Steak48
Steak48 t1_j07r9q1 wrote
Reply to How do countries that lack long, ancient histories and myths (or feel they lack it), or have lost all records of them, compensate for this loss or absence? Can these invented ancient myths become as "legitimate" as the truly old histories/myths of countries that have them? by raori921
In the US I would say that you could look at our most famous monuments to see what we mythologize. The Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and the Washington Monument in DC and Mt Rushmore in SD are devoted to the founding fathers, the national mall has multiple monuments dedicated to veterans of various wars, and what is probably our most famous monument, the statue of liberty, is devoted to the ideals of freedom and opportunity.
There is no singular national epic of literature here but writers like Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Faulkner and many others I'm not remembering occupy that place in the culture, in my opinion. I would even go so far as to say there are some classic films that fit here as well.
I don't think that most Americans lament not having an age of antiquity to look back on.
But I guess to answer your question, you use what you have.
Steak48 t1_j0afj8f wrote
Reply to comment by Co0lie5ter in How do countries that lack long, ancient histories and myths (or feel they lack it), or have lost all records of them, compensate for this loss or absence? Can these invented ancient myths become as "legitimate" as the truly old histories/myths of countries that have them? by raori921
East coast here. It's not surprising at all that things would be so varied here