Culture as History: The Transformation of American Society in the Twentieth Century

Susman provides some interesting comments on American culture, arguing that the battles taking place in America often have little to with politics. The cultural realm has seen more dramatic combat. One is between the older culture that emphasized moral rectitude while the other is more consumer driven. New forms of culture, centered around mass media and communication, have driven the new American culture.

The two strains of culture was contradictory, but not mutually exclusive. Most americans have loyalties to both to come degree. Susman looks at the interwar period and people like Henry Ford, who mass produced automobiles but also sought a simpler way of life as he aged. Susman sees these tensions as inherent in any society, but show more American society took a slightly different turn because the consumer-identity gained such strength.

One interesting point at the end of his work is a warning against too much ivory tower analysis. Academics who analyze American culture tend to condemn the mass produced, conformists mentality. Susman is concerned that this will lead to a condemnation of the consumers that make up American society. He fears that they would then be even further cut off in their analysis. show less

The book looks at culture, sometimes unconscious culture, both high brow and low brow as a driving force in civilization. His analysis is of American History, primarily from its inception to 1950 or so. He also points out that our view of history is also a function of the present culture.

I found it an interesting book although I did not know many of the references made.