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Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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My 'regions' I'm talking about either the main regions, South, Midwest, West, East/NE, as well as sub-regions, like Upland South, Appalachian, Great Lakes, Deep South, Piedmont, New England, California etc.
Politically, for instance, I think we're seeing more of a urban-rural divide. Southern cities seem to be more liberal and, sadly, in some ways more connected to northern cities than southern towns.
Yet while 'Southern pride' seems to be holding on, I also see a 'smoothing out' of the big regions. There's one generic 'country music accent' among the young people from Richmond to Abilene, rather than the distinct Tidewater, Central Texas, or N'awlins accents. That is, if they retain a Southern accent at all.
I'm not sure if the South will exist in any meaningful sense in 50 years time. Without the Southern accent and different cuisines, traditions, mannerisms, what will make it different from Yankeedom?
I think the accent is the biggest evidence that regionalism is indeed sort of dying off, although some accents are keeping strong, such as the Great Lakes variation. California also isn't as dominant as it once was, as places like Texas and the cities of the New South rise. Thing is, they might broadcast CNN out of Atlanta but it's pretty generic vanilla culture.
Honestly, I'd be glad if political regionalism died (or at least became more anemic). And cities will always be different from the rural areas. They always have been.
My 'regions' I'm talking about either the main regions, South, Midwest, West, East/NE, as well as sub-regions, like Upland South, Appalachian, Great Lakes, Deep South, Piedmont, New England, California etc.
Politically, for instance, I think we're seeing more of a urban-rural divide. Southern cities seem to be more liberal and, sadly, in some ways more connected to northern cities than southern towns.
Yet while 'Southern pride' seems to be holding on, I also see a 'smoothing out' of the big regions. There's one generic 'country music accent' among the young people from Richmond to Abilene, rather than the distinct Tidewater, Central Texas, or N'awlins accents. That is, if they retain a Southern accent at all.
I'm not sure if the South will exist in any meaningful sense in 50 years time. Without the Southern accent and different cuisines, traditions, mannerisms, what will make it different from Yankeedom?
I think the accent is the biggest evidence that regionalism is indeed sort of dying off, although some accents are keeping strong, such as the Great Lakes variation. California also isn't as dominant as it once was, as places like Texas and the cities of the New South rise. Thing is, they might broadcast CNN out of Atlanta but it's pretty generic vanilla culture.
You're overstating the decline of the southern accent and southern culture. Once upon a time things were very regional, and now they are less so, but the boundaries haven't disappeared completely.
Changing is a good word for it. I don't think they're growing or dying.
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