Culture of the United States

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The development of the culture of the United States of America — History, Holidays, Sports, Religion, Cuisine, Literature, Poetry, Music, Dance, Visual Arts, Cinema, and Architecture — has been marked by a tension between two strong sources of inspiration: European ideals, especially British, and domestic originality.

American culture encompasses traditions, ideals, customs, beliefs, values, arts, and innovations developed both domestically and imported via colonization and immigration. Prevalent ideas and ideals from the European continent such as Democracy, various forms of Monotheism, and Civil liberties are present as well as those which evolved domestically such as important National holidays, uniquely American sports, proud military tradition, innovations in the arts and entertainment, and a strong sense of national pride among the population as a whole.

It includes both conservative and liberal elements, military and scientific competitiveness, political structures, risk taking and free expression, materialist and moral elements.

It also includes elements which evolved from Native Americans, and other ethnic subcultures; most prominently African-American and Latin American culture. Many cultural elements, especially popular culture have been exported across the globe through modern mass media, but a few of the cultural elements have remained rather exclusive to North America.

As most cultures, American culture is not static and is developing and changing as the demographic composition of the nation continues to change among other reasons due to a rising number of Central Americans seeking refuge in the United States (often illegally) due to deteriorating social and economic conditions in their respective countries.

[edit] Languages

With over two-thirds of the planet's native English speakers, the United States is the second most populous English speaking country in the world (after India) and the most populous in terms of native speakers. Although the country has no official language at the federal level, 30 states have passed legislation making English the official language.

In addition, there is also a sizable population of Spanish speakers living predominantly in the border states with Mexico but also in largely in Florida, Illinois, and New York as well as other areas. There are a number of bilinguals, who speak both English and Spanish reasonably well but code-switch according to their dialog partner or context - some refer to this phenomenon as Spanglish.

Furthermore, French is also spoken in parts of Louisiana. Native American languages such as Navajo can still be heard in parts of Arizona and New Mexico as well as numerous other indigenous languages that are spoken on the country’s numerous Indian reservations and Native American cultural events (Pow wows). There are also numerous minority languages spoken among immigrant populations.

Also, Hawaiian is official next to English in the state of Hawaii.

The American variety of English contains numerous loan words from European, Asian and African languages, that frequently also enter other varieties of English through American English.

[edit] Literature

In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American art and literature took most of its cues from Europe. Writers such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry David Thoreau established a distinctive American literary voice by the middle of the nineteenth century. Mark Twain and poet Walt Whitman were major figures in the century's second half; Emily Dickinson, virtually unknown during her lifetime, would be recognized as America's other essential poet. Eleven U.S. citizens have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, most recently Toni Morrison in 1993. Ernest Hemingway, the 1954 Nobel laureate, is often named as one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.^[1] A work seen as capturing fundamental aspects of the national experience and character—such as Herman Melville's Moby-Dick (1851), Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), and F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (1925)—may be dubbed the "Great American Novel". Popular literary genres such as the Western and hardboiled crime fiction were developed in the United States.

[edit] Faith

Completed in 1716, Mission Nuestra Señora de la Purísima Concepción de Acuña is one of numerous surviving colonial Spanish missions in the United States. These were primarily used to convert the Native Americans to Roman Catholicism.

Surrounded by sleek modern skyscrapers, Saint Patrick's Cathedral stands as the last old world holdout of New York's Rockefeller Plaza

Among developed countries, the US is one of the most religious in terms of its demographics. According to a 2002 study by the Pew Global Attitudes Project, the US was the only developed nation in the survey where a majority of citizens reported that religion played a "very important" role in their lives, an attitude similar to that found in its neighbors in Latin America.^[2]

Several of the original Thirteen Colonies were established by English and Irish settlers who wished to practice their own religion without discrimination or persecution as religious extremists in Europe: Pennsylvania was established by Quakers, Maryland by Roman Catholics and the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Puritans. Nine of the thirteen colonies had official public religions. Yet by the time of the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, the United States became one of the first countries in the world to enact freedom of religion by way of a codified separation of church and state.

Modeling the provisions concerning religion within the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, the framers of the United States Constitution rejected any religious test for office, and the First Amendment specifically denied the central government any power to enact any law respecting either an establishment of religion, or prohibiting its free exercise. In following decades, the animating spirit behind the constitution's Establishment Clause led to the disestablishment of the official religions within the member states. The framers were mainly influenced by secular, Enlightenment ideals, but they also considered the pragmatic concerns of minority religious groups who did not want to be under the power or influence of a state religion that did not represent them.^[3] Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence said "The priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot."^[4]

[edit] Religious Statistics for the United States

It should be noted the following information is a ballpark estimate as actual statistics constantly vary.

According to the CIA,^[5] the following is the order of religious preferences in the United States:

• Christian: (78.5%)
  • Protestant (51.3%)
  • Roman Catholic (23.9%)
  • Mormon (1.7%)
  • other Christian (1.6%)
• unaffiliated (12.1%)
• none (4%)
• other or unspecified (2.5%)
• Jewish (1.7%)
• Buddhist (0.7%)
• Muslim (0.6%)

[edit] National Holidays

Fireworks light up the sky over the Washington Monument. Americans traditionally shoot fireworks throughout the night on the Fourth of July.

Martin Luther King Day memorializes the legacy of Dr. King, who is widely regarded as the Patriarch of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King is pictured above delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Halloween is a widely observed tradition in the United States. It typically involves dressing up in costumes and an emphasis on the bizarre and frightening.

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is attended by over 2.5 million people each year. It is largest organized festivity in the United States and is viewed by more Americans each year than any other holiday celebration.^[6]

The United States observes holidays and traditions that are derived from significant events in US history, Religious traditions, and National Patriarchs.

As a legacy of colonization, Thanksgiving has become a traditional American holiday which evolved from the will of English pilgrims to “give thanks” for their welfare. Today, Thanksgiving is generally celebrated as a family reunion with a large afternoon feast. European colonization has led to many traditional Christian holidays such as Easter, Lent, St. Patrick’s Day, and Christmas to be widely observed albeit they are celebrated in a secular manner by many people today.

Independence Day (colloquially known as the Fourth of July) celebrates the anniversary of the country’s Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. It is generally observed by parades throughout the day and the shooting of fireworks at night.

Halloween is thought to have evolved from the ancient celtic festival of Samhain which was introduced in the American colonies by Irish settlers. It has become a holiday that is widely celebrated by children and teens who traditionally dress up in costumes and go door to door saying the words “Trick or Treat” in exchange for candy. It also brings about an emphasis on eerie and frightening urban legends and movies.

Additionally, Mardi Gras, which evolved from the Catholic tradition of Carnival, is observed notably in New Orleans, St. Louis, and Mobile, AL as well as numerous other towns. Texas still observes the anniversary of its Independence Day from Mexico.

Federally recognized holidays are as follows:

• Federal Holidays Calendars from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

[edit] Cuisine

Mainstream American culinary arts are similar to those in other Western countries. Wheat is the primary cereal grain. Traditional American cuisine uses ingredients such as turkey, white-tailed deer venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, indigenous foods employed by American Indians and early European settlers. Slow-cooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American styles. Soul food, developed by African slaves, is popular around the South and among many African Americans elsewhere. Syncretic cuisines such as Louisiana creole, Cajun, and Tex-Mex are regionally important. Iconic American dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the recipes of various immigrants. So-called French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are widely consumed.^[11] Americans generally prefer coffee to tea, with more than half the adult population drinking at least one cup a day.^[12] Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible for making orange juice and milk (now often fat-reduced) ubiquitous breakfast beverages.^[13] During the 1980s and 1990s, Americans' caloric intake rose 24%;^[11] frequent dining at fast food outlets is associated with what health officials call the American "obesity epidemic." Highly sweetened soft drinks are widely popular; sugared beverages account for 9% of the average American's daily caloric intake.^[14]

[edit] Sports

A typical Baseball diamond as seen from the stadium. Traditionally the game is played for nine innings but can be prolonged if there is a tie.

The opening of College football season is a major part of American culture and tradition.

Basketball is widely enjoyed by American youth and is considered by many to be the second most popular sport in the United States.

Massive marching bands accompanied by cheerleaders and colorgaurd are almost universal at American Football games, especially during halftime. Although high school bands tend to be much smaller, it is rare for a game not to feature a marching band at halftime.

Bowling is a popular pastime for Americans of all ages.

Sports in the United States are an important part of the American culture. However, the sporting culture of the U.S. is unique from that of many other countries. Compared to any other nation, American preferences for sports differ from the rest of the world. For example, soccer, the most popular sport in the world, is not nearly as popular in the United States.

Baseball is the oldest of the major American teamsports. Professional baseball dates from 1869 and had no close rivals in popularity until the 1960s; though baseball is no longer the most popular sport it is still referred to as the "national pastime." Also unlike the professional levels of the other popular spectator sports in the U.S., Major League Baseball teams play almost every day from April to October. American football now attracts more television viewers than baseball; however, National Football League teams play only 16 regular-season games each year, so baseball is the runaway leader in ticket sales.

Basketball is another major sport, represented professionally by the National Basketball Association. Most Americans recognize a fourth major sport - Ice hockey. Always a mainstay of Great Lakes and New England-area culture, the sport gained tenuous footholds in regions like the American South in recent years, as the National Hockey League pursued a policy of expansion.

American football, known in many anglophone countries as gridiron, is widely considered to be the most popular sport in the United States. The 32-team National Football League (NFL) is the most popular and only major professional American football league. Its championship game, the Super Bowl, is the biggest annual sporting event held in the United States. Additional millions also watch college football throughout the autumn months, and some communities, particularly in rural areas, place great emphasis on their local high school team. American football games usually include cheerleaders and marching bands which aim to raise school spirit and entertain the crowd at half-time. Basketball, invented in Springfield, Massachusetts 1891, by Canadian-born physical education teacher James Naismith, is the second most popular sport behind football. However, in regards to professional sports, basketball, or the NBA, is ranked third in popularity behind football and baseball.^[15] The National Basketball Association, more popularly known as the NBA, is the world's premier men's professional basketball league and one of the major professional sports leagues of North America.

[edit] Sports and community culture

Homecoming is an annual tradition of the United States. People, towns, high schools and colleges come together, usually in late September or early October, to welcome back former residents and alumni. It is built around a central event, such as a banquet, a parade, and most often, a game of American football, or, on occasion, basketball, or ice hockey. When celebrated by schools, the activities vary widely. However, they usually consist of a football game played on the school's home football field, activities for students and alumni, a parade featuring the school's marching band and sports teams, and the coronation of a Homecoming Queen (and at many schools, a Homecoming King).

[edit] Scientific

There is a fondness for scientific advancement and technological innovation in American Culture. Some of these efforts are centered in Silicon Valley. Other strong scientific areas include nuclear research, space (NASA), military research, and biotech. Respect for scientific advancement still ranks high in the US and the element of competitiveness is exercised as early as in elementary school.

Also in terms of science, American culture has made significant gains through immigration of accomplished scientists. For example, numerous members of European intelligentsia had to emmigrate during World War Two, escaping Fascist persecution and the US were one of the few safe countries to flee to.

[edit] Visual arts

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American artists primarily painted landscapes and portraits in a realistic style. A parallel development taking shape in rural America was the American craft movement, which began as a reaction to the industrial revolution. Developments in modern art in Europe came to America from exhibitions in New York City such as the Armory Show in 1913. After World War II, New York replaced Paris as the center of the art world.^{[citation needed]}Painting in the United States today covers a vast range of styles.

[edit] Architecture

The United States has a history of architecture that includes a wide variety of styles.

The United States of America is a relatively young country, and the Native Americans did not leave any buildings comparable to the grandeur of those in Mexico or Peru. For this reason, the overriding theme of American Architecture is modernity: the skyscrapers of the 20th century are the ultimate symbol of this modernity.

In the beginning years of the US as a state, early Neoclassicism accompanied the Founding Father's idealization of European Enlightenment, making it the predominant architectural style for public buildings and large manors. However, in recent years, the suburbanization and mass migration to the sunbelt has allowed architecture to reflect a Meditteranean style as well.

Architecture in the US is regionally diverse and has been shaped by many external forces, not only English. US Architecture can therefore be said to be eclectic, something unsurprising in such a multicultural society.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sculpture

The history of sculpture in the United States reflects the country's 18th century foundation in Roman republican civic values as well as Protestant Christianity.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Popular culture

American popular culture has expressed itself through nearly every medium, including movies, music, and sports.

Mickey Mouse, Barbie, Elvis Presley, Madonna, Aerosmith, Babe Ruth, Baseball, American football, Basketball, screwball comedy, G.I. Joe, jazz, the blues, Rap & Hip Hop, Beyonce, The Simpsons, Michael Jackson, Superman, SpongeBob SquarePants, Gone with the Wind, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jordan, Indiana Jones, Sesame Street, Catch-22—these names, genres, and phrases have joined more tangible American products in spreading across the globe.

The U.S. is also popular for evolving/adapting many elements of various other cultures, such as food (i.e. pizza, hamburgers, and hibachi), and t.v. shows (American Idol, Power Rangers).

[edit] Fashion

Apart from professional business attire, fashion in the United States is eclectic and predominantly informal.^{[citation needed]}Blue jeans were popularized as work clothes in the 1850s by merchant Levi Strauss, a German immigrant in San Francisco, and adopted by many American teenagers a century later. They are now widely worn in every state by people of all ages and social classes.^{[citation needed]}Along with mass-marketed informal wear in general, blue jeans are arguably U.S. culture's primary contribution to global fashion.^[16] The country was also home to the headquarters of many leading designer labels such as Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein. Labels such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle, Hollister, and Eckō cater to various niche markets.

Further iconic items of American fashion are the T-Shirt and the Baseball cap.

[edit] Theater

Theater of the United States is based in the Western tradition, mostly borrowed from the performance styles prevalent in Europe, especially England.^{[citation needed]}Today, it is heavily interlaced with American literature, film, television, and music, and it is not uncommon for a single story to appear in all forms. Regions with significant music scenes often have strong theater and comedy traditions as well. Musical theater may be the most popular form: it is certainly the most colorful, and choreographed motions pioneered on stage have found their way onto movie and television screens. Broadway in New York City is generally considered the pinnacle of commercial U.S. theater, though this art form appears all across the country. Off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway diversify the theatre experience in New York. Another city of particular note is Chicago, which boasts the most diverse and dynamic theater scene in the country. Regional or resident theatres in the United States are professional theatre companies outside of New York City that produce their own seasons. Even tiny rural communities sometimes awe audiences with extravagant productions.

[edit] Television

Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-seven percent of American households have at least 1 television set and the majority of households have more than 3.^{[citation needed]}

The US can be said to be, among the UK, the homeland of modern network television.

[edit] Music

American contemporary music can be heard all over the world, such as through Channel V, VH1 and by artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Michael Jackson, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Randy Newman, Miles Davis, B. B. King, The Doors, and Ramones.

American popular Music also contains many styles of music that developed in the US and were popular music when they came up (or still are). Examples are Rock & Roll, Swing, Jazz, Blues, Country, R&B, Funk, Hip Hop, and various others.

[edit] Films

American films and television shows are also very popular, including icons like Star Wars, The Godfather, Schindler's List, Titanic and The Matrix; American sports figures are widely known, such as Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Venus Williams, Mike Tyson, Michael Phelps, Muhammad Ali, Michael Johnson and Lance Armstrong; and American movie actors and actresses are widely recognized such as Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise.^{[citation needed]}

Outside the US, American Film is usually referred to in a generalizing manner as Hollywood.

[edit] Dance

There is great variety in dance in the United States, it is the home of the Lindy Hop and its derivative Rock and Roll, and modern square dance (associated with the United States of America due to its historic development in that country—nineteen U.S. states have designated it as their official state dance) and one of the major centers for modern dance. There is a variety of social dance and concert or performance dance forms with also a range of traditions of Native American dances.

[edit] Exportation of popular culture and transfer of its principles

The United States is an enormous exporter of entertainment, especially television, movies and music as well as news. This readily consumable form of culture is widely and cheaply dispersed for entertainment consumers worldwide. It's even considered to be an "entertainment superpower" along with Europe, and Japan.

Many nations now have two cultures: an indigenous one and globalized/popular culture^{[citation needed]}. That said, what one society considers entertainment is not necessarily reflective of the "true culture" of its people. More popular syndicated programs cost more, so overseas entertainment purchasers often choose older programs that reflect various, and dated, stages of United States cultural development.^{[citation needed]} Pop culture and even American news also tends to neglect the more mundane and/or complex elements of human life, which often give a distorted picture of American life to those overseas who view American mass media.^{[citation needed]}

As this phenomenon also includes consumer goods, it is well described by "Cocacolonization". Furthermore, a trend called McDonaldization seems an adequate model to describe processes in society, that are not merely (but also) cultural.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Culture of the United States

• Broadway theatre
• America 24/7