In the first picture, the short clip of both former President Barack Obama and Jay Z really emphasized American culture in that with their freedom of speech, they have become prominent figures in our countries’ culture because they are two people who continue to praise their cultural identity and also fight for equality among all races. These two people are both huge advocates for the Black Lives Matter movement and I believe can be seem as role-models for other minorities from helping get rid of those negative stereotypes and being successful for your work ethic and merits. I think this really depicts American culture because they have both gained great fame for embracing their past, who they are, and not letting anyone stop them from success, which is what I believe America is all about.

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This picture is from an American rapper who recently came out with a song called  “This is America”. In this song he discusses the many violent issues our citizens are going through right now and how it is up to us to fight in order to make a change. To me this depicts the American culture in that people are able to speak their minds and create art that reaches mass audiences discussing issues in our country and world that we need to change. Recently many other media figures as well have been creating songs, movies, campaigns, etc., using this 1^st Amendment right and their platform to inform and educate our society about the need for change in America right now. 

The picture of the cooking class with a bunch of kids depicts the American culture in that our country is made up of people from so many different places and cultures, which really diversifies America. Walking down the street in pretty much any state, you will see a diverse group of people with different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, and traditions. Living in a country where there are so many culturally diverse people is so fun and interesting because we are exposed to more cultures, traditions, foods, etc., from the people who bring their traditions over to the US, and therefore makes our nation even more globalized. America is seen as the “melting pot” of countries, which is why I believe this picture really depicted the US culture. 

This last picture is a collage of some of the different beautiful sceneries we have her in America. I believe this depicts US culture in that there are so many different climates, landscapes, and attractions throughout the entire country, so there is always a different site to see when you visit. Whether it is the Statue of Liberty in New York, The Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Hollywood Sign in California, or Mt. Hood here in Oregon, there are so many different landscapes and monuments to see in one country and shows how much there is to see here in America.  

 

 

I chose a picture of an old, beautiful car to represent American culture.  This represents American culture in many ways.  For starters, automobile manufacturing is a glorified aspect of the “good old days” that politicians and those in power often refer to.  It seems to represent this elusive wholesomeness, safety, and self-sufficiency. Coming from a different angle, I would say that American culture is also represented by the car because cars are inherently individualistic compared to other forms of transit, such as trains, planes, busses, or even walking where you are generally surrounded by many people.  Cars give people privacy and isolation while traveling the same roads as others, which is very parallel to many American ideals.

 

 

 Fast food is an inherent aspect of American culture.  While there are many food cultures that exist in the United States and are extremely popular, fast food, such as McDonalds and diners, are a staple.  On the surface, people often think of flavors of their childhood, such as hamburgers and milkshakes.  Beneath the surface, I think of the busy-ness of American culture that supports, encourages, and glorifies an eating culture centered upon convenience and everyday luxury, in which people can pay others to make their food on demand, at a price that is more than comfortable for them.

 

 

 

Much of popular American culture to me feels like it’s about choosing a side and staying there.  Curiosity and questioning are absolutely values that many in the United States hold dear, however, I do not think popular media outlets at all represent this.  Most of the time different sides are brought in on a news program to argue against each other, and not to have a constructive dialogue upon which common ground is established and active listening is practiced.  In school growing up I took part in many debates where the goal was to win, however, my classes never included conflict resolution techniques and practices.

 

 

 

The military is an overarching aspect of American culture.  While it was not a big part of the American culture I grew up in, or am part of now, it is certainly a fundamental aspect of American culture as a whole.  This aspect of American culture includes the glorification of war and weapons.  In this sense, war is not viewed as a travesty and last case resort in American culture, rather it is often viewed as an adventure and as “American as apple pie”.  This holds sharp contrast for me compared to the culture of war in other countries that I am familiar with, where war is deeply feared because it happens on their soil.

Here, we have what looks to be a free speech rally. It came about from racial tension that exists within our land. Some people believe free speech includes the ability to use racially charged language, while others do not believe that. It’s a hard line to walk, because our constitutional rights are what have created the foundation of our country. And yet, allowing discrimination to occur on the basis of a right to speak is almost unconscionable. It’s a great photo for this aspect of culture, because it captures the raw emotional atmosphere of the situation. It’s not positive, but it illuminates how Americans react to conflict. 

The next image was taken during  hurricane Harvey, a devastating hurricane in Texas. It ravaged the whole area, leaving destruction and death wherever it went. However, even in the face of terror, people managed to find community. These relief workers may or may not have been paid, many who helped in Harvey’s aftermath were not. The immediate reaction to give whatever can be given is incredibly American. We band together in times of severe distress to build ourselves up and survive tragic situations. It reminds us how similar we are, even when things are at their worst and it would be easiest just to point fingers in anger. Knowing how to love thy neighbor is a huge piece of American culture.

Teachers and schools in America are notoriously underfunded, but when the teachers finally decide to march, they are joined by many. They simply desire proper educational environments where students are able to learn without worry. They couldn't do their job in the current state of education, so they demanded better. Much like the other events, people stood their ground, eventually ending in pay raises as well as increased funding for the school itself, all from publicly rallying and using a unified voice to bring about change. Americans pride themselves on independence, but there is also something to be said about our ability to come together.

This one is rather different, because it showcases America’s deep love for pop culture. Instead of one specific event, the photo is showing multiple advertisements for current artistic shows. America is in love with media, in all forms. Especially media that helps them escape from their day to day life. The people on the streets in this photo are desensitized to the amount of entertainment available to them, but crave it just the same. As a country, we produce oodles and oodles of media, more than we can ever hope to consume. It results in a wide array of rich cultural experiences in which one can partake whenever they want. It’s amazing to think about. 

Donuts and Coffee. Honestly how much more American can you getJ I recall a lot of my Romanian friends marveling at how Americans can eat such sweet things. Not only that but it just reflects the colorful, artificial themes in a lot of American types of foods. 

 

This next photo is reflective of American culture because it reminded me of that old American Dream of having a “white picket fence and white house.” The young girl with her tshirt holding her hands up to show off the beauty of her surroundings just screams “this is what’s beautiful” 

 

 

In honor of memorial day, the flags and the commemoration are reflective of our culture and our patriotism. It’s a beautiful image of how our culture is tied to holidays and value for our nation.

 

This image of a girl and the mountains is reflective of the American culture of our youth today: a popularity surrounding travel, nature, wanderlust, and youthful adventure. I think that’s a new facet to American culture that’s become more prevalent through social media over the years and a lot of these opportunities for travel and adventure are pure privileges.