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What is American Culture?

What examples would you give as the height of American culture?

by Anonymousreply 98February 6, 2023 11:09 PM

The height of American high culture? Whitman, Emerson, Dickinson.

The height of American popular culture? Innumerable films, comic strips, popular music. There's a lot of crossover between high and popular (e.g. Gershwin, Duke Ellington, lots of movies)—in both categories there's plenty of works that have inspired art in other cultures.

by Anonymousreply 1January 28, 2023 10:54 PM

Music by a Lithuanian Jew celebrating the fact that America is 'Common' in all senses of the word.

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by Anonymousreply 2January 28, 2023 10:57 PM

Here you go.

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by Anonymousreply 3January 28, 2023 11:06 PM

Sadly, it seems to be mostly guns and MAGATs these days OP

by Anonymousreply 4January 28, 2023 11:10 PM

American Culture started with importing talent from half the nations of the world.

American Culture continued with poaching culture from half the nations of the world.

And further on by BUYING worthwhile bankable talent from the rest of the world.

by Anonymousreply 5January 28, 2023 11:14 PM

.....

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by Anonymousreply 6January 28, 2023 11:17 PM

Conceal and Carry: 'Murican Kulture

by Anonymousreply 7January 28, 2023 11:22 PM

Edith Wharton, Edgar Allan Poe....

by Anonymousreply 8January 28, 2023 11:25 PM

McDonalds

by Anonymousreply 9January 29, 2023 4:52 AM

Pop culture is American culture. It’s been exported all over the world. Amazing that American movies and music influence so much of the 20th and 21st centuries globally

by Anonymousreply 10January 29, 2023 4:53 AM

Pajama bottoms with fuzzy slippers or slides worn in department stores, restaurants and school.

by Anonymousreply 11January 29, 2023 5:13 AM

Guns and Warrior Jesus

by Anonymousreply 12January 29, 2023 5:15 AM

Butter and more butter 🧈

by Anonymousreply 13January 29, 2023 5:27 AM

Hip-hop has become global and universal. Soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, it’s all American. Not to mention the fashion.

by Anonymousreply 14January 29, 2023 5:31 AM

Jazz

Skyscrapers

BBQ

by Anonymousreply 15January 29, 2023 5:46 AM

[quote] Amazing

It's not amazing. It's the power of money, big business, advertising and 'brain-washing'.

There's no sensible reason for people from other cultures to accept, adopt and purchase stuff produced in America.

by Anonymousreply 16January 29, 2023 5:46 AM

[Quote] Pajama bottoms with fuzzy slippers or slides worn in department stores, restaurants and school.

You haven’t been to China have you R11? They started this first and do it better and more often.

by Anonymousreply 17January 29, 2023 5:52 AM

A longish list of significant symbols ir cultural exports, heavy on Artists, and trying not to duplicate too many already mentioned:

Film noir

Stanley Kubrick

Quentin Tarantino

Andy Warhol

Georgia O'Keefe

Mark Rothko

Roy Lichtenstein

Edward Hopper

John Singer Sargent

Jackson Pollock

Edward Steichen

Frank Lloyd Wright

Skyscrapers

The City Beautiful Movement

Frederick Law Olmsted

Louis Sullivan

Jasper Johns

James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Tennessee Williams

Sylvia Plath

John Cheever

Flannery O'Connor

Truman Capote

Alexander Calder

Jazz

Nina Simone

Billie Holiday

Aretha Franklin

Motown

Hank Williams

Rap and Hip Hop

by Anonymousreply 18January 29, 2023 10:24 AM

Monetize Everything

Privatize Everything

Brand Everything

Football (the manly one, not soccer)

Corn

by Anonymousreply 19January 29, 2023 11:55 AM

American culture metamorphosizes into many different things. Right now, Gen Z is trying to act like it's the early 1980s with AI technology and an obsession with "Stranger Things." The mainstream music is terrible. Pop culture right now is in a very dark, dreary place. Letting the Chinese do our trends bidding (TikTok) did not do us any favors. An entire generation is now brainwashed by trash useless information.

I'm a late millennial, ten years older than the average teenager. My generation was promised a better country than this. So we're just staying at home or working dead-end jobs until the boomers die and give us our good-paying jobs if they are still available.

by Anonymousreply 20January 29, 2023 11:59 AM

Why do you think it's the "boomers" fault you have a dead end job? That's really weird. You blame these boomers for everything.

by Anonymousreply 21January 29, 2023 4:23 PM

[quote] What is American Culture?

American Culture is good Merch.

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by Anonymousreply 22January 30, 2023 12:21 AM

R20 sounds like an old man pretending to be a "millennial"

R21 thinks it's okay to pick on "kids today" but not "boomers"

Boomers and Gen X voted for Trump.

by Anonymousreply 23January 30, 2023 12:38 AM

Unconscious ignorance and stupidity.

by Anonymousreply 24January 30, 2023 12:40 AM

WE ARE AMERICAN CULTURE!!!!

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by Anonymousreply 25January 30, 2023 1:38 AM

How did you get that from my question R23?

by Anonymousreply 26January 30, 2023 2:23 AM

American culture is disposable everything.

by Anonymousreply 27January 30, 2023 2:27 AM

Reality shows and video games.

by Anonymousreply 28January 30, 2023 2:51 AM

Jazz

by Anonymousreply 29January 30, 2023 3:06 AM

Guns

Obesity

Lawn flags

Kardashians

by Anonymousreply 30January 30, 2023 4:08 AM

Emphasis is placed on one’s tooth appearance and alignment, rather than overall body weight. If you’re a man attracted to women, you need to never trim your pubes and wear knee socks. Fraus like to wear leggings to inappropriate places, and expect world class customer service at a freaking Starbucks. Most neighborhoods built in the last 50 years are cookie cutter. Stores sell “luxury goods” often which are just marketed so, but really are just mass produced pieces of crap.

by Anonymousreply 31January 30, 2023 4:24 AM

Music: blues, R&B, jazz, soul, pop.

Entertainment: movies and TV shows.

Computers (incl. phones): Apple, Windows-based stuff.

That's all positive stuff. I'll put negative stuff in another post.

by Anonymousreply 32January 30, 2023 4:28 AM

Where's the love for modern dance? Of all art forms, it and jazz are the most uniquely American. Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, on down to the present day choreographers. I'll post some links.

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by Anonymousreply 33January 30, 2023 9:13 AM

Paul Taylor

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by Anonymousreply 34January 30, 2023 9:22 AM

Alvin Ailey

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by Anonymousreply 35January 30, 2023 9:27 AM

Jazz, public libraries that are free to all (not just researchers), substantial literature across almost all genres, severe (some merited, some not) self-criticism, optimism.

by Anonymousreply 36January 30, 2023 9:28 AM

Twyla Tharp

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by Anonymousreply 37January 30, 2023 9:30 AM

R18, film noir is not American.

by Anonymousreply 38January 30, 2023 9:52 AM

[quote] I'm a late millennial, ten years older than the average teenager. My generation was promised a better country than this.

No you weren’t. lol

by Anonymousreply 39January 30, 2023 9:53 AM

Baseball, jazz, basically Ken Burns documentaries

by Anonymousreply 40January 30, 2023 11:09 AM

R38. Film noir is not exclusively American in the sense of having spring from nothing, with no visual influences from French or German film for example. But Hollywood film noir is a fairly distinctive and influential cultural contribution. If film noir is discussed, no one has to chip in to remind everyone that, oh yeah, the Americans made a few of those, too.

Neither did jazz spring up out of nowhere one done day at the start of the 20thC in Congo Square, New Orleans.

Not many cultural contributions are without influences and precedents and parallels.

by Anonymousreply 41January 30, 2023 11:13 AM

The cheeseburger

by Anonymousreply 42January 30, 2023 12:17 PM

R31 so does Dior and Fendi. Produced in sweatshops and not all that "quality.

by Anonymousreply 43January 30, 2023 12:52 PM

Cheez Doodles

by Anonymousreply 44January 30, 2023 1:09 PM

The Internet. Microsoft. Apple. YouTube.

by Anonymousreply 45January 30, 2023 1:13 PM

Oxymoron

by Anonymousreply 46January 30, 2023 1:52 PM

Not really R46. You know that but are just being a cunt.

by Anonymousreply 47January 30, 2023 2:19 PM

Biscuits and gravy..............

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by Anonymousreply 48January 30, 2023 2:28 PM

I…love…football on TV…shots of Gena Lee…hangin’ with my friends…

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by Anonymousreply 49January 30, 2023 2:35 PM

Giving stupid labels to each new generation.

by Anonymousreply 50January 30, 2023 2:44 PM

Strip malls, all you can eat restaurants and guns.

by Anonymousreply 51January 30, 2023 3:12 PM

r28, the Japanese and Brits all had reality shows that the Americans fobbed off of: Ninja Warrior, Big Brother, Pop Idol, Strictly Come Dancing, etc:

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by Anonymousreply 52January 30, 2023 4:16 PM

Flags

Guns

Obesity

Evangelical Christianity

by Anonymousreply 53January 30, 2023 4:44 PM

R52 unfortunately. Those are low points in any culture.

by Anonymousreply 54January 30, 2023 4:46 PM

Waffle House brawls.

by Anonymousreply 55January 30, 2023 4:54 PM

[quote] Jazz, public libraries that are free to all (not just researchers), substantial literature across almost all genres, severe (some merited, some not) self-criticism, optimism.

I didn't know that public libraries were somewhat unique to the US. If so, that's interesting.

Severe self-criticism? I wouldn't say that's characteristic of the US.

by Anonymousreply 56January 30, 2023 7:25 PM

[quote] Baseball, jazz, basically Ken Burns documentaries

Baseball, jazz, basically Ken Burns tearjerkers

by Anonymousreply 57January 30, 2023 8:40 PM

American Film noir steals its name from another culture

by Anonymousreply 58January 30, 2023 8:43 PM

The Marshal Plan.

by Anonymousreply 59January 30, 2023 9:20 PM

R58 - “film” isn’t an English word?

by Anonymousreply 60January 30, 2023 9:28 PM

Child of Ukrainian Jews steals music from Cuba!

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by Anonymousreply 61January 30, 2023 10:15 PM

Jell-O salads, plastic slipcovers.

by Anonymousreply 62January 31, 2023 1:01 PM

Situation comedy and improv.

by Anonymousreply 63January 31, 2023 8:42 PM

Hip Hop

by Anonymousreply 64January 31, 2023 8:44 PM

Rockabilly

by Anonymousreply 65February 1, 2023 12:17 AM

I remember Henry Fonda in some 60s TV show proclaiming that the USA was a very big pot.

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by Anonymousreply 66February 1, 2023 12:51 AM

[quote] the Japanese and Brits all had reality shows that the Americans fobbed off of: Ninja Warrior, Big Brother, Pop Idol, Strictly Come Dancing, etc:

And this one

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by Anonymousreply 67February 1, 2023 1:33 AM

One from South Korea.

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by Anonymousreply 68February 1, 2023 1:36 AM

Identity revealed.

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by Anonymousreply 69February 1, 2023 1:36 AM

Who are the idiots trying to claim reality show culture?

Take it, twits. It's certainly nothing to be proud of.

by Anonymousreply 70February 1, 2023 1:42 AM

Americans believe they invented everything.

by Anonymousreply 71February 1, 2023 1:53 AM

Bottomless soda

by Anonymousreply 72February 1, 2023 11:59 AM

Bottomless chaps.

by Anonymousreply 73February 1, 2023 12:10 PM

Soft power: Joe Nye was right

by Anonymousreply 74February 1, 2023 12:16 PM

Regional food.

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by Anonymousreply 75February 1, 2023 3:00 PM

Recreational vehicles

by Anonymousreply 76February 1, 2023 3:02 PM

Stupidity

by Anonymousreply 77February 1, 2023 3:28 PM

FREEDOM!!!111

by Anonymousreply 78February 1, 2023 3:36 PM

Giant trucks, SUVs, country music, fast food, and "recreational" gun purchasing.

by Anonymousreply 79February 4, 2023 12:11 AM

Subscription services that are never actually used, but keep charging your card every month. It's only $15, no worries.

by Anonymousreply 80February 4, 2023 12:42 AM

Commuting 40 miles each way to work from your cookie cutter home that up until last year was a cornfield.

by Anonymousreply 81February 4, 2023 12:52 AM

Lying

by Anonymousreply 82February 4, 2023 10:15 AM

^then apologizing.

by Anonymousreply 83February 4, 2023 10:16 AM

[bold]GUNS & VIOLENCE.[/bold]

by Anonymousreply 84February 4, 2023 10:20 AM

Jazz, blues, rock'n'roll, movies

by Anonymousreply 85February 4, 2023 10:24 AM

Consumerism, ignorance, selfishness, religiosity and hate.

by Anonymousreply 86February 4, 2023 10:52 AM

American cars of the 50s and 60s!

by Anonymousreply 87February 4, 2023 10:52 AM

The VE parades.

by Anonymousreply 88February 4, 2023 10:54 AM

Taco trucks. Ramen joints. Sushi bars. White Castle.strip malls. Giant trucks with cops lives matter flags. Trump tardy Vietnam vets.9 lane freeways. Dennys. Corporate motels like Wyndham inn with 300 units in most towns in America. ARCO gas stations with TV screens on the pump selling one dried up heat lamp chicken.

by Anonymousreply 89February 4, 2023 11:14 AM

Edit to R24 Unself-aware ignorance and stupidity (was Unconscious ignorance and stupidity)

by Anonymousreply 90February 4, 2023 12:33 PM

Square dancing.

by Anonymousreply 91February 4, 2023 1:07 PM

Stupidest threads proliferating in the history of the DL.

And that's saying something.

by Anonymousreply 92February 4, 2023 1:33 PM

Our opinionated and fighting spirit, our music, films, guns, writers, Elvis, so much more too.

by Anonymousreply 93February 4, 2023 2:40 PM

In conclusion, America is a land of contrast.

by Anonymousreply 94February 4, 2023 3:22 PM

Little Debbie's, Mountain Dew, and lots of Ranch Dressing

by Anonymousreply 95February 6, 2023 8:00 PM

The Cracker Barrel.

Just everything about it- decor, food, patronage, location, business model, service, servers.

by Anonymousreply 96February 6, 2023 8:04 PM

I am the ugly American I am what I am Say you're cultured 'cause you had a king? Your little boys sleep with their sisters I am the ugly American I know what I am

by Anonymousreply 97February 6, 2023 10:52 PM

Obesity epidemic.

by Anonymousreply 98February 6, 2023 11:09 PM
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