What is the American Culture?
What defines the American Culture? When searching this topic on Google, the result were interesting, but it doesn't completely answer the question. One of the article that stood out was 'American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United State' by Kim Ann Zimmermann. It had some interesting information about the United State such as, but not limited to, language, religion, arts, and sports. It showed what cultures the country is mainly about. The article included most culture in the United State, but it did not went into detail of what makes someone an American.
So, first of all what does American Culture mean? While there isn't an exact definition of it, it is not hard to know what it mean if you understand what each word means. What makes someone an 'American'? Obviously, being born in the United State doesn't not make you one, because if that's the logic that someone wants to go with than half of the world is American (North America, Central America, and South America). Instead, what makes someone an American are their values, ethics, dreams, and so much that cannot be describe because the list is endless. Someone who has work hard for their dreams, fought for their rights, and loves their country is an example of what an American looks like. Factors that will not matter if you're an American or not, are skin color, sexuality, gender, age, immigrant, and it goes on.
What does Culture mean? According to Merriam-Webster, culture means the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a radical, religious, or social group. In other words, culture can be seen has the custom and social interaction of someone, a nation, or a specific social group. For example, in a foreign culture scenario, speaking the language [English] can bind together other people which will allow an effective community. While there's many parts of culture, it still relates to one thing... you.
The American Culture are the values, ethics, arts, sports, and so much more. It's what someone does everyday in their life. For example, when you are going to school or to work, talking to a friend or acquaintance, eating a pizza or a salad, going to the movies or to church, everything of this actions define it. Many people, without noticing, goes on with their life not noticing that everything that they are doing is a part our American Culture.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi Blanca,
ReplyDeleteYour argument is very intriguing to me, that we as a whole go through our lives every day without even noticing that we play a role in America's culture, and you opened my mind to the fact that speaking English is a good part of it as well. Explaining the basic dictionary definition of culture is a smart idea especially if this blog/post is one of the first ones an individual of the public reads, and isn't aware of what exactly the term means. I did use this same article by Kim Ann Zimmermann, however, I mostly focused on skimming through it and retaining the basics of the text like the various categories they talk about. In my opinion the rhetorical questions aren't really necessary, but on the other hand they do give the reader an idea of what the next idea/paragraph is going to be.
If you did want to see a little more on the values and mannerisms of American culture specifically, I suggest the article "Key American Values" by the University of Missouri—St. Louis and "34 Things Americans Do That Confuse the Rest of the World" by Beth Anne Macaluso and Adam Schubak (https://www.redbookmag.com/life/g4523/american-culture-customs-traditions/?slide=7). Overall, I think your post is very enlightening within the topic of defining American culture.
Allison Miles
Well, that depends on which definition you mean. Being born in the United States *does* make someone American, actually. It wouldn't make someone Canadian, though. And Canadians are American if you call someone American who lives in either North or South America; so there is that distinction. I like your idea of what can make someone American--their values and dreams. If we went by that, then everyone taking part in international protests around the world yesterday would be "honorary" Americans. But the legal system would disagree with both of us on that.
ReplyDeleteIf American culture is what someone does in their everyday life (for someone living in American or who is an American citizen), then America is rife with both positive and negative cultural activities. We support one another; we abuse one another. And then, I'm not sure that's American but human culture?