American Culture

[entropie]

and you came up with cheesy crusts in pizza, its the little things that make the world go around

 

[INTJ123]

America has no culture, we're a tasteless bunch. Maybe your tv is your culture.

 

[entropie]

I give up, it's 4 am here anyways.

Good luck with your gloomy doomy attitude

There is a german expression that goes like this: "Sometimes you dont see a forest because of all the trees" and dont ask me what it means

gn8

 

[Athenian200]

I give up, it's 4 am here anyways.

Good luck with your gloomy doomy attitude

There is a german expression that goes like this: "Sometimes you dont see a forest because of all the trees" and dont ask me what it means

gn8

You mean we're overanalyzing the origins of things rather than appreciating what we have now?

Hmm... perhaps you're right. I mean, Pizza may be Italian, and Chinese food might be Chinese, but it doesn't matter because it's only in America that you choose between having them delivered to your door when you're too lazy to go to McDonalds.

Ahh, being a lazy American is good.

 

[Kanamori]

Republicanism and free speech are the big ones.

 

[OrangeAppled]

I mean, Pizza may be Italian, and Chinese food might be Chinese

The American versions are often a far cry from the "authentic" though.
American culture may simply be the Americanization of other cultures, haha.

 

[Athenian200]

Republicanism and free speech are the big ones.

Republicanism is an ancient Roman idea, actually.

Freedom of speech... might be original in legislation, but that has origins with the ancient Athenians as well. It was certainly talked about during the Enlightenment.

American culture may simply be the Americanization of other cultures, haha.

That's brilliant!

I really think it is. We just take other cultures and water them down to fit our tastes and amuse ourselves.

So, America is about bastardizing other cultures and making them into something interesting and profitable. Taking whatever you can find and turning it into something you can use. Resourcefulness. I... think I actually like that idea!

 

[Haphazard]

You must see it changing right now. Culture is always in a fluent state. But your ideals stay the same. You learn from mistakes and then improve.

Heck how old are you again ?

Uh. I forget.

I think we did come up with Apple Pie, though.

Nope, that was the French.

Americans did invent:

Lightning rods
Bifocals
Crackers
Filtered Coffee Pots
Circular saws
Dental floss
Telegraphs
Wrenches
Revolvers
Baseball
Potato chips
Rolled toilet paper
Can openers
Motorcycles
Vacuum cleaners
Cream cheese
Jeans
Electric dental drills
Machine guns
Electric Christmas lights
Skyscrapers
Coca Cola
Drinking straws
Revolving doors
Traveler's checks
Volleyball
Semi-automatic shotguns
Sousaphones
Tea bags
Automatic transmission
Electric washing machines
Flying boat
Fortune cookies
Gas mask
Polygraph
Adhesive bandage
Masking tape
Gas chamber execution AND electric chair execution
Recliners
Ice cube trays
Pressure sensitive tape
Chocolate chip cookies
Staple removers
Black lights
Fiberglass
Nylon
Teflon
Deodorant
Napalm
Nuclear weapons
Microwave ovens
Cancer chemotherapy
Defibrilators
Correction fluid
Bar codes
Artificial hearts
TV dinners
Polio vaccines
Spandex
Oral contraceptives
Snowboarding
CDs
Air bags
Tasers
LCD screens
Inline skates
Polar fleece
Paintball
Javascript
Shingles vaccines

but still no apple pie.

 

[Valiant]

U.S contributions:

Modern democracy
with the 1776 revolution (i'm not sure if it's good or bad...)
What many people in Europe does not think about is the fact that the American revolution triggered/inspired the French revolution, not the other way around.

Guns!
Holy hell, guns would suck if it wasn't for the americans.
Lever-action guns, machine guns, submachine guns, pump action shotguns, fully automatic shotguns, loads of different innovations in artillery, rockets and whatnot.
Seriously, guns would be in the stoneage if it wasn't for guys like John Browning!

Some seriously cool barbecue stuff
You know, you do invent a lot of good marinades, sauces and stuff.

Diversity works, even if there are tensions
Yeah, I like your multi-culture mix. It makes things less boring in every sense of the word.
Even if it means you sometimes have to fight and such. =/

American attitude
Yes, there is such a thing.
Norwegians are pretty closely related to americans in the way of attitude...
I have heard a World War II story about a norwegian busdriver...
As you know, Norway was under occupation by the nazis.
The guy had to drive a whole platoon of german soldiers in his bus one day...
Norway is a very, very rocky country... So, he kinda decided to drive over the edge of a cliff,
sacrificing his own life to kill about thirty nazis defiling his country...
If anyone ever invaded the U.S... That's probably how many americans would act.
Semper Fi, do or die.

American movies
Simply the best.

Hard rock
No, i'm not talking about stones. Well, maybe the Rolling Stones, but...
Anway... Music.

Yeah, the fastfood...
Hey, it's good. I wouldn't miss out on it for the world.

Cajún cuisine
Favorite. I say no more. I wish I lived in New Orleans... Well, maybe not during Katrina.


Well... It's pretty late over here on the other side of the pond, and i'm going to bed.
Some braniac is probably going to come up with more things than I did.
While I completely detest some of the foreign policy that united states have had,
especially under the Bush administration(s) I can say that I really like the United States.


You are definitely a completely own culture... One cannot really reason that you're only influenced by european things from the past, in my opinion...
In that case, we're all stoneage farmers who didn't learn how to use farming techniques and equipment by ourselves to create the first kind of civilization on or own... We're just cheap knockoffs.
All cultures are influenced by others, and always have been.
Even extreme isolationist cultures like Japan.

My somewhat strange point would be something along the lines of:
"Be proud! You're original, inventive, driven and you've got one cool attitude most of the time".

I've actually thought of moving to the U.S. several times...
There are quite a few places where i'd like to settle down, to be honest.
1. Miami
2. Somewhere in the wilderness of Wyoming
3. Colorado Rocky Mountains
4. Los Angeles
5. Houston

And more.
Well... Once again: good night, folks.

 

[Edgar]

America has no culture, we're a tasteless bunch. Maybe your tv is your culture.

I have taste, and I have more culture that most people I've come across during my foreign travels... so you know, speak for yourself.

This "America is lame, everything is lame" mentality is the bastard child of 60s counterculture and the lackadaisical self indulgence of the subsequent decades.

Don't like the place you're living in? Either work to change it or find a better place to live in. And quit your loathing - nobody thinks that shit is cool aside from other haters.

 

[Athenian200]

Uh. I forget.

You're 17.

Nope, that was the French.

Darn! People are entertaining SO many misconceptions, then. Next time someone says, "As American as Apple Pie," I'm going to say, "Then it's French?"

Americans did invent:

Lightning rods
Bifocals
Crackers
Filtered Coffee Pots
Circular saws
Dental floss
Telegraphs
Wrenches
Revolvers
Baseball
Potato chips
Rolled toilet paper
Can openers
Motorcycles
Vacuum cleaners
Cream cheese
Jeans
Electric dental drills
Machine guns
Electric Christmas lights
Skyscrapers
Coca Cola
Drinking straws
Revolving doors
Traveler's checks
Volleyball
Semi-automatic shotguns
Sousaphones
Tea bags
Automatic transmission
Electric washing machines
Flying boat
Fortune cookies
Gas mask
Polygraph
Adhesive bandage
Masking tape
Gas chamber execution AND electric chair execution
Recliners
Ice cube trays
Pressure sensitive tape
Chocolate chip cookies
Staple removers
Black lights
Fiberglass
Nylon
Teflon
Deodorant
Napalm
Nuclear weapons
Microwave ovens
Cancer chemotherapy
Defibrilators
Correction fluid
Bar codes
Artificial hearts
TV dinners
Polio vaccines
Spandex
Oral contraceptives
Snowboarding
CDs
Air bags
Tasers
LCD screens
Inline skates
Polar fleece
Paintball
Javascript
Shingles vaccines

but still no apple pie.

Hmm... it looks like most of America's contributions (aside from abolishing slavery and women's rights, maybe?) have been technological or convenience-oriented rather than social. Then again, the Greeks, Romans, and the Enlightment gave us everything we needed socially, so there was no real room left for innovation there. Why improve on perfection, I suppose.

 

[/DG/]

Ah, yes. Hamburgers are actually original despite what the name would imply

I thought that the way of making the patty into a round shape was from Hamburg, Germany. Or at least, that's what I thought I remember my German teacher (who was from Germany) told us...

*edit* Woah! I didn't realize there were more pages.

 

[Haphazard]

Darn! People are entertaining SO many misconceptions, then. Next time someone says, "As American as Apple Pie," I'm going to say, "Then it's French?"

Yeah. I mean, I guess that you could always say "American as a pair of Levis" and you'd be right, but "American as napalm" and "American as fortune cookies" and "American as oral contraceptives" have good rings to them, too.

 

[~~ENFJ~~]

I would say that modern American culture is one of consumerism, individualism, convenience, technology, and media/sound byte driven. I don't know how that distinguishes us from others, but I do think that we have our own distinct flavor, influenced by our political and religious foundations, which shine through.

Like fast food so commonly referenced above is popular because of a combination of Protestant work ethic tied with overdependence on technology which has us working constantly and unable to slow down, combined with the consumerism and media-driven markets which lead to brand recognition and the mega-chains' popularity.

Americans as a whole don't appreciate leisure. Even our leisure time is structured and scheduled and goal-oriented and "productive." Watching sports, an acceptable social obsession, is the exception. Football and baseball, two American sports, are particularly noteworthy as being acceptable reasons to enjoy oneself, unless you are on the team in which case it is a high-pressure job.

Americans are more confrontational than Asians but less confrontational than many Europeans. They have less cynicism than many European cultures. A strong sense of religious identity.

I don't think it is so much that every aspect of our culture needs to be unique to make it uniquely ours, but that the combinations and strengths of our attributes it what makes a unique culture.

 

[OrangeAppled]

I would say that modern American culture is one of consumerism, individualism, convenience, technology, and media/sound byte driven. I don't know how that distinguishes us from others, but I do think that we have our own distinct flavor, influenced by our political and religious foundations, which shine through.

Like fast food so commonly referenced above is popular because of a combination of Protestant work ethic tied with overdependence on technology which has us working constantly and unable to slow down, combined with the consumerism and media-driven markets which lead to brand recognition and the mega-chains' popularity.

Americans as a whole don't appreciate leisure. Even our leisure time is structured and scheduled and goal-oriented and "productive." Watching sports, an acceptable social obsession, is the exception. Football and baseball, two American sports, are particularly noteworthy as being acceptable reasons to enjoy oneself, unless you are on the team in which case it is a high-pressure job.

Americans are more confrontational than Asians but less confrontational than many Europeans. They have less cynicism than many European cultures. A strong sense of religious identity.

I don't think it is so much that every aspect of our culture needs to be unique to make it uniquely ours, but that the combinations and strengths of our attributes it what makes a unique culture.

It takes a Fe-dom to give a smart answer on culture

 

[Fiver]

LOL 'America is lame' is completely bogus and is the most un-American thing about our culture. It is borrowed from other countries like the England (I am not referring to the whole UK), France and countless other countries who become afraid of their own ideals because they become too prevalent in the world.

Here are two examples of American culture with far reaching impact: the American Dream and volunteerism. Both have nothing to do with food or technology.

 

[Haphazard]

Americans as a whole don't appreciate leisure. Even our leisure time is structured and scheduled and goal-oriented and "productive." Watching sports, an acceptable social obsession, is the exception. Football and baseball, two American sports, are particularly noteworthy as being acceptable reasons to enjoy oneself, unless you are on the team in which case it is a high-pressure job.

This is why I never quite understood that so popular phrase, "lazy American".

 

[Athenian200]

I would say that modern American culture is one of consumerism, individualism, convenience, technology, and media/sound byte driven. I don't know how that distinguishes us from others, but I do think that we have our own distinct flavor, influenced by our political and religious foundations, which shine through.

Sounds good.

Like fast food so commonly referenced above is popular because of a combination of Protestant work ethic tied with overdependence on technology which has us working constantly and unable to slow down, combined with the consumerism and media-driven markets which lead to brand recognition and the mega-chains' popularity.

Americans as a whole don't appreciate leisure. Even our leisure time is structured and scheduled and goal-oriented and "productive." Watching sports, an acceptable social obsession, is the exception. Football and baseball, two American sports, are particularly noteworthy as being acceptable reasons to enjoy oneself, unless you are on the team in which case it is a high-pressure job.

Oh, dear. I think this is why I'm struggling and floundering here. I constantly try to explain that I don't want to make my career the center of my life or "have it all," and just want a job I can do to get by because I have other priorities, and no one understands what on earth I'm talking about, look at me like I'm crazy and don't want anything to do with me. All I get told is this vague stuff about "strive hard for what you want" that I can't even comprehend. People think I should be satisfied with relating to people via an activity focus, and actually be active and interested in stuff, rather than having real conversations... which is kind of frustrating.

Americans are more confrontational than Asians but less confrontational than many Europeans. They have less cynicism than many European cultures. A strong sense of religious identity.

Yikes, that's another blow. I'm cynical and agnostic. My mother told me a lot of people meet in church. Damn. American culture is annoying. It's like someone designed it to inhibit, confuse, and limit me in ways I don't appreciate.

I don't think it is so much that every aspect of our culture needs to be unique to make it uniquely ours, but that the combinations and strengths of our attributes it what makes a unique culture.

Okay, I think I can agree with that.

Here are two examples of American culture with far reaching impact: the American Dream and volunteerism. Both have nothing to do with food or technology.

Volunteerism... maybe.

The American Dream... I don't know. It doesn't sound like anything more than pure idealism that anyone who thinks highly of themselves and humanity could come up with.

 

[OrangeAppled]

This is why I never quite understood that so popular phrase, "lazy American".

Childish name calling. We're not a lazy culture.
I suppose it may be linked to pursuing modern conveniences (driving, not walking, etc), but that's really just to free up more time to work, right?

 

[Edgar]

I would say that modern American culture is one of consumerism, individualism, convenience, technology, and media/sound byte driven. I don't know how that distinguishes us from others, but I do think that we have our own distinct flavor, influenced by our political and religious foundations, which shine through.

The destinct personification of American culture is a cowboy (specifically, a Hollywood version of one) - as an independent, rugged individualist. Most people in the world immediately recognize a cowboy hat, and know exactly what it represents.

Also, America is know for its tolerance and commercialism, and the word "okay" is the most recognized word around the globe.

Americans as a whole don't appreciate leisure. Even our leisure time is structured and scheduled and goal-oriented and "productive." Watching sports, an acceptable social obsession, is the exception. Football and baseball, two American sports, are particularly noteworthy as being acceptable reasons to enjoy oneself, unless you are on the team in which case it is a high-pressure job.

It is a fact that Americans are one of the hardest working people on earth (counting the hours spent). The only other nation that I can think of where people spend more time working is Japan.

Needless to say, #1 world economy is the US, with Japan being #2.

Americans are more confrontational than Asians but less confrontational than many Europeans. They have less cynicism than many European cultures. A strong sense of religious identity.

I wouldn't lump Asians into one category. There is a huge difference between Japanese and Chinese culture. I would say Americans are very polite compared to the Chinese, and rather rude compared to the Japanese.

Same thing with Europeans - Americans are a lot more friendly than the Germans, but probably not as warm and welcoming as the Italians.

I don't think it is so much that every aspect of our culture needs to be unique to make it uniquely ours, but that the combinations and strengths of our attributes it what makes a unique culture.

Yes, that too.