Can you imagine Italian food without tomatoes? The Loss of culture Leah Hoskins

Problem Loss of folk culture. Folk culture refers to the localized lifestyle of a subsistence or inward looking culture. It is usually handed down through oral tradition and with a strong sense of community.

Where is this happening? This problem is happening all over the world. But I will be focusing on the loss of culture in America

Who it hurts? Everyone!

History The loss or changing of American culture has been happening for as long as America has been around. All culture is effected when immigrants are added to the population however the loss of culture occurs when a culture decides to not meld. Through melding no culture is lost, yes it doesn’t appear how it used to but it grows and is dynamic. Through melding a culture changes and takes on elements both good and bad. America grew into what it is today through the free exchange of ideas and culture. Everyone pitched in, by adding new cultures the collective knowledge and cultural landscape grew. That is no longer the case. In history we have seen the Native American culture be overrun by European culture and because of fear of that injustice reoccurring the population has become self-segregating. American culture is the mixing of cultures into one collective culture that has threads of all cultures represented. In not wanting to repeat the past America has become a land of groups instead of a collective whole. American culture has stagnated and is slowly being eroded by the lack of melding.

How it affects people? Loss off culture affects everyone in different ways. But most effects are similar. Because of history immigrants fear that their culture will be discarded so they cling to the traditions of their past and only interact with like-minded people creating clumps. By self- segregating tensions rise between different groups. Both of these effects are aided by a sensationalist media that exploits these fears and tensions while feeding the public slanted unflattering information and portrayals which ultimately fan tensions into head on conflicts.

How to fix this problem In order to potently fix this problem a couple things have to change. One being the media needs to stop perpetuating injurious stereotypes that paint cultures in a bad light and instead offer cultural enlightenment. With stories that highlight the positives aspects of a culture rather than demining what is different about that culture. Another thing that needs to change is that cultures as they come to America need to understand that yes the way they do things are valued but ultimately as they assimilate their culture will grow and change. Americans and immigrants need to stop punishing themselves for the past and welcome change and diversity.

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