Tuesday, February 17, 2009

what IS American culture??

So.....I saw something today, and although it was funny, it got me thinkin....what IS American culture??? Like what truly is American culture?? Is America just a combination of every culture throughout the world? Like, the first thing people think of when u say culture is food. What IS American food? Hamburgers, no, that's from Germany. Pizza and pasta, impossible, that's Italy. What about Cajun food??? Well, not really, cause Cajuns can be linked to France and Canada(if i'm not mistakin). Barbeque HAS to be! No, it's from New Zealand and Australia...bummer. I suppose fried chicken ....and pigs feet...and chitlins are all American lol.

Ok, so what about music??? Well, as a musician...I've discovered that ALL music can trace back to one place, Africa. Why is that? Simple, life began there. It began as just rhythm and singing and eventually instruments were made and people to them to different regions and they became part of their cultures. Now, having said that, Blues did start in America. Not even the guitar, little known fact, the moderen Guitar is actually from.....SPAIN (electric guitar is American tho yaaay)! But were did blues come from?? Slavery. Where did slavery come from? Africa. So....in a way.....all music is African culture lol. But...in a since, now-a-days, that IS how we distinguish cultures...in a way. But when it comes down to it, what really is American music?? Can we still claim rock n roll....even tho ever song Elvis (that bastard) did was a blues song? Or how bout, the English people, who pioneered rock n roll music (ie. The British Invasion). We do still have Blues, Jazz and Swing Music.

what about clothes???? Well....I thought Jeans were America....but no, they're from......France....FRANCE????? My goodness. But suuuuuurely tie-dye is American right?? NOPE, the oldest tie-dyed article of clothing is actually from Peru. Boots??? No body claims boots lol. Sneakers?? AAALLLLLL AMERICAN lol.

Maaybe our big SUV's and those gay hybrid cars are American lol.

But, please know that I'm no bashin America. These thing aren't our faults. We are a country that is only......2-3 hundred years old. So this goes back to the question, what IS American culture???? America has a culture that takes a little bit from every culture around the world be we ourselves are a nation that is diverse and so full of different cultures. That's what American culture is to me. How bout you?

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