--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: American culture is not about…" description: "\"American culture is not about experiencing our shame, it's about denying it. It's been that way our whole history.\" — Chris Jordan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/chris-jordan-21719_about_american-culture-is-not-about-experienci_2671476.jpg" --- # American culture is not about experiencing our shame, it's… ![“American culture is not about experiencing our shame, it's about denying it. It's been that way our whole history.” quote by Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/chris-jordan-21719_about_american-culture-is-not-about-experienci_2671476.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/chris-jordan-21719_about_american-culture-is-not-about-experienci_2671476.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/997/chris-jordan-21719_about_american-culture-is-not-about-experienci_2671476.jpg) > “American culture is not about experiencing our shame, it's about denying it. It's been that way our whole history.” [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. American culture tends to hide collective shame rather than confront it, perpetuating denial throughout history. **In simple terms:** Culture hides shame instead of facing it. Key Takeaway Acknowledge collective shame. Themes culture shame denial history Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - political discourse - education reform - media analysis Key Concepts social psychology collective memory Questions to Reflect On - Why is it difficult to admit societal shame? - What benefits arise from confronting it? A Different Perspective Denial can be a coping mechanism for trauma. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-culture/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) ## Related quotes > [“Studying culture without experiencing culture shock is like practicing swimming without experiencing water.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-hofstede/studying-culture-without-experiencing-culture-shock-is-like/) [Geert Hofstede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-hofstede/) > [To live without experiencing some shame and blushes of admiration would surely be a wretched life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregor-mendel/to-live-without-experiencing-some-shame-and-blushes-of-admiration/) [Gregor Mendel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregor-mendel/) > [“The goal is to learn to recognize when we are experiencing shame quickly enough to prevent ourselves from lashing out at those around us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/the-goal-is-to-learn-to-recognize-when-we-are-experiencing-shame/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I think there's a tremendous amount of unacknowledged hostility in American culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-think-there-s-a-tremendous-amount-of-unacknowledged-hostility-in/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [One culture I find fascinating to juxtapose against American culture is the culture of Germany. They've gone through a long process through their art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/one-culture-i-find-fascinating-to-juxtapose-against-american-culture/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [“Denying what you are didn't keep people from knowing what you are." "And flaunting it isn't what saved you." Ykka takes a deep breath.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/denying-what-you-are-didn-t-keep-people-from-knowing-what-you-are-and/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [I am not questioning your honor, I am denying its existence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-questioning-your-honor-i-am-denying-its-existence/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The corporate government is completely okay with sending sickened people into extreme poverty for the rest of their lives by blatantly denying their genuine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/the-corporate-government-is-completely-okay-with-sending-sickened/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Obamacare is going to destroy the elderly by denying care, by even perhaps denying treatment to people who are in catastrophic circumstances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafael-cruz/obamacare-is-going-to-destroy-the-elderly-by-denying-care-by-even/) [Rafael Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafael-cruz/) > [Patrons, don't berate bouncers for denying you entry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-evans/patrons-don-t-berate-bouncers-for-denying-you-entry/) [Sean Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-evans/) > [I'm not selling out, denying who I am or where I've come from, not at all. 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In this profession, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ally-carter/that-s-good-don-t-deny-it-denying-the-undeniable-just-makes-you-sound/) [Ally Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ally-carter/) > [A mistake doesnt make you a fool, but denying it surely makes you one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/a-mistake-doesnt-make-you-a-fool-but-denying-it-surely-makes-you-one/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) ## More by Chris Jordan > [All of my work is meant to evoke a whole bunch of different layers of discord between the attraction and repulsion that we feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/all-of-my-work-is-meant-to-evoke-a-whole-bunch-of-different-layers-of/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [I'm just becoming more and more aware of this truly profound responsibility that we carry as individuals. And it's a responsibility not only to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-m-just-becoming-more-and-more-aware-of-this-truly-profound/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [Activating is about changing people's perceptions of overlooked or invisible spaces. A building can become an archetype, invisible, like for a New Yorker, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/activating-is-about-changing-people-s-perceptions-of-overlooked-or/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [“If there is anything I’ve learned being the mother of many children, it’s that you’d better laugh at yourself, because everyone else already is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/if-there-is-anything-i-ve-learned-being-the-mother-of-many-children/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [There's an axiom I live by: 'There is no art without politics.' 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I try to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-only-want-to-work-with-transparent-ideas-and-accessible/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [I think there's a tremendous amount of unacknowledged hostility in American culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-think-there-s-a-tremendous-amount-of-unacknowledged-hostility-in/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [I crave to be able to photograph the way a painter paints - in a loose, expressive way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/i-crave-to-be-able-to-photograph-the-way-a-painter-paints-in-a-loose/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) > [My work is about the behaviors that we all engage in unconsciously on a collective level. And what I mean by that, it's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-jordan/my-work-is-about-the-behaviors-that-we-all-engage-in-unconsciously-on/) [Chris Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) [Explore all 28 Chris Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-jordan/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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