The show presented itself as a crusade to protect children. But its appeal may have had as much to do with the pleasures of being able to play judge, jury and executioner from your living room couch.
Articles on American culture
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Mamet’s classic play is famous for its macho swagger. A recent production suggests the real subject was always work and power.
‘The Folk Box’ sought to trace the roots and branches of American music, and document the forging – and constant reinvention – of the national identity.
When Lynch’s films were first released, they seemed to be funhouse-mirror reflections of society. Not so anymore.
Vance’s hometown has been analyzed as a sweeping symbol – sometimes overlooking the area’s distinct history and experiences.
The rush and community found in biking communities is powerfully depicted in The Bikeriders
The secular carol doesn’t mention Jesus, angels or wise men, while reminding listeners of what makes them not just American, but human.
In the competitive media landscape of the early 1990s, seizing audience attention was a priority. What better way to do it than with a cheaply produced show that appealed to viewers’ basest instincts?
The ideal of perfect turf – a weed-free, supergreen monoculture – is a relatively recent phenomenon.
Doc Watson’s popularity and influence came from his virtuosic guitar playing, powerful voice, broad musical taste, folksy storytelling and lack of pretense.
Support for strong gun ownership rights is often associated with conservative Christian views, but religion and self-defense have a much longer history in the United States.
At a time when politicians across the country are debating how slavery in the US is taught, high school students are participating in mock slave auctions that are having severe consequences
Americans of all stripes have long embraced the culture of the ancient Mediterranean, using ancient ideals to navigate a new world.
GOP political ads are becoming more extreme in their use of weapons to demonstrate armed resistance against those opposed to their militant views – including other Republicans.
The ways Americans talk about firearms is full of contradictions, two communication scholars explain – and that powerfully shapes the country’s approach to gun policy.
The hyper-competitiveness of Michael Jordan may work on the basketball court, but the win-at-all-cost American culture that Jordan represents is not what’s needed to end the coronavirus pandemic.
The famous director is receiving an honorary Oscar, and the timing couldn’t be more appropriate.
In Asian countries, many people wield umbrellas to protect them from the sun. American women used to as well – but then stopped.
In her creative and critical work, Toni Morrison sought to remap the contours of American literature and culture.
The public was shocked by the blackface image on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s yearbook page. But if blackface is now taboo, there was a time when it played a big role in American culture.
Top contributors
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Director of the Animation Academy, Loughborough University
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Professor of English and Literary Arts, University of Denver
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Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University
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Professor of English, University at Buffalo
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Senior Lecturer in American Literature, Queen's University Belfast
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Professor of Communication Studies, San José State University
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Senior Lecturer in American Studies, University of Sydney
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Professor of Twentieth-Century and American Literature, University of Exeter
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Professor of Management, University of Essex
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Senior Lecturer in English and Writing (children's literature), University of New England
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Professor of Sociology, Marquette University
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Kristen Barber is a Friend of The Conversation.
Associate Professor of Race, Ethnic and Gender Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Associate Professor of American Studies, University of Maine at Augusta
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Associate Professor of Kinesiology, Penn State
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Professor and Head of Department of Political and Conflict Studies, Nelson Mandela University