The most remarkable cultural achievements of the 20th century and their influence on our society essay sample

Initially a mix of Western European cultures, American culture has become clearly distinct from that of Europe in the 20th century. Music, literature, fine art, cinema, fashion, sports, and cuisine made America quite outstanding. Even the wartime propaganda entered American culture as it changed social values and deeply ingrained in the minds of people. One of the most remarkable sides of American culture certainly was jazz music. The contribution of African American artists such as Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis gave rise to an iconic American genre later followed by the big-band tradition of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Tony Benett.

 

Cinema is another cultural treasure of the American society. Hollywood icons such as James Dean, Marlon Brando, Grace Kelly, or Audrey Hepburn created an image of endless glamor on the screen. Fashion designers created fabulous dresses for Hollywood actors, which shifted the focus from Paris. A century before, blue jeans became American signature trend. American literature came forward with the names such as Washington Irving, James Cooper, Edgar Alan Poe, Ernest Hemingway and Francis Scott Fitzgerald.