Americana (culture)

Apple pie, baseball, and the United States flag, three well-known icons associated with Americana
Liberty Enlightening the World, a print version of the portrait of the Statue of Liberty by Currier and Ives

Americana artifacts are related to the history, geography, folklore, and cultural heritage of the United States of America. Americana is any collection of materials and things concerning or characteristic of the United States or of the American people, and is representative or even stereotypical of American culture as a whole.[1][2]

What is and is not considered Americana is heavily influenced by national identity, historical context, patriotism and nostalgia. The ethos or guiding beliefs or ideals which have come to characterize America, such as the American Dream, are central to the idea. Americana encompasses not only material objects but also people, places, concepts and historical eras which are popularly identified with American culture.

The name Americana also refers to Americana music, a genre of contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American music styles, including country, roots rock, folk, bluegrass, and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound.[3][4]

  1. ^ "Americana". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.
  2. ^ "Americana". Dictionary.com Unabridged (Online). n.d.
  3. ^ Shriver, Jerry (August 31, 2009). "Grammys will be putting Americana on the map". USA Today.
  4. ^ "2011 Grammy Category Descriptions" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2015. Retrieved December 18, 2012.