1、The culture of the United States LiteratureMark Twain is regarded as among the greatest writers in American history.Main article: Literature of the United StatesThe right to freedom of expression in the American constitution can be traced to German immigrant John Peter Zenger and his legal fight to
2、make truthful publications in the Colonies a protected legal right, ultimately paving the way for the protected rights of American authors.2324In the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, American art and literature took most of its cues from Europe. During its early history, America was a seri
3、es of British colonies on the eastern coast of the present-day United States. Therefore, its literary tradition begins as linked to the broader tradition of English literature. However, unique American characteristics and the breadth of its production usually now cause it to be considered a separate
4、 path and tradition.citation neededWriters such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry David Thoreau established a distinctive American literary voice by the middle of the nineteenth century. Mark Twain and poet Walt Whitman were major figures in the centurys second half; Emily Dickinson
5、, virtually unknown during her lifetime, would be recognized as Americas other essential poet. Eleven U.S. citizens have won the Nobel Prize in Literature, most recently Toni Morrison in 1993. Ernest Hemingway, the 1954 Nobel laureate, is often named as one of the most influential writers of the twe
6、ntieth century.25A work seen as capturing fundamental aspects of the national experience and charactersuch as Herman Melvilles Moby-Dick (1851), Twains The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885), and F. Scott Fitzgeralds The Great Gatsby (1925)may be dubbed the “Great American Novel“. Popular literar
7、y genres such as the Western and hardboiled crime fiction were developed in the United States.National HolidaysFireworks light up the sky over the Washington Monument. Americans traditionally shoot fireworks throughout the night on the Fourth of July.Martin Luther King Day memorializes the legacy of
8、 Dr. King, who is often regarded as the patriarch of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King is pictured above delivering his “I Have a Dream“ speech.Inauguration Day is the only Federal holiday that is not annual but rather occurs only once every four years. The day begins with the inauguration ceremon
9、y and ends with a military parade.Halloween is often observed in the United States. It typically involves dressing up in costumes and an emphasis on the bizarre and frightening.The United States observes holidays derived from events in American history, religious traditions, and national patriarchs.
10、Thanksgiving has become a traditional American holiday which evolved from the custom of English pilgrims to “give thanks” for their welfare. Today, Thanksgiving is generally celebrated as a family reunion with a large afternoon feast. European colonization has led to many traditional Christian holid
11、ays such as Easter, Lent, St. Patricks Day, and Christmas to be observed albeit celebrated in a secular manner by many Americans today.Independence Day (colloquially known as the Fourth of July) celebrates the anniversary of the countrys Declaration of Independence from Great Britain. It is generall
12、y observed by parades throughout the day and the shooting of fireworks at night.Halloween is thought to have evolved from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which was introduced in the American colonies by Irish settlers. It has become a holiday that is celebrated by children and teens who tradi
13、tionally dress up in costumes and go door to door trick-or-treating for candy. It also brings about an emphasis on eerie and frightening urban legends and movies. The celebration of Halloween has become continuously popular among university students in the U.S. Both University of Wisconsin-Madison a
14、nd Ohio University in Athens, Ohio are known across the country for their Halloween street fairs.citation neededAdditionally, Mardi Gras, which evolved from the Catholic tradition of Carnival, is observed notably in New Orleans, St. Louis, and Mobile, Alabama as well as numerous other towns.Federall
15、y recognized holidays are as follows:Date Official Name RemarksJanuary 1 New Years DayCelebrates beginning of the Gregorian calendar year. Festivities include counting down to midnight (12:00 am) on the preceding night, New Years Eve. Traditional end of holiday season.Third Monday in JanuaryBirthday
16、 of Martin Luther King, Jr., or Martin Luther King, Jr. DayHonors Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights leader, who was actually born on January 15, 1929; combined with other holidays in several states.First January 20 following a Presidential electionInauguration DayObserved only by federal governm
17、ent employees in Washington D.C., and the border counties of Maryland and Virginia, in order to relieve the traffic congestion that occurs with this major event. Swearing-in of President of the United States and Vice President of the United States. Celebrated every fourth year. Note: Takes place on
18、January 21 if the 20th is a Sunday (although the President is still privately inaugurated on the 20th). If Inauguration Day falls on a Saturday or a Sunday, the preceding Friday or following Monday is not a Federal HolidayThird Monday in FebruaryWashingtons BirthdayWashingtons Birthday was first dec
19、lared a federal holiday by an 1879 act of Congress. The Uniform Holidays Act, 1968, shifted the date of the commemoration of Washingtons Birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Many people now refer to this holiday as “Presidents Day“ and consider it a day honoring all American pr
20、esidents. However, neither the Uniform Holidays Act nor any subsequent law changed the name of the holiday from Washingtons Birthday to Presidents Day.26Last Monday in May Memorial DayHonors the nations war dead from the Civil War onwards; marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. (tradit
21、ionally May 30, shifted by the Uniform Holidays Act 1968)July 4 Independence DayCelebrates Declaration of Independence, also called the Fourth of July.First Monday in September Labor DayCelebrates the achievements of workers and the labor movement; marks the unofficial end of the summer season.Secon
22、d Monday in October Columbus DayHonors Christopher Columbus, traditional discoverer of the Americas. In some areas it is also a celebration of Italian culture and heritage. (traditionally October 12); celebrated as American Indian Heritage Day and Fraternal Day in Alabama;27 celebrated as Native Ame
23、rican Day in South Dakota.28 In Hawaii, it is celebrated as Discoverers Day, though is not an official state holiday.29November 11 Veterans DayHonors all veterans of the United States armed forces. A traditional observation is a moment of silence at 11:00 am remembering those killed in war. (Commemo
24、rates the 1918 armistice, which began at “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.“)Fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving DayTraditionally celebrates the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest. Traditionally includes the consumption of a turkey dinner. Traditional start of th
25、e holiday season.December 25 ChristmasCelebrates the Nativity of Jesus. Some people consider aspects of this religious holiday, such as giving gifts and decorating a Christmas tree, to be secular rather than explicitly Christian. Federal Holidays Calendars30 from the U.S. Office of Personnel Managem
26、ent.CuisineMain article: Cuisine of the United StatesThe cuisine of the United States is extremely diverse, owing to the vastness of the continent, the relatively large population (1/3 of a billion people) and the number of native and immigrant influences. Mainstream American culinary arts are simil
27、ar to those in other Western countries. Wheat is the primary cereal grain. Traditional American cuisine uses ingredients such as turkey, white-tailed deer venison, potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, squash, and maple syrup, indigenous foods employed by American Indians and early European settlers. Slow
28、-cooked pork and beef barbecue, crab cakes, potato chips, cotton candy and chocolate chip cookies are distinctively American styles.citation neededThe types of food served at home vary greatly and depend upon the region of the country and the familys own cultural heritage. Recent immigrants tend to
29、eat food similar to that of their country of origin, and Americanized versions of these cultural foods, such as American Chinese cuisine or Italian-American cuisine often eventually appear; an example is Vietnamese cuisine, Korean cuisine and Thai cuisine. German cuisine has a profound impact on Ame
30、rican cuisine, especially mid-western cuisine, with potatoes, noodles, roasts, stews and cakes/pastries being the most iconic ingredients in both cuisines.5 Dishes such as the hamburger, pot roast, baked ham and hot dogs are examples of American dishes derived from German cuisine.3132 Different regi
31、ons of the United States have their own cuisine and styles of cooking. The state of Louisiana, for example, is known for its Cajun and Creole cooking. Cajun and Creole cooking are influenced by French, Acadian, and Haitian cooking, although the dishes themselves are original and unique. Examples inc
32、lude Crawfish Etouffee, Red Beans and Rice, Seafood or Chicken Gumbo, Jambalaya, and Boudin. Italian, German, Hungarian and Chinese influences, traditional Native American, Caribbean, Mexican and Greek dishes have also diffused into the general American repertoire. It is not uncommon for a “middle c
33、lass“ family from “middle America“ to eat, for example, restaurant pizza, home-made pizza, enchiladas con carne, chicken paprikas, beef stroganof and bratwurst with sauerkraut for dinner throughout a single week.Soul food, developed by African slaves, is popular around the South and among many Afric
34、an Americans elsewhere. Syncretic cuisines such as Louisiana creole, Cajun, Pennsylvania Dutch, and Tex-Mex are regionally important. Iconic American dishes such as apple pie, fried chicken, pizza, hamburgers, and hot dogs derive from the recipes of various immigrants and domestic innovations. So-ca
35、lled French fries, Mexican dishes such as burritos and tacos, and pasta dishes freely adapted from Italian sources are consumed.33Americans generally prefer coffee to tea, with more than half the adult population drinking at least one cup a day.34 Marketing by U.S. industries is largely responsible
36、for making orange juice and milk (now often fat-reduced) ubiquitous breakfast beverages.35 During the 1980s and 1990s, Americans caloric intake rose 24%;33 frequent dining at fast food outlets is associated with what health officials call the American “obesity epidemic.“ Highly sweetened soft drinks
37、 are popular; sugared beverages account for 9% of the average Americans daily caloric intake.36Representative American FoodsTraditional Thanksgiving dinner with Turkey, dressing, sweet potatoes, and cranberry sauce.A cream-based New England chowder, traditionally made with potatoes and clams.A Caesa
38、r salad containing croutons, parmesan cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, Worcestershire, and pepper.A Hamburger, fries, and a coke from a fast-food restaurant.Creole Jambalaya with shrimp, ham, tomato, and Andouille sausage.Chicken Fried Steak (alternatively known as Country Fried Steak.)California clu
39、b pizza with avocados and tomatoes.A Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.A submarine sandwich which includes a variety of Italian luncheon meats.American style breakfast with pancakes, maple syrup, sausage links, bacon strips, and fried eggs.A hot dog sausage topped with beef chili, white onions and musta
40、rd.A Barbecue pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw side dish.A meatloaf with a tomato sauce topping.An apple cobbler dessert.Social class and workMain article: Social class in the United StatesThough most Americans today identify themselves as middle class, American society and its culture are conside
41、rably fragmented.13738 Social class, generally described as a combination of educational attainment, income and occupational prestige, is one of the greatest cultural influences in America.1 Nearly all cultural aspects of mundane interactions and consumer behavior in the U.S. are guided by a persons
42、 location within the countrys social structure.Distinct lifestyles, consumption patterns and values are associated with different classes. Early sociologist-economist Thorstein Veblen, for example, noted that those at the very top of the social ladder engage in conspicuous leisure as well as conspic
43、uous consumption. Upper middle class persons commonly identify education and being cultured as prime values. Persons in this particular social class tend to speak in a more direct manner that projects authority, knowledge and thus credibility. They often tend to engage in the consumption of so-calle
44、d mass luxuries, such as designer label clothing. A strong preference for natural materials and organic foods as well as a strong health consciousness tend to be prominent features of the upper middle class. Middle class individuals in general value expanding ones horizon, partially because they are
45、 more educated and can afford greater leisure and travels. Working class individuals take great pride in doing what they consider to be “real work,“ and keep very close-knit kin networks that serve as a safeguard against frequent economic instability.13839 Working class Americans as well as many of
46、those in the middle class may also face occupation alienation. In contrast to upper middle class professionals who are mostly hired to conceptualize, supervise and share their thoughts, many Americans have little autonomy or creative latitude in the workplace.40 As a result white collar professional
47、s tend to be significantly more satisfied with their work.140 More recently those in the center of the income strata, who may still identify as middle class, have faced increasing economic insecurity,41 supporting the idea of a working class majority.39Political behavior is affected by class; more a
48、ffluent individuals are more likely to vote, and education and income affect whether individuals tend to vote for the Democratic or Republican party. Income also had a significant impact on health as those with higher incomes had better access to health care facilities, higher life expectancy, lower
49、 infant mortality rate and increased health consciousness.citation needed This is particularly noticeable with black voters who are often socially conservative, yet overwhelmingly vote Democratic.424344Hours worked in different countries according to UN data in a CNN report.45In the United States occupation is one of the prime factors of social class and is closely linked to an individuals identity. The average work week in the U.S. for those employed full-time was 42.9 hours long w
