this post was submitted on 20 Feb 2024
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Showerthoughts
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Ehhhhh, I don't know if I agree with this.
American "culture" has had a whole bunch of definitions, usually changing with the decades. For most of the 20th century, you could point to something and say "That's American"; things like milkshake bars and greasers, anything surrounding the hippie movement (that we actually probably stole from somewhere else), and... Whatever that strange design of random shapes the 90s had.
After 2000, there hasn't been really anything that stands out, in part due to the rise of the internet, and in another, the dangerous build environment. In order to have culture, people need to congregate in a place and create something meaningful. Because Americans go to work and then go home, often with little-to-no time in between from long commutes, they have no time to create the next "culture moment".
I use the argument that consumerism is American culture. Anything from giant takeaways, to excess consumption at holidays, Costco, Walmart, even the American Healthcare system is designed to be sold.
I think when people say Americans have no culture they don't mean it literally, they just mean thier culture is trash.
I don't really agree with that assessment though: there is a lot of interesting culture in America, as well as a lot of trash.
Americans created jazz and blues, and hollywood movies. All people the world over know American movies to the point that things like “I’ll be back” or “and my axe” are universal. That’s American culture. You know the “great American songbook”? So does everyone in the world. This is American culture.
My friend I respectfully disagree. You can get a cheeseburger anywhere in the world. I’ve had one in Hong Kong, Kolkata, Copenhagen, and Croatia. I’ve heard American pop music everywhere. Visit any other country and listen to the radio. In Italy you will hear one station with Italian music, and several with American music.
Anywhere in Europe or South America or Central America or Asia you will find English speakers. Have you traveled ? Everyone speaks English. Not every person, but English is the universal language in this world. Do you know why? It’s not because of England. It’s because of the prevalence of American movies, TV, and music. In other words: America has so much culture people don’t even see the forest for the trees. Like OP said, and even you can’t see it. Bro go eat a Big Mac and think about life. EDIT: sorry for taking that tone at the end, that was unnecessary. I’m on vacation in Rome and I’ve had a bit of wine. I saw the Pantheon today! Its incredible! You just turn the corner and bam! “M Agrippa..”
Yeah that thing ambushes ya lol. I remember going for a nice espresso at a shop in the nearby Piazza. Really enjoyed the hell out of Rome. It is so mind blowing to see all the ancient ruins amongst the city.
Yeah that's true. American culture is also alive and changing. That's another reason they say we have no culture. Our culture is present-day culture, not historical anachronisms we call "our culture"