What is American Culture?

[NarendZORCE]

Just some pondering here on the stereotype of "American Culture" which is typically "imposed on our society" through cable etc. etc. While I was in Orlando this came up in a dicussion over a super huge platter of nachos, some burgers and a few rounds of beer.

I discovered that American Culture is really akin to "gangsta drags" where the core group of people was really made up of anyone in the mood to race on a Sunday in Wallers. Generally in North America, there is less identification with the idea of American Culture and more indentification with the idea of plain old Entertainment. In a way it's just a bunch of people who entertain themselves and very often, the rest of the world. They're good at presenting and the just happen to live there...

Let's hear some other views on the idea of National Culture.

[Yeo]

More and more people of different countries are embracing "American culture" and losing their own identities, ie. lifestyle, songs, way of living, heritage etc.

Which is IMHO very sad, gone are the days of travelling to another country to experience their lifestyle....now you have to go there and go into "the country" to see how life was once lived there.

You can travel to almost any capital city on the globe and you will find a McD's, Subway, etc. harder and harder to find are the old Mom & Pop stores or local restaurants.
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[worksux101]

^Agreed!!!
Another case of everyone trying to follow the leader - in this case most people look at money as the qualifying factor!
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[Hottnutts]

While this may be true, certain countries, particularly in Eastern Europe and Asia, have managed to reatin their cultural heritage.

The adoption of the 'American Way' is most prevelant in third world countries who aspire to be like our Superpower counterparts.


Just call me Devil's Advocate
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[Princess-Kaveshla]

Well when we look at culture - particularly "American Culture" - right away everyone thinks about the McD's and other fast food restaurants.. while it all part of it - that's the point - it's all part of the culture.

This discussion actually made me go back to the ole Longman dictionary dere Narend... Just because the word culture covers so many aspects in our lives. Trying to describe the American culture, I'd probably hit on words like crazy, illusion (also known as good marketing! hahaha), fast paced, BIG - big food, big car, big engine, big belly! I don't mean to sound so negative because we all know how many great things there are here. Need I mention? So what makes the US so strong? Patriots or just utterly brain dead? I'll leave that one be - that's whole other forum!

Americans tend to have this innate hope and discipline sometimes and its quite remarkable. Just after the hurricanes (it was my first hurricane experience) I was surprised to see how my neighbours just walked outside and started cleaning up and checking out eachother's yard. Of course all that time two fellow islanders and myself were busy driving the road checking out the scenes, when we weren't supposed to be on the road. But there's a discipline about them (of course there are always exceptions to the rule) that drives them to succeed and I think that is one of the most admirable quality we all look at and strive for.

But a simple thing like a "good lime & shite talk" I really miss home for. For instance - how many of you can quote at least one line from Sesame Street and not think it to be normal to know it? How about having a party where people acutally dance, wine down to de ground with a bottle on top of dey head? Rather than serve cheese and fruit or doritos and stand around. I'm not saying that all their parties are like that - we all know that NOT true.. but you really have to be careful when they say they having a party up here - gotta think twice.

But not to be blabbering on and on - after all it is 12am - my first thoughts on what the American culture lies on CNN, MTV & BET, E! , HGTV and Food Network. There are the news freaks, the music freaks, the celebrity freaks, home improvement freaks and the food freaks! Oh how could i forget the reality TV freaks. But that's it! They are freaks- obsessed with whatever they are interested in. And that works. If you know just about everything you like and keep talking to people that are interested in the same, and get more people to see and share with you - wouldn't you succeed?

Hmmm... so that's where Zorce forums come in huh?

the pinky, the pinky and the brain...
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[Hottnutts]

Aye Caramba!

Dat gyul well know what she talkin bout dey! FUH TROOT!

Well put Kivvy
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