Patriotism Revisited

While browsing the Blackboard, I happened upon a picture to make me rethink Stein's theory of country and culture. For Stein, culture isn't simply a definition: "the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc." Instead, for Stein, culture is an active and unique force that shapes the kind of person you are throughout your life. Stein throughout the book mentions the fact that she is uniquely American and that the spirit of America has had an impact on her life. In addition, Stein also cited that cubism was a movement that could only happen in Spain, the idea that only the Spanish culture was capable of enabling this distinct artistic movement. However, for Stein, the idea of culture as a distinct entity leaving an indelible impact on an individual is not exclusively positive. In one of the most surprising passages of the book, Stein provides what can be called a racist commentary on “negro” culture. To paraphrase, Stein calls the “negro” culture as one that is very “narrow” and one that suffers not from persecution but from “nothingness”. In terms of the Germans, Stein constantly refers to their entire population as one that is backwards. To me, for better or for worse, Stein seems to recognize that her own identity is one that is intrinsically linked to the idea of being “American”.