Americana: Classic Designs & Motifs from the US

When it comes to classic American symbolism, Americana is one of the most well-known aesthetics. If you’ve heard this term before, you might be thinking of a book titled ‘Americanah’ by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie or a genre of country-folk music. The term can be used in a variety of ways but always centers around describing the life, culture, and traditions of the average US citizen. 

Americana design tends to harken back to a highly romanticized period in US history. Most often, this imagery stems back to the 1960s when the US was in a booming economic period. This world saw the birth of a new type of utopia in the US, one that emphasized new ideals like consumerism. From ripe, red apples to the Statue of Liberty, these symbols are about intangible cultural heritage—and how that manifests in the real world. 

If you’ve ever listened to Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die, then you’re already familiar with Americana as it relates to pop culture. Or, in the least, you know the importance of blue jeans and white shirts. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most well-known designs, motifs, and symbols of Americana.

Bright Lights, Bright Food

Food is one of the more present features of Americana—but each image has its own quirky origin. Along with cornflakes, milkshakes, and fried chicken, fruit imagery is also important. These fruit symbols were originally used on the mechanical slot machines created by German immigrant Charles Fey at the turn of the 20th century. Others included a diamond, spade, heart, and horseshoe. 

Known as ‘one-armed bandits’, these early gaming mechanisms quickly spread from San Francisco across the country. The classic symbols used in early slot games still survive. One of the world’s most popular slots, Starburst, relies on the same brightly colored symbols to capture the attention of players—including diamonds. Today, players aren’t cranking physical mechanisms. Instead, they’re spinning virtual reels to see which winning combinations hit. Starburst is popular for its bright and familiar reel of symbols, along with its varied number of features, including bonus rounds and multipliers. 

Nation & Place

Some of the most important symbols in the Americana aesthetic focus on the nation. The flag, for example, is probably the most robust image in the Americana repertoire—but it’s far from the only one. Along with the flag, landmarks like Mount Rushmore and even Route 66 can be placed under this umbrella. 

And it’s not only places that feel particularly American. For example, Route 66 is more of an act than an image. If you toss in brands like Harley-Davidson motorcycles and cars from Ford or Chevrolet, you’ll have a fully layered aesthetic. Even better if the rider is wearing a motorcycle jacket and listening to rock’n roll.

A Warm Home

Not all Americana imagery needs to be so grand and sweeping. In fact, many Americana motifs focus on the experience of domestic bliss—or what it’s slated to be. Pastimes like camping with the family or even living within the bounds of a white picket fence are classical nods to Americana. 

Going to a college prep school is also included under the world of Americana—as is going to a football game. When viewed in this way, almost any element of the average life can be repackaged as a cultural symbol. Just listen to any country or folk song and you’ll hear callbacks to this type of romanticized domestic life, from Dolly Parton to Zach Bryan.

Small Town Glory

Just about every culture places a strong emphasis on life in small towns. That’s because many people move to urban centers as adults, meaning more rural towns are associated with the comforts of home and family. This focus is blown into new proportions under the guise of Americana. In fact, the concept of a small town is considered one of the focal points of American cultural imagery… even if most people live in cities today. 

Just look at hits from US television that cover this type of small-town closeness. One of the best examples is Smallville, a television show from the 2000s that followed Clark Kent (AKA Superman) in high school. As the title suggests, Kent grows up in a tiny town in rural Kansas before he steps into his role of saving the world. Just like the concept of a small town, Clark Kent himself is often claimed as a major symbol of Americana.