The United States of America has developed a prominent culture derived from two strong influences: domestic culture and European ideals. The culture of the US encompasses ideals, beliefs, traditions, customs, values, innovations and arts. The range of these cultural concepts were developed domestically and imported through immigration and colonisation.
As America’s demographic composition changes, its culture likewise changes and develops; thus it is not static. The changes are brought by the flight of citizens of several Central American countries to the United States. This was caused by deteriorating economic and social conditions in their own countries.
Scientifically and technologically, US culture has achieved significant advancements and innovations. Several of these efforts are centred in the Silicon Valley, the state’s largest silicon manufacturer and innovator. The US also has focussed on areas such as military research, space (NASA), nuclear research, and biotech.
American literature and arts has taken much of its cues from European culture. In the mid-19th century, writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne established a popular American literary canon. Other important playwrights in the Americas emerged at the end of the 19th century.
The US has also evolved and adapted several elements of other cultures. In the area of food, these include hamburgers, hibachi, and pizza. Regarding entertainment, examples are T.V. shows like ‘Power Rangers’ and ‘American Idol’. The US is well-known as a great and successful entertainment exporter for movies, news, and shows. Due to this capability, its popular culture is cheaply and widely dispersed and consumed worldwide. Along with Japan and Europe, American entertainment is considered an ‘entertainment power’. Part of the reason why American entertainment is superb is because it owns many foreign properties and has a various military workforces serving overseas.