The debate over the origins and foundations of American culture posed a great debate throughout the nineteenth century. Popular culture drew from activities and ideas that came from and were accessible to the vast majority of the population. High culture looked to elite and traditional notions of culture from established institutions to define and maintain a more limited aspect of what was acceptable. Identify and discuss how two of our lecture topics demonstrated this debate (pop culture vs. high culture) and which you feel is more appropriate for an American identity.