America Dispatches From The New Frontier Thesis

In his anthology, Americana: Dispatches From the New Frontier, best-selling author, award-winning journalist, and historian Hampton Sides describes different aspects and characteristics of American life. For more than fifteen years, Sides has traveled widely, exploring different version of America not widely recognized .America: Dispatches from the New Frontier shows that there is no wrong way to be an American. While Americans may seem drastically different on the surface, with different likes and dislikes, and with different visions for the future, Americans are all motivated by the American Dream. Americana shows that Americans are motivated by the notion that get to choose who they become and they are motivated by the idea that with hard

work and dedication they can achieve their own version of success.
In Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier, which consists of two dozen pieces, Sides manages to give the reader a new poignant perspective of the unique and often bizarre subcultures in America. Besides Sides ability to bring the reader into situations they would never otherwise find themselves, Americana: Dispatches from the New Frontier, manages to stand out for its ability to unify and create a common identity among the people whose life it documents; they are all united in their identity as Americans.
Americana does a good job in showing the different subcultures found across America. The United States is the third largest country in the word with a population of more than 320 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, because of this, the United States is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. America's population includes Catholics, Protestants of many denominations, Jews of several persuasions, Muslims, Buddhists, animists, and people who believe in no supreme being or higher power. There are people who have many years of formal education and people who have nearly none. There are the very rich as well as the very poor. There are Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Socialists, Communists, Libertarians, and people who distance themselves from politics. There are lawyers, farmers, plumbers, teachers, social workers, engineers and people in thousands of other occupations. Some live in urban areas and some in rural ones. Again, their is no uniform way to be an American.
Nearly every region of the world has influenced American culture, as it is a country of immigrants. Americans have roots in all corners of the earth, and we come together to make a unique culture that is like none in the history of mankind. While some retain different aspects of their predecessors culture, we all are united in our American values. A major contributor to our unique American culture is our value of independence. Americans strongly believe in the concept of individualism. They consider themselves to be separate individuals who are in control of their own lives. An example of this can be found in Sides’ Americana, specifically in his piece The Gay Eminence. In this piece, the main subject, Mel White completely reinvents himself. White grew up in a religious and conservative environment and in his adulthood he became a ghostwriter for the religious right, all while hiding his homosexuality. Eventually White accepts himself and goes from being an instrument of the religious right to becoming a gay rights activist.
Another unique aspect of American culture is that a competitive spirit is often the motivating factor to work harder. Americans often compete with themselves as well as others. They feel good when they "beat their own record" in an athletic event or other types of competition. This is shown various times in Americana, in Let Us Now Praise Famous Fish, Sides’ introduces the reader to the Bassmasters Classic, “the country’s premier fishing tournament.” The best bass fishermen gather to vie for first place in the fishing competition. The fish in question is the bass. Sides makes a point of explaining why the competition revolves around the bass. It is not because of its’ taste, looks, or weight, but because of it is an enigma fisherman cannot crack. I find this to be quintessentially American. It shows how Americans strive to challenge themselves, and conquer the unconquerable, even if the subject in this case is a fish.
Another instance of Americans’ competitive is the endurance runners at the Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert. Sides explains that the Marathon des Sables is marketed as “the world’s toughest footrace.” Sides also explains the tough conditions of the Marathon des Sables on comments on American’s desire for “synthetic suffering.” As Sides further learns more about the race he starts to pity the runners but he remembers that they “...paid $5,000 to come out here, on their vacation no less, to suffer…. An ordeal is what they wanted. An ordeal is what they got.”
I believe that the drastic differences between the two competitions shows that while American subculture can seem drastically different, they are all influenced by common American values. Americans feel the need to prove themselves and win. And even if they do not win, they take pride in challenging themselves, whether it’s hunting down an ugly fish or embarking on a masochistic trek in the Sahara Desert.
I enjoyed reading reading Americana, it was a very interesting exploration of the diversity of American culture, however it did not exactly change my perspective on American culture. If anything, it might have strengthened my already held beliefs. As a second-generation American of Mexican heritage, I have always been starkly aware of the fact that anyone can be an American and that there is not one uniformed American culture.
Many children of immigrants, such as myself, have often had to justify preserving some cultural aspects of their family’s culture.

Some insist that in order to be a “true” American you have to behave a certain type of way ,speak in an a particular manner, practice a specific religion, or prescribe to certain beliefs. However, I believe that “being” American is all in the mentality and what drives a person to do whatever interests them. I believe Sides’ anthology truly demonstrates this. The people whose life he writes about all have different interests and passions, but they are propelled forward by similar motives that are uniquely American. Since birth, these Americans have been told that their in the land of the free, and consequently, who they become is up to

them.
Another thing I believe Sides did very well was show American subculture that are often mocked or simply ignored. Many of the subcultures Sides explored did strike me as very odd, like the Zippies and avid RV enthusiasts, however I found myself being intrigued by these alternate dimensions so different from my particular reality. I believe I developed a level of respect for these subcultures that I perhaps would have labeled as cult-ish. I really don’t claim to understand the appeal but that is what great about American culture, I do not have to understand it.
If I had to teach a person totally foreign of America, I would try impress upon them the diverseness of American culture.

The Northeast, South, Midwest, Southeast and Western regions of the United States all have distinct traditions and customs, and even within those regions people vary and are part of different subcultures. The United States is salad bowl; different American cultures are brought together — like salad ingredients — but do not form together into a single homogeneous culture. Each culture keeps its own distinct qualities. This goes with the American value of individuality and independence. Cultures from around the world have influenced American culture.
I would try to stress that American culture is guided more by value than by specific practices and customs. One of the biggest driving motivator for Americans is the concept of equality of opportunity, the notion that every person can “make it”, given a fair chance. In America, it is widely believed that with enough hard work and dedication you can succeed and provide a better life for your family and

yourself.
In America, risk and challenge is encouraged. Americans believe in taking chances and leaps of faith. Americans are constantly challenging themselves and are always looking that will bring them satisfaction in life. Even if they do not succeed, that is better than even trying at all. Failure is acceptable and you are expected to learn from it. America is big on “comebacks.”
While America is not perfect, (which country is?), it is made great by the wealth of people who call it home. America is evolving at a rate faster than any other nation. It is a place where people from all backgrounds -- racial, religious and ideological - can come together and unite under their shared common identity as Americans.
In, Americana, Hampton Sides explores the diversity of American culture. In his travels around the US and abroad, Sides chooses subjects that exemplify the uniqueness of American subcultures, from California’s elite Bohemian Club to Harley-Davidson rallies in Sturgis, South Dakota to black Pentecostalists of the Memphis-based Church of God in Christ. Americana, shows the values of the American Dream and individualism. Sides also shows that in a time of crisis, such as the events on September 11th 2001, people are able to put aside their differences to unite under their identity as Americans. In Americana: Dispatches From the New Frontier, Hampton Sides shows that there is no wrong way to be an American. He shows that while Americans have different interests, they are guided by similar motives that are uniquely American.