ABSTRACT
The diversity of US society is reflected in Americans' artistic, sporting and leisure lives. The development of elite and popular arts in the US has been influenced by European traditions and distinctive domestic cultures. American painters and artists in the nineteenth and early twentieth century followed European styles. Mainstream popular music with a distinctive American voice was largely initiated by Stephen Foster in the early nineteenth century. Mainstream popular music with a distinctive American voice was largely initiated by Stephen Foster in the early nineteenth century. The film industry and Hollywood have been important influences on domestic American culture and have been very successful internationally. The number of US arts-related companies or organizations has increased since the 1960s, although many suffered in the adverse economic conditions from 2007-10. Sport in the US was relatively isolated from national and international events and competition until the mid-twentieth century.
