Yesterday, you collaboratively generated a list of qualities that come to mind when asked what makes America America and Americans American. We'll use this occasionally in class to think about our texts and to expand the list as the semester proceeds. Feel free at any time to add via comments to this post.
Here's the initial version:
America: Place, Culture, People
Freedom
Patriotism
Human Bodies
Self-concerned—Insular perspective
Wealth and opulence
Elitism, Exceptionalism
Cultural superiority
Religion and Spirituality
Imperialism
Opportunity, social mobility
Cultural icons: Cowboys, etc. (Cultural fusion and/or appropriation)
Music and arts: Again, cultural fusions, appropriations, innovations
Low culture (in relation to European high, aristocratic culture)
The American Dream
(Protestant) work ethic
Celebrity culture and fame
Land-ownership
Landscape as natural resources and as symbolic of good/evil, etc.
Travel and transportation
Consumerism, Industry
No comments:
Post a Comment