Americana

There are surely many things associated with your country that reflect its culture. They can include certain foods, art, architecture, cultural icons, etc. Since I live in the USA the things that are closely identified with the culture and history of America, specifically the United States, are referred to as Americana.

In the 1970s there was a popular commercial for the Chevrolet automobile with the slogan “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet.” This advertising campaign turned the Chevrolet into an iconic all-American brand by associating it with other established symbols of Americana: baseball, hot dogs, and apple pie.

Many things are considered to be typical of the American culture, like hamburgers or the art of Norman Rockwell, but some Americana elements evolved from the cultures of immigrants. Rock and Roll is a perfect example because it derived from various influences and numerous cultures: a merging of the African musical tradition with European instrumentation plus Western swing and country music. Despite all of those influences, rock and roll’s origin is a music genre that evolved in the USA.

What is associated with your country, culture, and history?


*Post image is Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway" (1958).