In the beginning we will need to have a clarification over phrases such as tradition, identity and cultural identity which leads us to the American cultural identity and its elements. Culture is a really sophisticated term to define. “It has more than a hundred definitions.” (1) To offer a easy definition and no to confused with the hundred of the definitions we are able to define tradition as follows: culture refers to the customs, practices, languages, values and world views that define social teams resembling these based mostly on nationality, ethnicity, area or common interests.
Identity is another term we must know about earlier than understanding cultural identity. “The condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is.”(2) The very best way to define the term identity is an answer to the query who am I? We will say that identity is about our self-perception and notion of others. There are totally different types of identity in response to completely different ways of categorizing of aspects. Personal identity, social identity and collective identity are probably the most recognizable ones. “The idea of a collective identity refers to a set of individuals’ sense of belonging to the group or collective. For the individual, the identity derived from the collective shapes a part of his or her personal identity.” (three) The master forces of collective identity are nationality, ethnicity, faith, gender, profession and decadent culture.
Cultural identity is the identity of a bunch, culture or of a person so far as one is influenced by one’s belonging to a bunch or culture. Then cultural identity is a collective identity.
The American cultural identity may be merely defined because the sets of values, norms and beliefs that make the American individuals because the Americans. Collective identity is just not in conflict with personal identity as each American has its own identity while the whole Individuals has a selected collective identity by which they are distinguished from the British people.
Talking in regards to the elements of the American cultural identity is difficult, because there are a lot of components that shape it. To depend a number of the most essential parts I’m going for the next ones.
• Language
English language is among the elements that in my view 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 foremostity of the Americans speak has had an excellent influence on shaping their collective identity.
• Egalitarianism
The thought of egalitarianism or having equal opportunities makes the second factor of the American cultural identity. This sense that we all live in a land of opportunities, while others don’t and we all are equal to have opportunities to live has integrated Americans as a whole.
• Exceptionalism and Nationalism
The thought of exceptionalism has instilled in Americans mind by the history and as a result it has made them think that they’re distinctive and special people dwelling in a land of opportunities. They consider in American Dream and so they think that they have had this chance to live on this land not any other people. Individuals imagine that they and only they’re exceptional and this thought gives them a sense 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 example, US flag is considered a national image and a logo that integrates all Individuals to a whole.
• Liberalism
Liberalism is undoubtedly probably the most influential component 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 people are free to work, worship, live, journey and so forth so forth so long as they respect every others’ rights. Liberalism limits the influence the federal government has on the personal lives of the citizens as well. When people see that they’re free to choose no matter they need under the liberalism umbrella, then they really feel they’re People and they recognize themselves as Americans.
• Individualism
Individualism has had a terrific impact on being an American. It has a Puritan background. Individualism has helped the creation of property ownership and what is called privacy. Ownership in America is of great significance and it provides the owner a sense by which he/she feels American because they consider it a result of residing in America and believing in American beliefs. Individualism is just not only about financial terms like property ownership. By way of tradition, cultural individualism is the concept that the whole Individuals see themselves as an individual from which the idea of Americanism comes from.
• Pragmatism
Pragmatism, like individualism, has a Puritan origin. Individuals work very hard to achieve their goals. The question “What do you do?” is a very common query in American culture. It signifies that hard-working is a very important factor amongst Americans. Individuals work very hard and so they always think about the results undermining the instruments by which they will achieve the ends. In accordance with the American multicultural context, pragmatist concepts which refuses any absolutes grew to become very common because “reasonably than believing in absolutes it is believed that these ideas are changeable and depend on the context in which they’re being discussed.” (four)
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