Posted by susan C on January 1, 2002, at 18:26:25
In reply to Re: Elvis Presley And American Culture, posted by PaulB on January 1, 2002, at 17:39:06
If anyone reads this message what do you think defines American culture and sets it apart from other cultures in the Western world and beyond and the remark the person at the book club I went to meant.
dear paulb,
a message from an amerikin mouse hereI just got a gift from my 83 year old mother, of family silver. Grapefruit spoons, fruit knives, olive fork, gravey ladle and a serving spoon. I have spent the morning with a magnifying glass and my son (his eyes are better than mine) trying to figure out the hallmarks. The oldest piece is the serving spoon and may date back to the American late 1700's to mid 1800's. So, your post struck a cord.
What makes an american an american, what makes me, psychologically, me, how much of me is my identity with my family history? For me, a lot. I see, specifically, the history of mental illness in my family. I see in general the difference between the people who left europe and struck out for the unknown. I subscribe wholeheartedly to the 'independent minded american' (as in North American and what the heck, Australian) point of view. It isn't that there aren't independent minded people elsewhere. I think more of them came and survived here. Elvis included
When I grew up in the midwest, then moved to the west coast, I noticed the architecture of the english tutor style house i grew up in changed as i traveled west, and became more stylized. Also that the further west, the least likely you were to see 'old' houses. Years later, I traveled to England and of course saw the originals and realized, my childhood home was stylized...I also traveled to the east coast...it was like the game of 'telephone' with that style...each 1000 miles or so, west, the design element changed.
I remember a comment from the visit to england long ago. The person commented to me that in England, no one was proud of their house, like it was a personal possesion, something that showed their individuality, because most people inherited everything. They inherited the house, and the furniture. Everything there was someone elses and very old. You didn't buy things for your house and show them off. Now, here in the States, that would be very unusual. Most of us have started from scratch and, perhaps, some of us have built a house, and purchased the new furniture, or have moved. (20% of the population moves every year) and our house, our abode, is a statement of who we are.So there you have it, from 150 year old silver, to mental health, to immigrants to Elvis, to tudor houses and decorating.
from Mouse who watches Christopher Lowell just so she can learn what NOT to do.
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poster:susan C
thread:11539
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011216/msgs/16115.html