In the beginning we should have a clarification over terms similar to tradition, identity and cultural identity which leads us to the American cultural identity and its elements. Culture is a really complicated time period to define. “It has more than a hundred definitions.” (1) To present a easy definition and no to confused with the hundred of the definitions we are able to define culture as follows: tradition refers back to the customs, practices, languages, values and world views that define social groups resembling these primarily based on nationality, ethnicity, region or common interests.
Identity is another time period we should know about before understanding cultural identity. “The condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is.”(2) The perfect way to define the term identity is a solution to the query who am I? We will say that identity is about our self-notion and notion of others. There are different types of identity according to totally different ways of categorizing of aspects. Personal identity, social identity and collective identity are the most recognizable ones. “The concept of a collective identity refers to a set of individuals’ sense of belonging to the group or collective. For the person, the identity derived from the collective shapes a part of his or her personal identity.” (three) The master forces of collective identity are nationwideity, ethnicity, faith, gender, profession and decadent culture.
Cultural identity is the identity of a group, culture or of a person as far as one is influenced by one’s belonging to a group or culture. Then cultural identity is a collective identity.
The American cultural identity can be merely defined as the sets of values, norms and beliefs that make the American individuals because the Americans. Collective identity just isn’t in battle with personal identity as each American has its own identity while the entire People has a particular collective identity by which they’re distinguished from the British people.
Talking in regards to the elements of the American cultural identity is difficult, because there are many components that form it. To rely a few of the most essential parts I am going for the next ones.
• Language
English language is among the components that for my part have formed the American cultural identity. It offers the People a way of getting a British origin and a sense that the language their ancestors spoke was English like them and I think it makes them think of their Anglo-Saxon background. English language as the mainity of the Individuals speak has had a fantastic influence on shaping their collective identity.
• Egalitarianism
The idea of egalitarianism or having equal opportunities makes the second element of the American cultural identity. This sense that all of us live in a land of opportunities, while others do not and we all are equal to have opportunities to live has integrated Individuals as a whole.
• Exceptionalism and Nationalism
The idea of exceptionalism has instilled in People mind by means of the history and consequently it has made them think that they are unique and particular individuals residing in a land of opportunities. They imagine in American Dream and they think that they have had this chance to live on this land not another people. Individuals consider that they and only they are distinctive and this concept offers them a way of nationalistic point of view. Being patriot is a very common image of being an American and it has a lot to do with exceptionalism and nationalism. For instance, US flag is considered a national symbol and a logo that integrates all Individuals to a whole.
• Liberalism
Liberalism is undoubtedly essentially the most influential element of American cultural identity. The thought of liberalism in America is as old as the United States the place in accordance the US Constitution the persons are free to work, worship, live, journey and so on so forth as long as they respect each others’ rights. Liberalism limits the affect the government has on the personal lives of the citizens as well. When individuals see that they are free to choose no matter they want under the liberalism umbrella, then they feel they’re Americans and they recognize themselves as Americans.
• Individualism
Individualism has had an important impact on being an American. It has a Puritan background. Individualism has helped the creation of property ownership and what’s called privacy. Ownership in America is of nice significance and it gives the owner a way by which he/she feels American because they consider it a result of dwelling in America and believing in American beliefs. Individualism isn’t only about financial phrases like property ownership. In terms of tradition, cultural individualism is the concept that the entire People see themselves as an individual from which the concept of Americanism comes from.
• Pragmatism
Pragmatism, like individualism, has a Puritan origin. People work very hard to achieve their goals. The query “What do you do?” is a very common query in American culture. It implies that hard-working is a very important factor amongst Americans. Americans work very hard and they always think in regards to the outcomes undermining the instruments by which they will achieve the ends. In accordance with the American multicultural context, pragmatist ideas which refuses any absolutes turned quite common because “fairly than believing in absolutes it is believed that these ideas are changeable and depend upon the context in which they’re being discussed.” (4)
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