Which region of the country has defined our culture more?

[Prickly Pear]

WHO voted for the Southwest? Show yourself... the Southwest is arguably the least defining region out of all of them unless you grew up on old John Wayne movies. The Southwest is arguably the most unique region in the country demographically (lots of Natives and Latinos), linguistically (lots of Spanish), cuisine, climatically (our deserts are very unique compared to the majority of the country which is the exact opposite), and culturally. I love the Southwest for what it is believe me don't get me wrong but it's the most unique cultural area of the nation except Hawaii and I stand my ground on that. Sort of a culture clash with "traditional" areas like New England and the Mid-Atlantic.

I voted for California.

[kidphilly]

Today would say either CA or the NE but all areas have contributed

[ApartmentNomad]

Originally Posted by cBach

I don't believe literature, art, and music are just "flash and festivity". I believe they are a fundamental of any culture. Take the Renaissance Period in Europe. The art, literature, and architecture defines that era. The Enlightenment came later, so that shows you how important art/literature/architecture is.

I am not convinced of Southern dominance in literature or art. Has the South made major contributions in those areas? Definitely (especially in literature). But it hasn't defined American literature as much as the New England (especially early on), Mid Atlantic, and later, California/west coast regions have. As a source for popular music, I guess I'd have to admit the South wins, even if it tends to go on to be developed further outside the South.

I'd have to consult sources to make the case for non-Southern dominance w/r/t fiction, but I am very familiar with poetry, and I don't see many Southerners among the most important American poets (though not necessarily the best in all cases, in my opinion): Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams, H.D., Louis Zukofsky, Allen Ginsberg, Frank O'Hara (born in Maryland but didn't grow up there), Robert Creeley, Charles Olson, Denise Levertov, and perhaps all the "language poetry" bores (Ron Silliman, Charles Bernstein, etc.). The poets closely associated with New Criticism have mostly have not wielded much influence over time. John Crowe Ransom wrote a good blurb for Eliot's Four Quartets, but how much is he read, compared to Eliot?

I don't think fiction or drama would be as unbalanced though.

(Edit: Thinking of a bunch I left out, none of them Southern as far as I know. Frost and Ashbery belong on the list more than Zukofsky does, for instance.)

[floridanative10]

Originally Posted by ApartmentNomad

I am not convinced of Southern dominance in literature or art. Has the South made major contributions in those areas? Definitely (especially in literature). But it hasn't defined American literature as much as the New England (especially early on), Mid Atlantic, and later, California/west coast regions have. As a source for popular music, I guess I'd have to admit the South wins, even if it tends to go on to be developed further outside the South.

I'd have to consult sources to make the case for non-Southern dominance w/r/t fiction, but I am very familiar with poetry, and I don't see many Southerners among the most important American poets (though not necessarily the best in all cases, in my opinion): Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, T.S. Eliot, Ezra Pound, Wallace Stevens, William Carlos Williams, H.D., Louis Zukofsky, Allen Ginsberg, Frank O'Hara (born in Maryland but didn't grow up there), Robert Creeley, Charles Olson, Denise Levertov, and perhaps all the "language poetry" bores (Ron Silliman, Charles Bernstein, etc.). The poets closely associated with New Criticism have mostly have not wielded much influence over time. John Crowe Ransom wrote a good blurb for Eliot's Four Quartets, but how much is he read, compared to Eliot?

I don't think fiction or drama would be as unbalanced though.

(Edit: Thinking of a bunch I left out, none of them Southern as far as I know. Frost and Ashbery belong on the list more than Zukofsky does, for instance.)

The most famous american poet was southern , at least internationally in places like france , Edgar Allen Poe. The French love southern writers, Faulkner was huge over there and probably our greatest novelist. Tennessee williams is big over there too for dramatists

You have more contemporary and 20th century poets like James dickey,Harry crews ,Maya angelou,Randall Jarrell ,that whole new criticism and fugitive school in Vanderbily and Kenyon with John Crowe Ransom,Allen Tate and Robert Penn Warren pretty much dominated american poetry criticism in the 20th century

[cBach]

The most interesting thing here is how low New England is.

[floridanative10]

"Mid atlantic" is confusing as Virginia should really have parts considered southeast as Jefferson, Washington, Madison,Monroe, the Randolphs, Sam Houston, Bacon ,Paine, Patrick Henry etc pretty much defined the early South and New England should certainly have alot more votes here.

[cBach]

I should clarify that "Southeast" should include Virginia. For the purposes of this poll, consider mid Atlantic to be New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and DC. This ties in with why DC was chosen as the mid point between South and North with a southern state south of it and a northern state north of it.