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This article very generally discusses the customs and
culture of the United States; for the "culture" of the United States,As
the United States is an immense country, with many residents and
citizens being descended from relatively recent immigrants, defining a
common set of customs, traditions, behavior and way of life is
difficult. Unlike many Old World nation-states, the United States does
not have a homogenous population or a traditional homeland.
However, American culture can be interpreted as being largely based on
Western culture and English culture, with influences from the native
peoples, Africans brought to the U.S. as slaves, and to a lesser extent
other more recent immigrants from Asia and elsewhere. Additionally, due
to its large size and the value placed on individualism, there are many
integrated but unique subcultures within the U.S.
The development of the arts and entertainment in the United
States—music, movies, dance, architecture, literature, poetry and the
visual arts—has been marked by a tension between two strong sources of
inspiration: European sophistication and domestic originality.
Frequently, the best American artists have managed to harness both
sources.
American culture has a large influence on the rest of the world,
especially the Western world. American music is heard all over the
world, and American movies and television shows can be seen almost
anywhere. This is in stark contrast to the early days of the American
republic, when the country was generally seen as an agricultural
backwater with little to offer the culturally advanced world centers of
Asia and Europe. Nearing the end of its third century, nearly every
major American city offers classical and popular music; historical,
scientific and art research centers and museums; dance performances,
musicals and plays; outdoor art projects and internationally significant
architecture. This development is a result of both contributions by
private philanthropists and government funding.
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