What does the adjective "American" mean, aside from geography or citizenship?

[arcane1]

"American Sniper" is only the most recent use of the word that seems, to me, to mean something other than just the nationality of the person(s) involved.

"American Psycho" is another movie.
"American Beauty" was another.
Grand Funk Railroad sang "We're an American Band".
Jim Morrison is often defined as "An American Poet".

And so on. You get the idea.

But replace "American" with "British" and it sounds silly. Something, some essence, is lost, but I can't define it. GFR wouldn't sing "We're a Norwegian Band", and it wouldn't carry the same meaning if they did.

Is it just me?

[rock]

1. Cultural term

Meaning of or like the people (generally) that occupy the US.

[Downwinder]

2. Don't forget "The Ugly American."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_American

[Electric Monk]

10. or "American Woman"

American woman gonna mess your mind

...

American woman, stay away from me
American woman, mama, let me be
Don't come a-hangin' around my door
I don't wanna see your face no more
I got more important things to do
Than spend my time growin' old with you
Now woman, I said stay away
American woman, listen what I say

American woman, get away from me
American woman, mama, let me be
Don't come a-knockin' around my door
Don't wanna see your shadow no more
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes
Now woman, I said get away
American woman, listen what I say, hey

...

I don't need your war machines
I don't need your ghetto scenes
Coloured lights can hypnotize
Sparkle someone else's eyes

[treestar]

3. Maybe because it is our country

It might sound silly in Norway. And "We're a Norwegian Band" have similar impact for them.

I'd actually like to ask somebody from another country. Have to admit to giggling a bit about "We're a Norwegian Band" Coming to my town and going to follow me down

[arcane1]

5. I wonder if other countries even do this.

Would a British sniper film ever be called "British Sniper"?

[treestar]

7. Probably not.

I'm thinking "The Sniper" as if he is assumed to be British. The only title I can think of off hand is "No Sex Please - We're British" (showing an ability for self deprecating humor).

We're more desperate to be a nation - though our diversity is our greatest strength, one part of it is we have to keep proclaiming over and over we are a nation and reassuring ourselves. Whereas to be part of European nations is to have this long history, a language unique to, or started in, your nation - this common background and culture that Americans struggle more to have.

[branford]

11. They would probably use a more feudal expression,

such as "Her Majesty's Sniper" or "Sniper for the Crown."

[Donald Ian Rankin]

4. Americans use it to mean "Good".

C.F. usage of the phrase "it's just not British" by the British, a hundred or a hundred and fifty years ago.

What is surprising, or perhaps not, is that in both cases to some extent the rest of the world bought into this.

[CTyankee]

6. "exceptionalism" nt

[Revanchist]

8. I think it's because your used to hearing those titles with the word America

Do you think Britain's Got Talent sounds strange? There are plenty of song's that mention other countries or cities that would also sound different and strange if you change the name of the place.

Big in Japan

One Night in Bangkok

London's Burning

Back in the USSR

Don't Cry for Me Argentina

Most of these would sound strange with word substitution "One night in Boise makes the hard man crumble" nope, doesn't work.

[arcane1]

9. Those examples are all being used as proper nouns, not as adjectives.

That's why they don't have the same effect.

[Jesus Malverde]

12. Several times I've been reminded that "American" means someone from

North or South America. Overseas america means something different that in the good ole USA.