Does America have a culture?

Question

To identify ourselves as Americans don't we have to have a culture of some sort?

Answer 1

Gunslingers and cowboys

Answer 2

A good definition of culture I once learned said culture can be defined as ' the webs of signifigance we ourselves create.'

American culture is varied depending on who you ask, but here are some of the things that I think are uniquely American:
-America was founded by Puritans, and there are remnants of Puritanism still evident today. Although Most of the founding fathers were loosely attached to religion, most insisted on the separation of church and state, a revolutionary idea at the time. While Enlightenment thinking secularized much of European governments, they remained at their core still attached to some form of theology, while the United States was SUPPOSED to develop as a place for diverse methods of thought.
-a preoccupation with "the good ol' days"; nostalgia for the post-war era of the 50's, charactarized by "car culture, specifically large cadillac-type cars. Machinery, efficiency, and sleek 'fast' design. Big houses, suburban development, fast food and mass production. I believe some of our ideas about "conservativism" come not from the desire for the government to actually be fiscally conservative, but rather a yearning by a portion of the population to return to some fantasyland ideal of the 50's (Disneyland).
-Andy Warhol can be seen as a transmitter of what American culture was during 50's-80's. Mass consumerism and brand loyalty, and the "Icon" of celebrity as brand. Hollywood, television, and Ronald McDonald.
- The 80's brought about MTV and an increased obsession with wealth and luxery by the mainstream population.
-90's : apathy and heroin chic, and the beginning of the decline of American Imperialism. Tech Boom and opening of the web= opening of the world.
today: coming into the realization of our impotence (Iraq), and a move to "globalization," or at least to start thinking in these terms, and a drastic need to come to terms with Global Warming and Unfair Economic and Political Policies.

We can only become aware of our own culture when we encounter things which make us realize we are different. That is, we cannot know who we are until we become educated about how the rest of the world is.

Answer 3

I don't necessarily think our culture has to be definable in order to identify with being American. Our culture is based upon numerous opportunities and freedoms that many other nations in the world lack.

Answer 4

American culture is at its best a paradox: A collective unity formed by "separate but equal" parts. The melting pot. While there are obviously dominant groups, there are obviously various sub-groups that contribute to the larger whole.

Marshall McLuhan's "The Global Village" (a rather tough read) talks about such societies in surprisingly accurate detail.

Answer 5

Yes, we have many cultures. Soon, not in my lifetime, we eventually will be one.

Once we get rid of the stupid people (see below). I vote for euthanasia.
It's unfortunate that so many prejudice, ignorrant and arrogant people can not live with "different" surroundings. All cultures have a segregating attitude of some sort.
Don't tolerate, ACCEPT!

Answer 6

That's the beauty of our country....we are allowed to be individuals with different cultures. There is no one culture to conform too.

Answer 7

THERE are many cultures with in america.

Answer 8

Southerners have a culture.
respect for our history
and for the suffering of our people.
in the war of northern aggression.
a refined hospitality
manners
a willingness to be kind and helpful
food differences from other parts of the country.
honour
a willingness to fight for our beliefs.
a love of God.& country and place.
the list does on and on.