Americans have no culture? - Page 3
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Serpico
4285 Posts
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Falling
Canada11267 Posts
Perhaps it could be argued that American culture is not very old- as America (that is ignoring the indigenous cultures). Old culture seems to carry greater importance. But I don't think it could be said that America has no culture- perhaps it's the commercialized culture that people react to. Because quite certainly American/ Western culture is very exportable so there must be a culture to export. Oh and just like a lot of things, we'll fight you for Basketball. No matter how long you've lived in America, if you were born in Canada and if you do something we like, we will claim you. And if you do something we don't like, we will disown you to the Americans just as fast ![]() | ||
SilverLeagueElite
United States626 Posts
Hell, just consider English as being an international language. This is due to no small part on America exporting its mass media around the world. | ||
FuzzyJAM
Scotland9300 Posts
I don't see why it's a big deal. Of the main centre of powers over history, there is much to admire about the Middle East, there is much to admire about Europe, there is much to admire about China, there is much to admire about India and there is much to admire about the newest centre of culture - the US. I think all have issues, but I hate the combative ideas that circulate. "My culture could beat up your culture" mentality is beyond stupid. | ||
semantics
10040 Posts
Apparently dem cultured folks gonna talk down to us simple hicks about culture. It's funny to say America has no culture when, people can post comments in threads like "only in America", every place has culture from the fine arts to random shit, what you find just depends where you look. Claiming that a place has no culture is just being an asshole. People want a claim no refinement in American culture yet when you talk about the classics in music, movies, literature, plays, all forms of entertainment you will find top works done in America. That idea that america has no refinement is just an idea people who want to hate on america subscribe to. Yes america doesn't have 1000+ years of history to subscribe to but it doesn't mean it's not jammed packed. | ||
Ansinjunger
United States2451 Posts
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Crisium
United States1618 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:17 SilverLeagueElite wrote: I would think America is one of the top cultural exporters. Looking at movies, music, literature & video games alone, it wouldn't be hard to find something American in another country. You made me think of the Rammstein music video, Amerika. The whole (or at least main) point made by this German band was that American culture has spread too far across the globe. | ||
{CC}StealthBlue
United States41117 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:19 FuzzyJAM wrote: America has culture, it's just that it's a patchwork of mostly identifiable items from other cultures made up over a short period of time when compared to much of the rest of the world. There's nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned. I don't see why it's a big deal. Of the main centre of powers over history, there is much to admire about the Middle East, there is much to admire about Europe, there is much to admire about China, there is much to admire about India and there is much to admire about the newest centre of culture - the US. I think all have issues, but I hate the combative ideas that circulate. "My culture could beat up your culture" mentality is beyond stupid. You're just saying that because Scottish Enlightenment helped develop the modern world. Including the United States, even Europe for that matter. | ||
forgottendreams
United States1771 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:21 semantics wrote: America has no refinement in culture lol Apparently dem cultured folks gonna talk down to us simple hicks about culture. It's funny to say America has no culture when, people can post comments in threads like "only in America", every place has culture from the fine arts to random shit, what you find just depends where you look. Claiming that a place has no culture is just being an asshole. People want a claim no refinement in American culture yet when you talk about the classics in music, movies, literature, plays, all forms of entertainment you will find top works done in America. That idea that america has no refinement is just an idea people who want to hate on america subscribe to. Yes america doesn't have 1000+ years of history to subscribe to but it doesn't mean it's not jammed packed. Hyperbole much? It's quite obvious America has culture and the thread reaks of insecurity, it's far less clear (and for me quite obvious to the answer) whether America can match the level of refinement in the fine arts, cuisine and literature that Europeans retain. | ||
Wargable
United States107 Posts
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Lightwip
United States5497 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:12 Notfragile wrote: -The proud usage of the word AMERICAN, in every occasion. At least, try to remember what this name is derived from before using it like almost a spell. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americo_Vespucci -The nationalism AND the low educational standards leading quite a few citizens having no bloody idea what, or where is the rest of the world -The really poor educational system. A huge chunk of US sientists are foreigners, and that is just a sad display of the low stantards of the rest of the population -The fact that there is a bible zone. And the fact that 40% of the US citizens believe the world was created by god in the past 10000 years. (We aren't mass atheists, but we can appreciate the evidence from carbon 14 isotope dating and can see why the bible should at least be taken as something not literal). -The fact that many of you believe that evolution is a theory. This saddens us really really much. -Constant war making and Imperialism, do not help with your image in the eyes of citizens around the world. -Fixation on capitalism. Around the world we discuss politics oppenly. What would happen to me if I said I am of communist ideology, somewhere in texas? -Fixation on terrorism. Get over it. -The cold war. Russia is not the evil empire. -The song "america fuck yeah" is ironic. Some people seem to have trouble understanding that. -Insane obesity rates. -Etc, etc etc This is a large collection of both idiocy and hypocrisy. I hope not all of Europe is as close-minded and oblivious as this. Proud usage of the word American? WTF? How does that have ANYTHING to do with anything. I'll concede that I think one large chunk(middle school/junior high, some of high school, and the union-supported education really) of our education system is in need of repair. However, how is foreign scientists a bad thing? They come here because they value our universities and research institutions, and we accept the value of foreign researchers. Why is this a problem? Religion is slowly diminishing in importance. Same with not believing in evolution. But this is a problem worldwide, not just in the US. Most of the people I know aren't especially religious. Your comment on imperialism is the one that is the most incorrect and the most bothersome. So, Europe is fresh off of over 500 YEARS of war-making and imperialism, and now you say to America to stop it? And it's not because of moral efforts that you stopped, not to a large extent. The reason European imperialism died down is because of a little event known as WORLD WAR II, which absolutely destroyed European military power. Want to know why America is an imperialist country and European powers are not? Because the US is the most powerful country in the world(military and economy) and the Europeans are not. Besides, events like the Suez Crisis occur here and there. And your little Greece hasn't been making an empire because it's been sucking for thousands of years now. If it wasn't, you'd be doing the same thing. It isn't Americans, it's just human nature. You are clearly not very knowledgeable about the state of the cold war affairs, terrorism, and the like. I don't need to address this because it's an argument stemming from ignorance. I know you said do not respond to this, but it's hard to ignore a giant blob of hypocrisy and ignorance labeled as "truth." | ||
Thaniri
1264 Posts
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christophequirion
France82 Posts
Capital of Morocco ? Speaking 3 languages ? year of gutenberg printing press invention ? Polical parties in India ? Basis of Kant's Philosophy ? Name of the President of China ?.... | ||
Streltsy
Canada98 Posts
ex. Italy, Germany Not to mention that if we used age as a measure of cultural worth we should all be bowing down to Iraqis, Egyptians, and the Chinese. Civilizations and cultures advance at different rates. To answer you question OP: the same reason you made the post, because people are nationalistic (though they like to use the word patriotic) idiots. | ||
Crisium
United States1618 Posts
I'm trying to gauge the future of this thread since only a few dissenters do not think the United States has culture, but many more have varying opinions of its adequacy vis-à-vis the rest of the world. | ||
Lightwip
United States5497 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:35 Thaniri wrote: I know people who say that American History is not as interesting as theirs, but in comparison with the badassery with Europes and Middle Easts history, I can see why. US History is much more about forming stability and such within a relatively homogenous people than in unstable warring Europe. Certainly different, but by no means is US history bland. It has quite a few interesting aspects about it. If you want uninteresting, go to the river valley civilizations. There you will discover the meaning of bland and boring. | ||
Stratos
Czech Republic6104 Posts
When people complain about America having no culture here, they are actually most of the time refering to the way the Americans eat. Like what spoon to use when etc. which I always thought of as retarded anyway tbh. | ||
Sablar
Sweden880 Posts
Culture is about being better than other people and disliking mainstream and America is kind of mainstream and you cannot be cultural without being a fucking elitist who thinks better than those people. Also something has to exist for a very long time to be truly elitist enough and America is kind of young. edit: I've been told that America had no culture by my middle school teacher. Not a very uncommon belief I think. | ||
SilverLeagueElite
United States626 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:35 Thaniri wrote: I know people who say that American History is not as interesting as theirs, but in comparison with the badassery with Europes and Middle Easts history, I can see why. Badassery? You mean wars? We're catching up. | ||
downmaster
Canada116 Posts
On January 21 2012 17:09 FiWiFaKi wrote: I was born in Europe and we moved to Canada and my parents always complain how there is no culture here, and I think it's a justified statement. Like literally there is culture, but I think what it means, is when you go to Europe you have so many historic buildings that are preserved, you have traditional costumes and traditional get together's, some things are done in very inefficient manners just to keep the tradition going, we look upon the old way of life. That's how I see it at least. In Canada I feel the clothing is very generic, the houses are very generic, and everything is focused around the economy and more material possessions where as in Europe, especially poorer countries like Slovakia for me, it is more social, and their way of life is based around this culture, it has a flavor to it. North America really does feel like a room empty of furniture while other countries are all different, judging by their clothing, the tools they use, etc. I am in no way insulting the US and Canada, it's a different way of life, but a large degree I agree that we are pretty culture less. Looking back at heritage we have the First Nations which I guess aren't very appealing to me, and the thing is, here in Canada, people don't care about tradition or culture much at all. Quebec however has a lot more culture compared to the rest of Canada, mostly because they believe in those traditional values. I live in Canada and to say we have no culture is really stupid. The reason people don't think we have culture is because they think of modern Canada. We have deep roots and if you know about aboriginals you would know why we don't have historic buildings or why we don't keep much from them. I don't know where your from in Canada, but most Canadians care about their roots to first nations. So from what I take it, you don't celebrate thanksgiving or the Civic Holiday then? | ||
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