there’s so much more to it than that, and you might have to be outside of it to really see it. It’s not a culture of food and dance and storytelling per se. It’s a culture of ambition and speaking out and acting on your beliefs and yes, of consumerism.
America (the US) is supposed to be the land of opportunity right? It’s a place where people know that the option is there to make yourself something greater and people will honour you for it. It’s a place that will help you achieve your dreams and goals.
And now? I feel like a bloody PR rep.
I’m gonna let some other people talk now, cause I could go on for days about this. I was tempted to write my own post after reading Faiqa’s…
xo
Princess of the Universes last blog post..Can a Person Make a Post About Filing Intersting? Probably Not.
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March 5th, 2009 at 11:02 am
I think instead of American “culture” it’s more the unique American “dream”. All American’s enjoy the freedom to pursue being exactly what we want to be. We create and knock down obstacles every generation, but it’s the free and rabid pursuit of our unique and individual personal desire that defines us as a people.
Willie Gs last blog post..Audacity of Hope
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March 5th, 2009 at 11:21 am
OK, my idea of our culture is probably stupid, but since we all have characteristics of the countries we’re descended from… I think perhaps our culture is more about the fact that everyone has a “freak flag”. You know, everyone is a freak about something, there is something about us that is quirky and doesn’t fit with the expected norms. You can say that is true for every single person on this earth, but in America there is an embracing, or allowance of that individuality. A chance to “let our freak flags fly” and maybe, just maybe, find out we’re not alone and be accepted for who we are.
That’s not to say that we don’t attack one another over the same principle – because we do. It’s just that there is a different sort of allowance for people and their weirdness (I mean this with love.) I think the American Culture is that of the individual – for better or worse.
Kyras last blog post..Public Displays of Food Affection
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March 5th, 2009 at 11:42 am
It’s the same up here…a mosaic of peoples, and many many learning opportunities that every day, make the world a smidgen smaller. I hope.
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March 5th, 2009 at 11:44 am
It’s more about American principles than American culture. That’s how I view it. Although pop culture is largely American, and I think that’s comprised of more than just products – sometimes it’s a phenomenon.
Avitables last blog post..Massaging your prostate for fun and profit
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March 5th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Funny, when I first started this entry I thought it was going to be about all the furor around The Bachelor finale and how much it’s making the news right now. So…um, I guess that shows you what I think American culture is defined by…
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March 5th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
American Culture is the result of the battle between high and low cultural elements within the society.
MCs last blog post..The Culture Kills Music Podcast Episode 3
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March 5th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
I have really thought hard about this topic over the last few days. I think in trying to define American (in this case the United States of America) Culture we lose sight of what it truly is.
By saying that it is based on the principles it was founded upon (majorly European and domestically popular at the time), “All men are created equal…” and “Pursuit of happiness…” is to say that we are preachers who do not practice what we preach. It took nearly 200 years after those words for men and women to be considered equal in the majority of places. There are still the pockets where “The South will rise again” is a motto.
By saying that culture equates to Americana or pop culture is to say that prior to the 1940’s we had no American culture whatsoever.
By saying that American Culture is a melting pot is to insinuate that ethnicities here become diluted and blend into the masses. While this may be the case for 6th or 7th generation Americans, not so for the Immigrants or 1st generation Americans. The dilution usually occurs with the 2nd or 3rd generation but there are always new members of that ethnic group arriving and maintaining their traditions.
By saying that American Culture is based upon locality is reverting back to the pre-Civil War days when we were divided by North and South. Now we would be divided by North, South, SouthWest, Rust Belt, North West, West, and Texas.
We can say all those things and believe it to be right, but in reality we would be wrong because someone else will believe something else.
The truth is that American Culture cannot be defined. It is more dynamic than a cascading style sheet and trying to lock it into a definition is utterly hopeless.
Then again… someone will think differently than I do and think that I’m wrong… which is okay.
And that is what is great about the dynamic American Experience.
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March 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Very well written, Hilly. I agree with you. This is why I find it ironic when certain elements of our media concoct terms like “culture war.” And why I have no idea what they’re talking about.
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March 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
i agree snackie, very well written
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March 5th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
A very interesting post, thank you.
Got me thinking about Irish culture and what we are best known for…big drinkers. It sounds awful when you hear that from foreigners but in all truthfulness, Ireland is all about pub culture. Cheers.
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S Reply:
March 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I love Ireland; my father is from Cork.
I think you’re right that Ireland is about “pub culture,” but I think that it embraces more than just drinking. It’s also the friendliness, story-telling, music, etc.
Ss last blog post..You might think. . . .
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March 5th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
There are a lot of really great answers here already. I agree mostly with Laura, that anything goes. We pick our passions, our battlegrounds, our favorite past-times, and those overlap to some degree with others, but we cling to the belief (right or wrong) that we’ve chosen them for ourselves.
Aprils last blog post..X Chronicles continued
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March 5th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
you wrote such a terrific post, yet all i can do is giggle about “Does Wikipedia really write the rules on what is in our hearts?” yeah, i need to stop over dosing on midol.
hello haha narfs last blog post..HNT – My 41st Half Nekkid Thursday
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March 5th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Great post!
I don’t agree that we have an “anything goes” culture because we have a long way to go in the acceptance department. It’s great that we have incorporated so many different cultures into our country but we still have some work to do getting people to live and let live.
I agree with Britt that it’s a young and evolving culture we have here and I hope that we can mold it into something that fits for everyone.
floating princesss last blog post..Tequila Me
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March 6th, 2009 at 12:09 am
All of these fine commenters above me have a very common “rose colored” theme on the subject.
To me, American Culture is defined by whatever is sold to us as such. Once it becomes status quo, everyone is onboard and voila… “Culture” is born. The same thing happened years ago with the “American Dream” of home ownership… now look where that got us
fuzions last blog post..Firefox 3.0.7
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March 6th, 2009 at 8:38 am
@NYCWD: Apparently the South has risen again, we can’t keep you Northerners out to save our lives!!
Willie Gs last blog post..Audacity of Hope
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March 6th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
I LOVE driving through Gilroy. Yummmmmy YUMMY garlic smell.
When I think of American culture, I picture hard working people, working in the fields, or packing houses, or citrus groves. It’s probably because I live in the heartbeat of agriculture though.
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March 6th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Okay, not to go all cliched on you or anything, but the best definition I can come up with is that it is a crazy quilt made up of peoples, cultures, ideals, morals, ethics, religions, and so on.
Melanies last blog post..Um. WAHOO!!!!!
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March 7th, 2009 at 11:48 pm
I think you said it at the very beginning when you said that there isn’t really any list of things that really encompasses American culture. We truly are a country of so many different things that it’s impossible to pinpoint what makes it America and what is American.
Courtneys last blog post..I Don’t Say That I Dreamed It, I Dreamt It, Damnit
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March 8th, 2009 at 6:37 am
although it’s tiny little piece the different between what is american and being an american, if you can collaborate with other culture when it’s not your mother culture, i think we should ignore from where and who we are.
it’s nice being different and learn from other culture
Kampanye Damai Pemilu Indonesia 2009s last blog post..Pelanggaran Kampanye Pemilu Indonesia 2009
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