Introduction
Computers and other new information technology are changing culture of America.
Since the introduction of information technology, the world has experienced a whole new revolution in terms of speed in which tasks are accomplished in the field of information and technology. Computers particularly have played a major role in easing various tasks including collection, analysis, and storage of data. Benefits of technology are numerous in people’s daily applications. Technology has also influenced people’s cultural beliefs, negatively and positively.
Religion
Culturally, Americans are known to have strong religious believes, the dominating religion being Christianity. Technology has made a great impact on religious beliefs among people. Americans are not an exception. People of various religions have taken the availability of internet as the opportunity to make their beliefs known by people across the world, great numbers of people have had their faiths changed from being persuaded (Macionis, 185). This is a factor that has contributed to technological influence on religious beliefs of the people. However, this has only affected different inter-Christian denominations and shift to other religions like Muslim and Hinduism are not common. However, paganism has increased owing to the fact that some people would prefer neutrality rather than being stuck up in the dilemma that results from the numerous religious cultures.
Visual art
The emergence of digital technology has seen the emergence of high performance machines that can create life-like images by creating high resolution photographs and videos. Such machines are digital cameras and video cams. These are useful in capturing memorable moments in form of photographs and storing videos for future reference. This is a great invention as it has been of great help to people all over the world. Americans have not been left out on this. However, this has had a great negative impact on one of the greatest culturally significant feature in America, visual art. America had a rich artistic culture in the eighteenth and early twentieth centuries (Kean 309). This was later to change, following the emergence of digital technology. Considering the fact that a person can be able to obtain a picture of any kind with convenience, artistic work from realist painters like the famous Rebecca Darlington are neglected as no one is there to appreciate the beauty of art any longer. Technology has therefore been a major contributor to the end of the culture of art. Several efforts to encourage people to appreciate fine art have failed to fully bring back visual art as a distinct existent culture (Macionis, 557).
Fashion
Fashion in America has taken a great turn since the introduction of technology. Artistic imagination is translated onto designs which are then made and forwarded to fashion designers. Fashions that could have been unimaginable in the past years are now easily made, all courtesy of technological evolution. This has maintained the great characteristic nature of Americans, highly imaginative. Coupling up the fashion is emergence of film-technology. Makers of movies have to come up with attire to suit the purpose for which a particular movie is created. For this reason, fashion has been influenced by technology. To add onto this, digital technology has also aided in making it possible for people to come up with new designs of ornaments for the purpose of beautification.
Architecture
Architecture is another cultural tool that has made America’s culture distinct. America’s architecture has had great influence from the Spanish and British cultures. Coupling ideas from these cultures made a new distinctive mode of architecture making America’s style unique. Digital technology has served to improve architectural work. The use of digitalized arithmetic has contributed to the betterment of the field. This is due to the fact that use of computers is far more efficient than manual work. It is from this that new models of skyscrapers are continually created. Traditional architectural designs that were time consuming and difficult to make are slowly being abandoned and America is able to experience better and more efficient facilities (Paolo 127). Technology has therefore influenced the American architectural culture positively.
Entertainment
Music is one field that has been greatly influenced by technology. America is known to have been the originator of various genres of music, mainly the currently globally recognized hip hop, rock and roll, blues among others. These styles were formed following invention of technology. The hip hop genre has undergone several transformations since it hit in the 1970s. This is can be attributed to the revolution that technology has gone through. The change of beats and emergence of new ones that occurs with each turn of events cannot be done without the modern technology. In the recent times, people are free to make a song over concerning any theme, due to the use of technologically constructed beats and rhythmical tunes.
America has the world’s richest culture in entertainment. The greatest global film production zone, Hollywood is situated within the country. America is always a global role-model in movie production and acting talent. This is a rich culture possessed by the country that is made efficient by digital technology. Basically, film production is wholly dependent on digital technology (Macionis 590). It is the former that leads to developments that are made every while, to improve production, in terms of clarity and audience friendliness. The strong relationship that exists between film and digital technology is therefore a major factor that has contributed to strengthening of the acting culture of America.
Politics
The political culture of the USA is among the most famous in the world. It is significant in determining the manner through which various races relate with each other. From the past, politicians have been known to bring positive or negative changes in dealing with the issue of racism (Macionis 406). However, with the emergence of technology, there has been great positive change as the issue of racism has been successfully curbed, without very politicians having to be very much involved. Journalism has made a great impact on politics, by serving to inform people on the things that happen in the political world; hence politicians cannot easily manipulate people into making the wrong decisions. Journalism has been greatly improved by technology as it is through technology that it is able to efficiently reach to the people. Racism has therefore been eliminated by use of the modern technology.
Army
America has the greatest and strongest army in the entire world. Military success is part of the American culture. The strength and effectiveness of the military has been enhanced by technological improvement. This can be attributed to the fact that modern weapons are technologically developed. Testing and verification of their efficiency is determined using digital technology unlike in the past when this had to be done manually. This means that environmental conservation is enhanced by use of digital technology, as well as maintaining a strong culture (Paolo 179). However, it is the same technology that has made the country to have dispute with other nations over strong military equipment. This is especially with the Middle East countries which are sometimes not willing to corporate on rules set concerning disposition of nuclear wastes. This tends to erase the good culture of the people, of keeping peace with other people across the world.
Sport
America has a rich culture in sport, especially in baseball, football and basketball. With the emergence of digital technology, these sports have been strengthened as equipments are technologically modified as digital technology is improved. This makes these sports to be more enjoyable to the practitioners and retention of culture is a guarantee. In strengthening these sports, digital technology has played a major role in marketing this game all over the world. It is from this marketing that the games have become internationally recognized and various nations are able to compete during major sporting events like Olympics. This strengthens the bond that countries have, promoting peace and harmony.
Politics
The political culture of the USA is among the most famous in the world. It is significant in determining the manner through which various races relate with each other. From the past, politicians have been known to bring positive or negative changes in dealing with the issue of racism (Macionis 244). However, with the emergence of technology, there has been great positive change as the issue of racism has been successfully curbed, without very politicians having to be very much involved. Journalism has made a great impact on politics, by serving to inform people on the things that happen in the political world; hence politicians cannot easily manipulate people into making the wrong decisions. Journalism has been greatly improved by technology as it is through technology that it is able to efficiently reach to the people. Racism has therefore been eliminated by use of the modern technology.
Conclusion
As seen, digital technology, involving computers and other similar technological devices has majorly contributed to the maintenance of the culture of America. To a little extent, it has also led to the loss of some strong cultural practices. From these findings, it is evident that maintenance of culture weighs out the depression of culture. Technology is therefore relevant in maintenance of the American culture.
Citations
Macionis J. John. Sociology, 11th edition. New York. Pearson, 2007
Campbell Neil & Kean Alasdair. American cultural studies: an introduction to American culture. New York: Routledge 1997
Rocchi Paolo. Technology + culture. New Jersey: IOS Press, 2000
