Does America have a distinct and genuine culture, like other countries?

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When I think of culture, I think of traditions and customs. Maybe it's because I'm American and am so intertwined with American culture that I don't notice the traditions and customs, but America doesn't seem to have any. When I think of America, I think of a couple of guys sitting on a couch, eating hamburgers and hot dogs, and drinking beer while watching a football game. Essentially, American culture seems very shallow and unprofound, to me. On the other hand, when I think of a Saudi Arabia, I think of the distinct way of dress worn by men and women to reflect the roles of men and women. I think of the custom in which two men who are close friends hold hands while walking as a sign of their friendship (no homo I also think of the great amount of respect that a commoner must show when in the presence of a Saudi King. All of these practices seem very distinct and cultural. As another example, when I think of Japan, I think of a woman's traditional way of dress, such as the Kimono; the practice in which a person bows to show respect to someone of a higher standing; the honorific verb forms used in the language when addressing someone of higher status, etc. These are also examples of distinct and genuine culture. However, when I think of America, I can't think of any parallels to these. Does anyone else agree with what I'm saying?

Please note that I'm not trying to insult my own country. I don't believe that America has always been this way. For example, I think America was a genuine cultural society back in the days when it was customary for a man to ask another man for the permission to marry his daughter; when women were expected to dress conservatively, when it was taboo to question your parents, when hard work was highly valued and sought after; when a man removed his hat in the presence of a woman, etc. These things don't seem to be practiced anymore. Essentially, the entire idea of everyone having the right to do what they want has swallowed up old-fashioned American culture, which leaves no room for traditions or customs. What are your thoughts, OT?

Hell... half the world hates us, we must being doing something "distinct".

Not in the same way like some other countries but I dont think that means its not distinct or genuine.

Besides.... genuine and distinct...are subjective. ;)

It's a melting pot so they have no actual "American" culture!!

America is just a mix of cultures, but it's still predominantly a Western culture, the culture brought by European settlers.

Isn't letting everyone do what they want a cultural trait? Fourth of July is a custom. Labor Day, etc. Other than that I'm not integrated into any cultures at all. I just do my own thing. Maybe that's our culture.

mlk day= american?

Are culture is distinct, but is very hotchpotch being made up of various races and ethnicity, and varies heavily from region to region. Try saying LA has the same culture as New Orleans and people will laugh.

Still like most nations we have several distinct cultural traits.

Simply put, no!!

I think in some aspects, it does, but it borrows heavily from Western/European culture, which makes sense considering the country is only a little over 230 years old.

Apple pies, Baseball and Gridiron to name a few.

America like much of the Western world is a collective of sub-cultures as defined by music, ethnicity, social standing, sport etc. If you're talking about tradition as defining a culture, then the emergence of a distinct youth culture post WW11 which broke the back of much of these, and probably liberated people from traditions that should be left in the dark ages (e.g. women's rights).

As such there is little to distinguish say America from the UK bar the odd counterculture movement or music scene. Sports seem to be one of the standout differentiators of culture these days, especially here in Australia (Aussie rules football)or any other comparatively 'new' nation which lacks the traditions we associate with countries with lengthier histories.

Anyway, that's my somewhat rashly thought out opinion.

Apple pies, Baseball and Gridiron to name a few.

rockerbikie

Well, apple pies are hardly american, baseball originated in Britain, and gridiron can trace much of its roots to rugby and association football.

Sure, I think that the way these things have evolved gives them some cultural standing, but these things almost all come from other places.

We are a largely cosmopolitan society, mostly Western. Somewhat more conservative, more proud of ourselves. A lot of popular entertainment did start here.

I think America is getting it's own style. I don't think we have one yet, but we are ridiculously young compared to other countries, give us time.

I think America is getting it's own style. I don't think we have one yet, but we are ridiculously young compared to other countries, give us time.

Vladimerelenin

We live in an increasingly transient world these days so it may only get harder with time...

American = Napa wine = California

American = McDonalds = California (first McD's hamburger stand was California ( http://answersuniverse.com/where-was-the-first-mcdonalds-located ))

American = Beverly Hills / Hollywood = totally California

American = Mickey Mouse = Disneyland = California (where it originated)

American = Skateboard culture = California

American = Hippies (hey dude ... ) California

American = Valley Girl (like ... OMG ...) = California

American = Palm Springs golfing / spring break = California

American = tech coast (Silicon Valley) = California

American = California

These guys are American. Just listen to the voice of the narrator. Simply awesome. I love the part where he says Um, that's good! (9:50 to 9:58). He says that in every video.

American = Napa wine = California

American = McDonalds = California (first McD's hamburger stand was California ( http://answersuniverse.com/where-was-the-first-mcdonalds-located ))

American = Beverly Hills / Hollywood = totally California

American = Mickey Mouse = Disneyland = California (where it originated)

American = Skateboard culture = California

American = Hippies (hey dude ... ) California

American = Valley Girl (like ... OMG ...) = California

American = Palm Springs golfing / spring break = California

American = tech coast (Silicon Valley) = California

American = California

maryal

God no. Most of America aren't like those whack jobs in California.

Having a distinct culture is overrated.Lonelynight

What makes you say this?

Yes, in addition to the "melting pot" aspect, there has been plenty of distinct and original contributions to American culture.

America is very regional. I grew up in Jersey, spent five years in Pittsburgh and have been living in NC for the past year and a half. All of these places have pretty distinct cultures. Obvious differences I've noticed have been speech (how people talk to each other, not just accents), food, car culture (can you walk/bus/train everywhere or do you have to drive everywhere), what people do for fun in the summer/winter (shore in Jersey, skiing in Colorado, etc.), music, housing (tiny apartments or giant house in the woods), gun culture and shopping (mom and pop deli or Subway).

Think about it. If the U.S. is the only country that doesn't have a distinct culture, wouldn't that make their culture distinct because no other country is like it?SF_KiLLaMaN

America is a relatively new country. Of course it's not going to have a traditional culture compared to countries with people that have been practicing their own traditions for thousands of years. Honestly, I think America is best represented as an ideal, rather than a culture.

We have social habits similar to Western Europe, but we haven't had the time to develop a true "culture."

Nope. Just going from a rural to urban area in the same state or even city can produce wildly varying results. America is still very much a melting pot with no specific culture or traditions. We share many stereotypical qualities, idiosyncrasies, habits, and lifestyles but I'm not sure what universal culture we share if any.

Some might get offended but that's not my intention... anway.
To me USA is not a nation in a way Italy, Greece, Germany, Japan, Russia are... it's more of a community. It's like puting people from all over the world into one country, it's natural that this community will lack any sort of culture and tradition. The countries I mentioned above are thousands years old... for example the city of Athens is is more than 3500 years old, it's easier for this homogenous nations to develop traditions and culture through all these years they've been active. I'm pretty sure that in a couple of hundred years USA will eventually develop it's own identity but then that might actually not happen at all... I'm saying that based on how much the globalization affects our world, even the other countries with history of thousand years are loosing their indentities each year more and more, it's inevitable that at some point there won't be countries and nations the way we know them... everything will be mixed and global.

Also someone said that USA is exporting culture... well hollywood and McDonalds ain't culture.

Also keep in mind... some of the things TC said in OP that were present in old USA are not actually US culture but the European setller's culture which year after year vanished.

[QUOTE="rockerbikie"]

Apple pies, Baseball and Gridiron to name a few.

raynimrod

Well, apple pies are hardly american, baseball originated in Britain, and gridiron can trace much of its roots to rugby and association football.

Sure, I think that the way these things have evolved gives them some cultural standing, but these things almost all come from other places.

We Americans like to clap at everything.

Yes it does.LJS9502_basic

I think the American culture is a victim of its influence. It is so mainstream and widespread worldwide that it may appear generic or ubiquitous.

It did... 

I think the American culture is a victim of its influence. It is so mainstream and widespread worldwide that it may appear generic or ubiquitous.

one_plum

That's actually a pretty good way to put it.