"America has no culture"

Actually, I'd go further about American culture. It baffles me whenever anyone says America has no culture, it in fact has more than one type of American culture. Food, cuisine, language, style of dress, festivities, beliefs, value systems and so on, and I've personally experienced probably three to four different types in America.

You can say they aren't old cultures, that can be true, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

I think it's more the fact that in a multicultural society when you've all these people around you with thousand year old cultures or more. It's like the American love with Japanese culture that's at least 1000 years old, depending on how you count or European cultures all of which are 500-1000 years old, or maybe Middle Eastern/North Africa cultures which are many thousands of years old, or China's boast of 5000 years of culture... then yeah maybe 200 years of cultural development seems wimpy but hey, culture is culture.

The first European city in the continental US was established in 1565...

Which was thoroughly not American. Of course that's going into semantics. Notice how I also stated most European cultures are around 1000 or less years old? I'm not going to count previous cultures existing in the same geographic area as the same culture.

I think we're going to need a really good idea of where one culture begins and one ends, then, like with Hawaii.

Many times, when Europeans say that Americans have no culture, what they really refer to is the fact that Americans have no manners. In many European countries, the difference between the two is very blurred.

When you remember that we are all mad, all questions disappear and life stands explained.

What.

^^ What European countries? This is not the case in my experience.

Regarding the topic: I wonder, does this claim come primarily from Americans or from foreign observers? If it's the former, it may simply be a variant of the nonsensical statement "I don't have an accent" - that is, the failure to notice one's own culture due to familiarity with it. If it's the latter, it sounds to me like a form of elitism, probably derived from the erroneous belief that American culture only goes back a couple centuries, and the equally erroneous belief that this is not sufficient time for a diverse and influential culture to emerge.

edited 2nd Sep '11 9:49:19 AM by BobbyG

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I think it's usually the latter saying it first and then the previous agreeing because of Cultural Cringe (which is an ironic thing for a place without culture to do).

Korochun, that's exactly what I said earlier. Some Europeans can be very elitist.

As for the current cultural cringe... well, I think that has to do with the supposed 'war culture' that's going on. We're kind of tired of it. And I've heard of Americans getting harassed overseas for it.

We have a war culture? That's a new one.

I think the cultural cringe is more that Americans have not contributed anything good to the world at large and we would be better off without them.

Cats, you're American. Please... don't speak like you're not.

Besides, we got the first man on the moon. That's a fucking awesome accomplishment to offer the world. Also, Carhenge and Cadillac Ranch are pretty cool.

Kino; T Hat's the impression I sometimes get about how everyone is viewing us due to all the shit we've been doing over in the Middle East.

edited 2nd Sep '11 10:31:02 AM by AceofSpades

Don't forget nukes, the internet, GPS, and Coke.

I know right, 2 wrs in the middle east nd we hve a war culture. Now if you're asking if Americans are fighers, then the answer is yes; thousands of Nazi's, Korens, and Chinese can ttest to that.

But a war culture? If he had one the Middle East would be glass by now.

edited 2nd Sep '11 10:33:08 AM by Kino

Remember, Cultural Cringe is feelings, not facts.

Well, we're not the only ones to exaggerate the hell out of facts and start assuming things. Which is likely how the whole 'war culture' thing got started.

Cats; I realize. But much of your cringe has to do with your home state. You seemed fine with America in general before.

...wow.

You really have no idea who I speak for.

And remember, I have nothing against Americans. It's those damned Canadians I can't stand.

In all fairness we did spawn Jersey Shore

These are the droids for which you are looking.

There's no real discussion to be had. America has a culture. Everywhere has a culture. Whether it's good, or whether you notice it, is not the point. America has culture.

edited 2nd Sep '11 10:52:44 AM by ekuseruekuseru

And Britain spawned Shakespeare, which is worse than Jersey Shore, but you don't seeing people hating Britain for it.

Fight smart, not fair.

The notion that "America has no culture" is nonesene. Not only does the US of A have a culture: it is a (if not the) dominant culture around the world via media, products and fashion. Yes it started from other nations but so other nations have a origin: Britian is made up from Romans, Saxons, Norse, Normans and French, along with other cultures. This does not mean Britian has no culture: it means Britian has a grand range of influences in its culture. Same with the USA.

I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok. I sleep all night and work all day.

This.

With most of these it's the slight differences in them, not the things themselves that are American. Averted with Hollywood and American Football.

See my comment to the quote above.

edited 2nd Sep '11 11:04:34 AM by Qeise

Laws are made to be broken. You're next, thermodynamics.

Isn't that redundant?

Fight smart, not fair.

@ Deboss. You star'in'? You star'in'? Don't chat put 'bout Shakes!

But seriously, America has a culture. Unless 90% of the media on my page was made in my dreams, America has a culture. When people say "I am American", that means that they are formed from the culture of America. And if there was no culture of America, then there would technically be American.

Now, if they're saying "America has no True Art" that's something I can agree with. America hasn't produced anything nearly terrible enough to be True Art.

Fight smart, not fair.

It was a American who wrote To Kill a Mocking Bird. Such is prove of America not only having culture but also having art.

I’m a lumberjack and I’m ok. I sleep all night and work all day.