Dis2 - Discussion #2 - What is "American" culture ?
37 37 unread replies. 91 91 replies.This discussion assignment has 2 parts, and is a mandatory, graded class assignment. THIS ASSIGNMENT IS WORTH UP TO 5 POINTS.
No late work accepted under any circumstances... discussion board will close at 11:59 pm on the deadline date. WRITE THE WORD COUNT AT END OF EACH RESPONSE.... NO WORD COUNT....NO FULL CREDIT
1. (3 pts max) Please write a 150-200 word response to the questions(s) below. Responses less than 150 words will receive reduced credit. This should be in your own words, using your own thoughts and ideas. DO NOT RESEARCH for these questions, and do not give statistics, or information from other sources. Do not paraphrase or cite other sources. ANSWER ALL PARTS OF THE QUESTION(S) FOR FULL CREDIT CONSIDERATION. Hit "reply" button to submit an original response
How would you personally describe "American culture"? What is it, what does it look like, etc. ? What does the term or idea " American culture" mean to you? ( do not research... answer from your personal opinion). ( remember to write an accurate word count at the end of your response)
2. (2 pt ) Please write a 50-75 word (approx) answer to one of your classmate's response. Open a classmate's response, read and give feedback to the writer. Hit "reply" button to submit feedback to a classmate's response ( remember to write an accurate word count at the end of your response)
Please remember...NO LATE POSTINGS ALLOWED. Students have multiple days to complete this assignment, so loss of power, loss of internet, and broken technology is NEVER an excuse for missing deadlines.
This topic was locked Oct 9 at 11:59pm.Filter replies by unreadDiscussion 2
Since I was not born in America or lived in the US for long, my perception of “American culture” predominantly comes from Hollywood movies/TV series, American Reality TV and the mainstream media.
Based on what I see in the Hollywood production movie/tv series, I think “American Culture” is majority white people living in a very nice neighbourhood with a massive 2 storey house and meticulous front yard. It is kind of like “The Stepford Wives”, “Dead to me” that you can see this type of lifestyle that portrays a typical American lifestyle. Then also the New York style is the very busy subway, lots of black people and very multicultural neighbourhoods, small apartments and lots of graffiti, something you would see in the movie “Deadpool” and “limitless”.
The idea of “American culture” to me is freedom, the legal systems that tend to have people sue big organisations for their unhealthy fast food. They also love guns and believe every citizen has the right to protect themselves. In addition, America is a capitalist country and people can easily make money here if they work hard, a great place for people from all over the world to pursue their “American dream”. My impression of “American culture” is also associated with thanksgiving and Halloween, happy family gathering on thanksgiving and amazing house decoration for Halloween with kids having so much fun trick or treating.
However, when I actually moved to America, especially since I had only been living in the Bay area, I noticed it was quite different from what my perception as “American culture”. In the Bay area it seems Latino and Mexican are the majority, however they are not really represented as much in the Hollywood productions until recent years. In typical Hollywood movies, only white people are the protagonist and almost the entire movie we only see some black cast and the rest of the other race merely walking around in the background in a street scene. In addition, most people here live in some 2 bedroom apartments in the bay area, the fancy looking houses that I see in the movie can be mainly seen in Palo Alto and Los Alto.
For me I think American culture is really rich and very well-documented for the young generation to follow through and evolve with, and for the people around the world to admire, adore and constantly curious about! (400 words)
Edited by Nga Sze Miu on Oct 4 at 2:02pmHi Nga,
I, also as an immigrant, had all the perception of the American life style based on movies; however, when I got here a few years ago, I felt that a lot of things seem so familiar to me as if I have lived here before. The style of houses, the wide highways, the big portions of food at restaurants!
What was interesting for me though, was the number of immigrants in the bay area. Of course, I know it is because of the region and probably it is not the same in central America. I look at it as a chance to get familiar with more cultures other than the American culture. ( #112)
Hi Nga,
I found it very interesting that you pointed out Hollywood doesn't represent all of the minorities in America. I grew up in the U.S., and I've always heard about this idea. However, it was hard for me to grasp because I was immersed in American culture all the time, and the media was just another piece of that. As an immigrant, with no lived experience of American culture, you showed how Hollywood, when viewed on its own, is an inaccurate representation of American culture.
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Hi Nga.
I'm also like you, as an immigrant. America is a new country with different forms that not everyone can adapt from the moment they arrive. The freedom and democracy that you talk about in your discussion really touch my heart, because not everywhere is like in America. What you say is really the truth about the abuse of fast food and the health problems when more and more fast food grows like mushrooms. But all in all, I really like the way you put it, and I thank you for saying this.
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As a first-generation American, my views on America have changed multiple times throughout my life. In my opinion, American culture revolves around the beliefs and values of the American Constitution, and the American "dream". America is a country founded by immigrants, and founded by people of all different walks of life; thereby the definition of American culture differs for every individual. I believe that American culture revolves around the idea of individualism and the ideals of freedom and personal responsibility. Every individual is free to define their own worldview and the life that they choose to live. This comes with its positives and negatives, as some individuals choose to live unhealthy lifestyles or ones where they commit their life to the hatred of others. Personally, my American ideals are the belief that it is my responsibility to stand up for my beliefs and ideals. It is my right, and my duty as an American to fight for what I believe to be just and to defend the livelihood and prosperity of my loved ones. Outside of those ideals, it doesn't matter what food I may eat or what clothes I may wear; I am an American.
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Hey Brian,
I really enjoy how you touched on the individuality of American Culture and how it is heavily impacted based on our upbringing. I agree with you and also like how you talked about the negative side of American Culture that stems from the same thing that makes it great which is freedom and how it allows for negativity.
Word Count: 60Hi Brian,
I agree with you, America is a country founded by immigrants, from the 19th century to the present, the United States has always been the first choice for immigrants worldwide. I also like your reverse thinking, you said the words positive and negative, it is true that the definition of American culture varies from person to person.
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Hi Brian,
I think the fact that immigrants founded America and that America revolves around individualism is very interconnected. Because everyone is so different, individuality has been the only thing that has been able to preserve the individual identities that the immigrants have brought from home. It's very interesting to see how American culture has changed over time.
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Hello Brian I really agree on what u said about the American Dream I feel like many minorities seek or try to come to America for the endless possibilities that the American Dream has to offer. Despite the phrase Freedom of speech I feel like lately there are many hate crimes in America lately.
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Edited by Calvin Vu on Oct 9 at 10:38pm- I would agree with you Brian. As also being a first- generation American, growing up thinking about the “American culture” was trying to live up to the American Dream as and would differentiate between each and every individual. For me it’s just to try and live a better as what my parents wantWord count (53)
American culture doesn't go further than American Football and Hollywood to me. Personally for something to be a part of someones culture truly it has to have been done their originally, or adopted from another culture but embraced by the country; such as soccer or basketball. American culture is hard to truly pinpoint simply because of its ambiguity and the country being filled with 1st and 2nd generation Americans. With that being said America has a certain beauty about it where if you live in a diverse Area such as San Jose; you can experience numerous cultures by simply driving through different areas or going to different restaurants. A setting like that is rare for most people, unless you live in large cities throughout the world. With all of that being said I figure the best way to sum up American Culture is the ability to see many different cultures simultaneously and grow in a unique and diverse surrounding.
Word Count: 159Edited by Edi Pelesic on Oct 4 at 12:02pmResponse 1 of 1
Hi, I agree with you that American culture is hard to pinpoint because the US is extremely diverse and multi-cultural especially in the big cities like the Bay area and New York. Also with many immigrants come to the US in different stage of their life, they formed different life style and mixed with the classic "white American" lifestyle. For instance, the 1st generation Chinese may adopt to the Thanksgiving culture by having friends and family over at Thanksgiving but only eat Chinese fest rather than the typically Turkey and mashed potatoes thanksgiving meal, then they might play mahjong (traditional Chinese game) rather than watch an American football game together. It is definitely like you said, American culture is many different cultures simultaneously grow, evolve together and create a very unique culture. (133 words)
Yea see this is what I was talking about, when you think of American culture you think of American football. I agree with that part and even the Hollywood part since movies are such a giant part of the media. Thank you for sharing your opinion on American culture Edi. -50 words
Hi Edi, I liked how you wrote about how San Jose is so diverse. San Jose is such a big city with so many different cultures. I liked how you shared about the different restaurants that people can eat at. I don’t see many diverse restaurants when I travel outside of California. (52 Words)
Hey Edi, I totally agree I also wrote about how diverse the U.S is and how it's filled with many other cultures. Although I do think the American culture does continue to evolve with everyone else cultures it is difficult to pinpoint the exact American culture without instantly thinking about Football and Hollywood. (55 words)
In my own words I would describe American culture would be things like football, hamburgers, free expression and freedom of speech, and competitive. Americans are some of the most entitled people that you will meet especially if they are a uncultured white person, they will always believe that they are better than anyone around them. There are way too many situations where there are entitled white people practically picking on minorities because they feel they don't belong or they just think that they are better than them because of how light their skin is, that's what American culture looks like to me, of course there are many things that make American culture look good but just too many things that make it look bad. The term American culture can really just mean anything to me, to me I think the first thing that comes to mind is football and basketball and the 4th of July. we celebrate those two sports the most and then obviously the 4th because that is when we got our independence. - 170 words
Living in America my views have changed about American Culture, as I got older and understood things more. I always viewed America as the land of the free and with a straight forward path as we grow older where we get a good job, buy a nice house the suburbs, with a white picket fence, kids running around the yard. As I got older I realized that wasn't 100% reality. In the hispanic community I've learned that we don't always have that privilege here in America, the land of the free, is only for some people. Not only that but Americans have put a very strong emphasis on unhealthy habits, so many unhealthy things are constantly in our faces, then shamed when we experience certain health issues because of it, or if we don't look the way a celebrity does. To me, America puts such a big emphasis on freedom, equality, and independence, but does not give everyone living here an equal opportunity to have those things.
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Hi Alexis,
I agree with your opinion that there is a significant emphasis on freedom, equality, etc., toward the "American" culture, especially about the health issue in America, such as depression, eating disorders, or body shaming which a lot of people, even celebrities, are suffering from because of the negative comments on the internet.
Thank you for sharing,
Teddy
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When I think of American culture, I think of individualism, nuclear families, and a mixture of different cultures all spread out the U.S. I didn't grow up with my parents around as often because they were working so much and I would go to a friend's house and notice that their family was always together. I didn't feel jealous but I knew that it was very different from my home life and I also see it on tv of what a typical family looks like. I also noticed in American culture that it's the goal to be financially independent and to move out on your own. I know in Vietnamese culture, family tends to stick together and want you to live at home for as long as possible. It's hard to define American culture as one thing when you're surrounded by many different cultures especially in the Bay Area but I think the common thing is that Americans value their freedom to choose.
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Hi Tammy! I definitely agree that there is a difference between American and Vietnamese cultures in family dynamics. My family still insists that I live with them even though a lot of my friends have already moved out of their homes. While the difference between these two cultures can cause conflict, the process of identifying the middle ground helps shape our Asian-American identity.
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Hey Tammy,
I understand that both my parents worked, and I would often stay with friends or another family, but I would get jealous if I were honest. I know not every family is the same, but I wished to have a family that would stay together. But I can also relate. My mom and dad never wanted us to leave the nest so we could stay together.
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When I hear the words “American” culture, I hear all kinds of different things. I personally think that “American” culture means fast paced living. The only things personally when I hear about “American” culture are about school, sports, and movies. School in America is very different from other countries around the world. Americans expect their child to go to school at a young age to finish college to get good grades. After their child finishes school, the child has to find a job to support themselves and others. The second thing is sports. I grew up watching different sports. I can watch American football, baseball, and basketball. When I go to baseball games, everyone is so loud and cheering. Everyone is eating hot dogs, garlic fries, and ice-cream. While in Europe, they might think that soccer is the only sport that is really good and the only sport everyone should watch. When Europeans are watching soccer, they are so focused on the game that they don’t have time to eat. The last thing is movies. All of the movies and shows that I have watched are filmed in Los Angeles. All the scenes are filmed in LA but the movie can be based in a completely different town, state, or country. (211 words)
Hi Lauren,
I get what you are saying about how Americans love sports but in a different way than in Europe. I have personally never been to a soccer game in Europe but I can see how Americans turn sports games into such a social event with food and even entertainment during halftimes for football. I like that you brought up movies because there is so much media produced in LA and consumed by people all over the world that it makes a big part of American lifestyle. I actually disagree that American culture means fast paced living because in this specific area everyone is so competitive but there are many different types of slower paced living in other areas and states.
When I immigrated to the United States, my idea of “American culture” was the “American Dream.” Seeing my parents leave their homes for an unfamiliar environment glorified my view of America. To me, the “American culture” was being financially stable enough to raise your family in a house you owned (like the suburban ones you'd see in TV shows). Growing older, I realized that my dream was harder to achieve than I’d thought. The “freedom” and “equal opportunity” aspects of American culture were not as encompassing as I’d remembered. I came to understand that even if I work as hard as I could, I still may not be able to get as far in life as others because the disparity in societal standings influences the opportunities I get. I also started to recognize the differences between the two cultures that my Asian-American identity comes from. While American culture emphasizes individualism and independence ( children moving out when they’re financially independent), the collectivist nature of Asian culture favors focusing on the family before oneself. This difference and also my experiences living in the Bay Area, a culturally diverse community, have made me realize that America is a country abundant in different cultures. But if America is such a diverse country, why does the “American” culture still reflect only a subset of the people that live in it?
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Hi Trang! My older brother had the same ideals as you when he moved there and saw the social disparity. But sometimes, I feel that we may perceive cultures based on generalizations, for instance, Asian culture values family before oneself; however, some Asian parents are more progressive in that they let their children work and stay abroad. Therefore, even if the “American culture” has not reflected the whole population, I believe that it is slowly changing and that other groups may finally get the opportunity they deserve as a member of the “American culture”.
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I was not born or raised in America but I would describe “American culture” as a mixture of diverse ethnicities and values that are not truly “American”. The culture in America nowadays, I believe, includes those from Asia, Africa, and Europe; however, values that thrive more in America presently are derived from those who consider themselves as “white”, regardless of their origin. For me, “American culture” revolves around Hollywood, freedom of speech, and sometimes controversial laws. These three elements are always in the news headlines and so I feel that it is embedded into its culture. The idea of “American culture” slightly intimidates me. On the one hand, a person does her best not to let go of her own roots or culture, therefore may be isolated from those who believe “American culture” is superior. However, other times, adopting this “American culture”, so that others feel comfortable, may demonstrate that she is trying too hard to fit in, thus emphasizing her differences. But I also believe that this issue, and many others regarding “American culture”, has become the betterment of the country as it has encouraged the “American culture” to adapt and change.
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Hi Maureen, I understand what you mean when you say that one does not want to let go of their own root/culture! It was difficult for me to bring food from home to school because I was afraid people would think it's weird or that it smells funny. So my way of fitting in was eating pb&j sandwiches all the time throughout elementary school. I've since then grown from that and really appreciate my culture. I think it's important to embrace where you come from but also not be afraid to incorporate an "American" way of living to your lifestyle.
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Hi Maureen! I agree with you when you say that the idea of American culture is intimidating. A lot of times, you are forced to adapt in order to be able to live in a new place, so it's definitely very hard to completely let go of your own roots and culture. However, I believe that you can embody both at the same time without having to sacrifice either. Take the good parts of both of your cultures instead of forcing yourself to completely choose one or the other.
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As an Asian American, I have viewed American "culture" as a lack of culture when compared to most other countries. America is such a diverse land, especially in the bay area, that they have taken small parts of every other culture to form something they claim as their own. When I think of a typical White American, I think of a person who is entitled, just a little bit rude, and enjoys strictly fast food. There is variation for this typical person of course. A lot of Americans are immigrants and these people tend to be very ambitious and here for the "American dream", and with them they bring cultures from different parts of the world and that is what truly makes American culture. Since there is an overwhelming amount of first and second generation American's, they are all competing to have the American success story that their parents dreamed of. This has created a very competitive environment in school and in the work place. It has grown into an "every man for himself" culture from what I have noticed. Although the culture can be uncomfortable at times, it is something I have gotten used to.
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Edited by Christine Hoy on Oct 6 at 11:38amHi Christine !
I totally agree with where your coming from with first and second generation Americans competing to have what their parents didn't and it causing competition in schools and I 105% agree with you that America has an "every man for himself" way of doing things. I hate that we have become accustomed to things like this that shouldn't be normal like for example school shootings. We are the one country in the whole world that has the most school shootings a year.
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Hi Christine, I completely agree with what you said about America taking small parts of other cultures and claiming it as their own, I think Americans claim it as their "culture" because America is made up of immigrants and never actually got to define a real culture. I also really resinate with the competition that gets put on the next generations to do better and be better to achieve the "American Dream" my family constantly reminds me of what I need to accomplish.
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Hey guys, I can agree with the both of you how taking small parts from a lot of cultures and throwing them around the bay area. When you go around and take a look at where everyone stays it's all specific locations. Not a lot of people get out of their comfort zone and are welcome to different parts and areas of the bay area.
Hi Christine, I couldn't have agreed more with your ideas about the "every man for himself" culture. I live in a part of the Bay Area where the majority of my high school was Asian, so there was a lot of competitiveness to do better than everyone else. Immigrants from all over come to America for this "American Dream" and only wish for their kids to do well in life, so obviously my high school was extremely competitive, and that honestly made my high school experience unpleasant.
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I was not born in the United States or lived here. In my impression, the American culture pursues democracy and freedom, and they also respect the privacy of others and rarely ask questions about age, salary, etc. American culture is very inclusive. From the 19th century to the present, the United States has always been the first choice for immigrants worldwide, you can see different races here. American culture also emphasizes personal values, They are independent and confident, and they have strong hands-on abilities. When something in my house is broken, my father can not repair it, and an American uncle (our friend) will come with his toolbox and help us repair it. Also, religion is a very prominent part of American culture, churches are almost everywhere, and expressly provide for freedom of religion. American culture means New to me, there are a lot of differences with Chinese culture, and a lot of things I think are worth learning.
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Hi Yuqing,
I was looking for a post like yours that provides insights from someone who didn't live in the united states as it's the exact opposite of mine. I do agree with the idea that America emphasizes personal values with high levels of specialization and expectancy to be a self-made person. I think in America we also romanticize that idea of a self starter and come up story. We focus on the niche cases in which someone was able to rise up from a lower place in society as an excuse to leave those places in society as is. So while in America there is a lot of opportunity and the idea of personal values it can be a double edged sword.
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Hello Yuqing,
It is very interesting to see how you observe American conversations and notice what questions tend to be asked and which ones do not. One thing I agree with is that Americans are very concerned with their privacy. Not only their privacy but the privacy of everyone else is protected. I think Americans that are good with their hands are those who grew up working a lot of blue-collar jobs or learning from elders who had one. Maybe one day you can learn how to use those tools as well!
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I would personally describe the "American Culture" in many different ways good and bad. On the good side of "American Culture" I personally think of the American Dream and how America is a place of freedom and you can be whoever you want to be and do whatever you want to do with your life and reach your own personal goals. Another good part of "American Culture" would be the amount of technology that we have access to here in America. For instance, most homes in America have things like cell phones, televisions, cable, internet, computers, coffee makers, etc. In other places in the world, most homes don't have immediate access to these types of devices. On the bad side of "American Culture" I would say is that " American Culture " is very hypocritical. In America we are believed to be " a free country" and how we are a diverse country and "everyone is welcome", yet government officials do things everyday that contradict these things. Another bad part of "American Culture" would be obesity and the food standards we have in America. In other countries like Europe half of the foods we sell on our shelves are banned in other countries due to harmful chemicals. We also in America cherish fast food companies like McDonalds, TacoBell, Wendy's etc. This leads to mass consumption since they are on every block and is one of the biggest factors when it comes down to obesity in America. The "American Culture" means to me that I can go to school to become a nurse and have access to those resources but for a price that I will be paying long after my education. It also means to me that you will be surrounded by many different people from many different backgrounds.
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I feel like a lot of thoughts come to mind when thinking about this broad question. I feel like American culture really comes up to perspective. As someone whos lived in America their whole life and done very little travel I lack the perspective to really come to an understanding of what makes American culture different. To me its been something I've lived in all my life so I consider it normal. So I will try my best to channel a perspective on the outside to get an idea of what American culture looks like. I feel like the generalized idea of America that we are taught is that this is the land of opportunity and that why so many diverse cultures and people came here to make it their home. So then it makes me wonder what American culture really is then. Should it be the cultures of the natives who came first or the products of the nation we now live in. Is American culture that of billion dollar corporations, social media, and split political parties? I'm thinking out loud here as I can't say for sure what American culture is. However, I'm starting to think that's what makes it unique. All across the country you couldn't really come up with one encompassing statement for what American culture is. Things in America vary so much and I have yet to experience that being in California all my life but watching media and hearing stories of friends who've traveled. I guess to make a final answer to the question American culture is what you make of it and that being put into the broader terms is how America was shaped. People with all different interpretations and ideas of America came together and made their own culture from those ideas.
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When I think about "American culture" I think of a house in the suburbs , while a nice family is in the backyard grilling and enjoying each others company. I would also think about the family acting nice towards one another and doing everything together on the weekends. The idea of American Culture to me honestly is a white family that is close and happy with each other, the type to have dinner when everyone sits together at the table. In my opinion , the phrase doesn't mean anything big to me but that's what I would picture and if I want a family down the road I'd want them to be close in that sense. Growing up in a hispanic house everyone for the most part was distant and parents rarely around so I'd want to be closer. American culture in public to me would look like a family going out to dinner/ movies and having a happy time.
Hey Nicholas,
I too share the same idea of what American culture is, with the typical "American Dream" of the white picket fence and a full dinner table. I think it is something everyone dreams of attaining when moving to or living in the United States, being able to support yourself and your family comfortably. Although I don't believe it has to be a strictly white family, I can agree that most if not all of American households take this concept and contour it to their family and culture.
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American culture has changed over time as the demographic in the US diversified. Since everyone is so different and the US is essentially a melting pot of different cultures and races, American culture emphasizes individuality. Immigrants feel the need to assimilate into the new American culture that they immerse themselves in, but they also want to preserve parts of their own culture. With that, individuality becomes an element. Everyone is so different, that there is very little group mentality between different people.
Even though in media, American culture has been depicted as a house behind white picket fences and a perfect family, it is not often the reality. There is an abundance of gun and drug abuse issues in the US as well as wealth disparity and educational issues that plague the country. In reality, American culture has to embody every part of the US instead of just the picture-perfect, media-ready suburban houses.
American culture now, to me, looks like different races and different religions being in the same place while also celebrating individuality. Because I was raised in the Bay Area I have always been surrounded by different cultures and taught to respect the differences between everyone, so the American culture that I grew up with is the most representative of my personal opinion.
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Discussion two,
Growing up, I moved around frequently as a kid from place to place, so my school would change very often sometimes; they would be in more affluent or impoverished neighborhoods, But I remember being in a higher-end public school, and I think of American culture when I think about that school I remember saying something in Spanish and being taken out of class and was told I wasn't allowed to talk in Spanish. But for Cinco de Mayo, I was asked to bring traditional food to include my class to show my heritage, but only when it was convenient for my teacher. I wanted to be like the other girl with pale skin and blue eyes; that was American culture to me to have blonde hair and salute the flag without asking why. So when I changed schools again, I never could fit in. I was never white enough for the American dream or Hispanic sufficient for my own culture, so I've been stuck in this limbo.Word count: 170
Hey Susan, thank you for your thoughts. Your comment stood out to me especially because it is a personal experience you shared with us. You talked about wanting to be white and "fit in", I think that is something majority of the kids who go to schools in the US struggle with. I also remember when I was in elementary school thinking why I was different and was wanting to be like the popular kids.
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In the United States of America, we hold the right to be able to live in a society of freedom in rights and speech, giving every citizen equal opportunity to find success through persistence and taking initiative. We have a freedom of speech which we sometimes take for granted, exemplified in today's hip-hop culture. The majority of American rap artists don't have to think twice about what they say in their music, thanks to our right of freedom of speech. You can disrespect your rivals, talk about weapons and violence, all with out real life consequences. In other countries with stricter speech regulations, though, many artists are not able to carry the same cavalier attitude that most American artists do. For example, popular hip-hop artists from the United Kingdom are heavily censored specifically in their music videos, as certain videos which portray violence and/or disrespecting known rivals are held under review before uploaded and terminated. In interviews with certain British hip-hop artists, they refer to how American artists can say what they want with such confidence, not being sheltered by regulations of speech. They don't have to calculate and alter what they truly believe in, and I think that this concept perfectly describes American Culture.
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Hi Arnav,
I agree with your take on our society today. People definitely take the right to freedom of speech for granted. People think just because you can say what you want, it does not make it ethically okay whatsoever. Also because people of high standings aren't restricted either instead of being someone who is responsible with their own words they can say whatever and typically people who like them will agree with their words. This leads to lots of misinformation as people look at them as their role models.
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American culture is centered around individualism. I’ve noticed that because America is a capitalist country, competition often dominates school (and probably the workplace, too). For example, students, even within their friend groups, are sometimes reluctant to share notes for their classes. Tests are graded on a curve, where everyone’s scores are compared. Sometimes, I feel pressure to complete work on my own, as American culture generally celebrates people who pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Often, it seems as though an accomplishment is not yours if you received help.
American culture also prizes efficiency, and they often try to “multitask.” One example of this is eating and drinking while driving. Americans can often be seen driving to work with one hand on the wheel and one hand holding a sandwich. In contrast, many European cars do not have cup holders because drivers only focus on driving in the car. Some even have driving shoes and gloves. Similarly, in Italy, mealtimes are taken more seriously than in America. While Americans head to fast food restaurants and eat in the car before speeding off to the next thing, Italians sit down for meals and take their time socializing and enjoying the food.
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Hi Amanda,
Thank you for your sharing. I like your point about eating and drinking while driving. I always do that when I need to drive between school and my home so I can have more time sleeping. I also agree with you that about the dining culture about 2 countries. (51 Words)
Hi Amanda,
I agree with your point of Americans prioritizing multitasking. Your comparison on the meal situation between America and Italy made me realize how fast paced it can be here. Other countries view dinners as a time to relax and create conversation with their friends, whereas a majority of the chains we see in America are all advertised for being quick to get in and out.
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For me, as an immigrant, it is undoubtedly the United States that will really be different and make an excellent impression on me with American Culture. There are many different holidays each month, days of celebration, remembrance, and countless holidays. For example, Thanksgiving or Presidential Celebration, memorial service for war invalids and martyrs, ... On these days, in the US will be a public holiday, students do not need to go to school, and adults do not need to go to work. . Restaurants and tourist areas will become more crowded because people have a day off to eat, travel and spend time with relatives and friends.
Not only holidays but there are also other activities and fun such as night markets, garage sales, and American movies/series in TV shows style. Night markets in the US gather many shops with all kinds of new dishes for diners to come and enjoy. Can sell food, and drinks, or can also sell souvenirs. My favorite is the garage sale in the US. It's a kind of family that's reselling items that are no longer needed at very cheap prices for as little as $1-2 depending on the item and we (with luck) can find antique or precious items. TV shows in the US are very strange and diverse, like chatting with celebrities, and talk shows,... but because it is a diversified country, artists are not afraid to say what they think without fear of anyone. scolding, so the programs are supported by many people.
These cultures were very different when I was in my hometown and it made me feel excited about these new things.
The third thing is that America Culture is something that is quite diverse in the 21st century. Not only for Americans but also some special holidays of other immigrant ethnic groups are gradually being legalized. and become a holiday.Word Count: 312
Hello Thuy, Thank you for sharing your perspectives of "American Culture". I love your response because you mention some cultural activities which I haven't noticed. For example, I never tried the Night Markets and Garage sales. As you mentioned there are many Holydays, but I feel that all these celebrations represent only white Cristian people. I feel the holydays should also represent the different minority population.
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I would personally describe American culture as pretty different fundamentally from other countries. This is because it is known as a place with freedom and this shapes how people act. With freedom comes a lot of good and bad things. People are free to express what they want and do what they want as long as it doesn't harm others. This leads to good and bad things although, if you use this properly it can lead to you becoming successful as after all this is what is known as the "American Dream". But at the end of the day, it's called a dream and not everything goes like one if you aren't careful you fall into the traps that exist in this country. Things like people releasing any type of information whether they may be correct or wrong lead to lots of people getting misinformed. This with the combination of "freedom" makes it so that people with their own ideals typically something like politics can never be reasoned with.
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Edited by William Wu on Oct 8 at 8:12pmHello,
It has been only three years since I came to the United States, and live only in California. My definition of “American Culture” is from an outsider perspective. Most of my understanding of “American Culture” is from Hollywood movies and mainstream media. For me, it is about freedom, Clean environment, too much food, alcohol and smoke, guns, and solitary life. I found most of my perceptions true. Fast foods and big stores are also part of the “American Culture”. The other thing I noticed is, ”American Culture” is “white people's Culture''. If you look at the holidays celebrated in the US, they belong to the white Cristian majority. Racism is also rooted in the culture. Yes, there are minority groups like African Americans, Asians and Latinos. Because of their high population in California, you can witness others' culture too; still the white people's culture is dominant. From what I witnessed, I can say “American Culture is European, white Cristian's culture.
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Hi Besrat,
I really liked reading your post. I enjoyed hearing and understanding your perspective on what "American culture" is from, what you referred to yourself as, an outsiders perspective. I've lived here my entire life and I'd say you are pretty spot on. I think all of the things you mentioned are valid and many people would agree
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Hello Besrat,
I agree with you. America does have a lot of fast food going on and movies. When I was growing up in the Philippines I only knew two kinds of fast food which was Jollibee and McDonald's. But when I came to America their is many fast food places such as In-n-out, jack n the box, dominos and etc.
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Personally, I don't believe American culture today is as bad as people say it is. Compared to a lot of other countries, we aren't really too bad when it comes to how we run things morally. However, we do have a lot of common stereotypes for the "rich whites" with the white picket fences and nice houses, cars, etc. As an Asian American, it does sometimes feel challenging to fit into the culture because I am not as privileged as many people around me. For instance, it felt weird going to a wealthier high school because every student around me was driving nice cars and lived in nice houses, so it felt out of place to ever show my financial situation. I feel like whenever we envision this "American Culture", we never picture a person of color which says a lot about the way this society is actually run. Besides all the negativity, I think it's great that we encourage independence, and freedom, and are starting to approach equality from a different perspective.
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Discussion#2
I got familiar with the American culture years ago even before I immigrated to the U.S. The Hollywood products was my window to see how an American life looks like. There were attractions and also some strange things in those movies from my point of view.
When I moved to the U.S. a few years ago, I noticed that a big part of what I had known as American culture, matched with the reality. The most noticeable thing was the big sizes almost in everything. The big houses, the big cars, even big portions of food. It seems the Americans like to spend on materials. It is interesting that this part of the American culture is also appealing to people from my culture. Generally speaking, Iranian people like to spend too, on food; on cars; on having fun.
Besides the material part of the American culture, I also noticed that there are some behaviors or manners that are being praised here, like having personal autonomy in life. Here, in the U.S., schools and parents teach the children from the early age that it matters what "they" think and what "they" want. This may got mistaken with being rude in my culture. Since, in my culture, families tend to raise the children more conservative and expect them to consider what other people around them may think of them. So, it is not always the person him/her self but the family or in a big scale the society matters.
Another cultural thing in America that I like is, that people talk about their achievements and give credit to themselves for it. For example, if someone gets a medal in a sport, he/she would talk about how hard they have worked for it and how they are proud of it. In my culture, being humble is being praised more. So, our medal gainer would say how GOD or his/her mom prayers helped them to gain that medal! As if it is not ok to just say "yeah, I did it!" (#340 words)
I am a first generation American and I personally have seen the American culture mainly through school and from what my parents have told me. Growing up I never was allowed to listen to English music or watch Hollywood movies so I never got an insight through those sources and my parents have always said one thing about the American culture that its very bad, and wouldn't want their children to associate with it or become " Americanized". They always told my siblings and I how kids here do drugs, talk back to their parents, end up working at gas stations, etc, basically stating that if we become American we will end up that way. Now that I'm much older I believe it was my parents way of scaring us to continue staying connected with our own culture. However, what the American culture means to me is freedom and opportunity, not being afraid to express what you deeply feel, loving sports whether its baseball or football there's equal love. And most importantly the American culture stands for having determination and willingness to achieve success.
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Hi Jaspreet, it is very interesting that your parents would scare you from being "Americanized". I think that it is valuable to hold on to your family's culture, but it's great that you look at the American culture in such a positive light now. I never realized how much Hollywood and American TV could influence us as kids. I understand that it must've been different trying to gauge the culture without having those resources.
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I think that the American culture is something that's hard to describe because it's continuously evolving. Although to some people it may just be Hollywood, and football I think it's more because the US is so diverse with people and has many cultures within it. Furthermore, because so many people immigrated to the US, they also were able to make their own way of life that correspond with the so-called "American" lifestyle causing not only their culture to evolve but also the American culture. I think a good example of this would be American schools nationwide recognizing and celebrating other holidays from other cultures like a day of the dead, or even st. Patrick's day although those are holiday for different countries they are transitioning to something that's being celebrated here too. So I do think that the American culture is being made of many different cultures continuing to evolve and create their own special culture. -(156 words)
Hi Aiden,
You brought up a great point about the American culturing revolving and the diversity within the U.S. and the holidays we celebrate that are not originally observed by the American people. I believe Dia De Los Muertos was brought to light by the Disney movie "CoCo." It was a hit movie. Thank you for your insight on your post, it has made me view "American culture" in a different manner.
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Hello Aiden,
I agree that American culture is much more than just Hollywood and Football. We as Americans don't all subscribe to the belief that there is one set idea that defines American culture. There are a multitude of cultures here in the United States to just be defined as "American", we have come a long way to discredit the melting pot that makes us whole.
-Juan
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I don’t believe that America has a definite type of culture. I believe that America is a mix of many different cultures. The American flag symbolizes freedom, but for some people they don’t believe that our country is. There is a lot of prejudice and injustice still to this day. However, July 4th is a holiday that is celebrated here in America to celebrate the freedom gained from Britain. American food consists of unhealthy foods like burgers, hot dogs, fries, corn dogs, and more. I think that America has a bad rep when it comes to the food, because it consists of highly processed foods and is served in large portions which causes a lot of the population to become obese. The American culture is also big on football and sports, maybe it’s just what I focus on as well, but I know a lot of the American population is big on watching sports especially the Super Bowl. All in all, I think there’s no definite culture just because the country is a melting pot of all different cultures. Although, the country has certain things it is known for, like “freedom”, fast food, and sports.
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Hello, Natalie. When I think of "American culture," the first thing that comes to mind is fast food culture. Because movies show that Americans adore fast food. And there are a lot of fast-food restaurants. Also, I believe that many people enjoy sports even if they do not participate in them. They still enjoy watching it.
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When thinking of the term "American culture," I believe it suggests the way Americans live, their fashion and their mannerism. If I could describe what American culture looks like, I would say it is a middle to high class social status group living in a superb neighborhood. It consists of the fancy cars and nice homes. Fashion would be what you see on television or in stores such as Nike, Gucci or Macys. I strongly believe American culture also consists of mannerisms that are normalized in the U.S. "Please" and "thank you" are valued in American society. A valued trait in socialization is personal space when speaking to others. You can talk to each other but respect the range of distance in which you decide to socialize. American culture means to me that I have an opinion about what I perceive to be "normal" as I grew up in the states. However, I also understand there are immigrants in this country who have yet to learn what the American people portray as normal. I have come to realize patience is a virtue when engaging with others who are not familiar with the American culture.
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American culture to me is the embodiment of all the cultures that have come to this country. It is a fluid-like culture that is represented however the person representing it wants to. The different ethnicities in this country have shared what they do back at home and integrated it with the rest society to grow it into what it has become. Most things "American" have come from other parts of the world, but it becomes "American" when it is accepted by the rest of our diverse country and integrated into their daily lives as well. Hamburgers and hotdogs are considered "American" because they have been accepted by all communities and now has a become a common consumption item. As a sports fan, to me certain sports like football, basketball and baseball has become an integral part of American culture. I can’t think of America without the craziness around these sports. These kind of experiences to me are how different cultures are able to connect and come together, when they feel a sense of togetherness because they see they eat and enjoy the same thing other cultures do. [Word Count 190]
Edited by Sagar Tomar on Oct 9 at 4:51pmBecause I was not born or raised in America, my perception of "American culture" is based on movies and television shows. What I've heard about "American culture" revolves around fast food, sports, and education. According to television shows, Americans enjoy fast food and are avid sports fans. Most children begin participating in sports when they are three or four years old. Even though they don't participate in sports, they enjoy watching different games. American schools are vastly different from those in other countries. I'm grateful for the opportunity to attend an American high school. Which is completely different from the school I attended in my home country. They have more freedom at school, and we have more time to talk. In addition, I believe that "American culture" is about equality, independence, and achievement. Americans believe that everyone has the right to equal protection under the law. No one group or individual shall be granted rights that are not extended to all. Individual accomplishment is valued over group accomplishment, and people are encouraged to rely on themselves rather than others.
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I do agree with your perception because there’s a lot of times where TV and real life collide and bring about some information and knowledge from those shows. I can also relate to food and sports being idolized and looked at a high level because of the new ideas and actions being portrayed to the youth, almost like a copy cat league.Word count: 62I agree with your perception of " American Culture " is based on movies and television shows . I have learned a lot of information and knowledge from the shows . As a new immigrant I have learned a lot from TV show the different sector such as education , political , social , and economic which encourage me to try hard for my future .
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Before I came to the US to study, I only learned about the "American" culture through news, books, media, or movies, which presented American culture as freedom, a country with multiple cultural backgrounds, equality and independence. Since I grew up in Asian culture, we rarely move out from our parent's house early, or even if we move out, we tend to live close, were in American culture, most the kid 18 would move out to be more independent from their parents and be more responsive to their life. I think this is an excellent opportunity for young people to find their path of what they want to do with their life. They have the freedom to speak up from their mind with the advantage of privileged. However, after living here for more than 10 years, that is not always the case for everyone; they could speak up to define themselves or have the privilege of protecting themselves from it.
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My personal opinion of I would describe American culture would be sports and social media. I say this because when I look at the world, there is a wide variety of opportunities and there is a lot of people that are culturally bred into that society of sports and social media and are being exposed to new environments. I believe it is hard to really say what American culture is because it changes so rapidly and there is always new identities being presented as the next big thing. I however say that because of the outlets and following that sports and social media bring, everyone wants to become an athlete or influencer. I see this a lot because there is a huge amount of diversity and roles being played by people which brings upon a era where people have a chance to live the “American Dream”, it is a beautiful thing to see because there is such countless opportunities that can help change peoples lives and it helps you make the impossible a reality. The world we live in today has a lot of potential to accomplish the unimaginable and I love to see great things happen.Word Count:197I would also say that the “American Dream” is a huge part of the culture. We have millions of people that come here for the opportunities that are provided every year. I also agree with the fact that besides the “American Dream”, it is difficult to pinpoint the culture since it changes so rapidly nowadays. With the advent of the internet new things come and go within a matter of days and huge news that would have been reported on for months decades ago and only popular for a few weeks.
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As an Asian living in America right now, I have so many thoughts about “American culture”. Personally, to describe American culture in one word, that would be individualism. First of all, Americans emphasize democracy and freedom for themselves. American culture highlights individual characteristics : everyone is unique and individual. Since everyone is an independent individual, everyone will have their own needs and ideas. Thus, Americans advocate revolution and competition to strive for what they need and what they want.
Moreover, America is a place with a diverse culture. Due to the fact of its history of colonization, British culture has the most influence such as the use of English. Great influence followed by German, Polish, Irish and Italian culture made American culture diversified. In addition, new immigrants and its neighboring countries also made a huge impact on American culture. As a result, food and entertainment in America is globalized with so many options for Americans or people from all around the world to enjoy. (163 words)American culture to me is a mixed blend of many cultures with many distinct subgroups in them. The biggest part of the culture that nearly every region in America shares is the idea of self improvement and dreams. Since much of America is composed of immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa, and other regions, it has become a popular destination for improving your life. This to me is integral in the American identity since we hear of so many who have made it from rags to riches. We hear stories of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs who dropped out of college to pursue their own dreams which led to their success. It is without a doubt that these stories have heavily influenced modern American society. Another part of American culture also lies within the media we consume, from Hollywood to the internet, it is a uniquely American thing. As much of the internet is made from American companies, it is also no question that the internet has also changed the culture. Trends from social media that go viral, new movies that break sales records, and the fervent discourse on politics have become ingrained in the culture. One can not think of America without its dreams and without its media.
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I think this is a really interesting take on what American culture is. In my response, I quickly mentioned the American dream in an attempt to explain how it led immigrants here and thus, created a melting pot of cultures. However, I didn't think about how the American dream itself is part of the culture; now that you mention it, I definitely think that what you say is true. The American dream, as well as the media consumption you discuss, plays a large role in the high innovation and creative minds that this country has come to foster, which definitely is a part of our culture. (106 words)
Edited by Helen Tian on Oct 9 at 11:45pm
When I first think of "American Culture" I think of the stereotypes from social media, or shows. For awhile I used to think American's did not have a culture as distinctive as other countries, nothing stood out to me besides patriotism and living the American Dream. Growing up in a mixed household I was able to see both sides of those who immigrated to the states compared to those who were brought up here, which has helped me open up my idea of what really defines the culture here. Especially here in the Bay Area, American culture is a blend of everyone who has came here, their ideas, beliefs, and traditions carry over. American is built on the idea that anyone can make it out here and it can be a fresh start to a better beginning. For my family who was raised only in the states this dream seems to be a life of leisure, being able to roam free and say whatever they want. However I think that my relatives who immigrated here have a different idea of this dream, they came here with the idea that their opportunities would be more open and it would be better for their families. They came here to put down roots and to create something. To me, American Culture is built on the families who took a chance and left everything behind to try and create better lives for themselves. Our culture is how everyone from different backgrounds have been able to come together and help each other create communities.
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Hi Malia, I completely agree that American culture is nothing without those that have laid down their lives to better themselves and their families in this country. It is so diverse here in the Bay Area that it is hard to describe American culture without those that immigrated here for the reasoning you described: to make it here and have a better start. We've built amazing and strong communities as a result of American culture.
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Edited by Chanelle May Roces on Oct 9 at 9:56pm
Although there are many cultures that thrive and coexist in the United States, to me personally, the idea of “American culture” seems to thrive around one central idea: the freedom to choose and to capitalize. Americans love individualism, and in American history textbooks, it is the very basis that the country was founded. People immigrate from outside countries to the United States to chase their individual dreams and success, otherwise known as “The American Dream.” This idea that the US has better opportunities and better grounds for wealth and success is what pushed my family to immigrate here and the individualist ideals that I led to have growing up. It is the culture here to “chase your dream”, but the catch is, you won’t be seen as successful unless you venture into capitalism and become financially wealthy. Since anyone is free to capitalize and build their own financial empire, it is expected that everyone will achieve the American Dream of a nuclear family, a suburban home, a complete college education, and a successful established career. The American culture of freedom and individualism is wonderful at first glance, though it also has caveats, such as the expectation of the American Dream.
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When thinking about "American culture", a few things come to mind; the 4th of July, football, and Hollywood. To me, I don't really think it goes beyond that. When I think of what American culture is, I think about primarily Caucasian people BBQ-ing with family as they watch football and eat hamburgers or hotdogs together. We see "American culture" portrayed in many movies where it shows white families in their nice houses, fancy cars, and expensive clothing going through life. On another note, when thinking about "American culture", the "American dream" comes to mind as well, where people should be free and equal. I do not think this is the case. In my personal opinion the "American dream" has not lived up to its true meaning. There are so many issues in our government regarding the inequality of minorities in the US. In other words, when thinking about "American culture", I think about the injustices and the challenges minorities have faced all while being American.
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Discussion 2
Growing up, I had an idea that American Culture was about all the American Dream and being able to achieve your dreams through hard work and determination. A place where one can arrive from an improvised country with nothing but the clothes on their backs and immediately being able to provide not only for themselves but for their relatives in their home country. Considering the mixture of cultures that the United States consist of, now as an adult I don't believe this to be unique just to the Unites States but to be a universal culture where our values hold the strongest weight. I have often heard that the American people do not have a set culture, and while I don’t fully agree with that statement, it does hold some truth. We as American’s don't all come from the same background and beliefs but we all generally hold the same values that as a whole population makes us one and the same.
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For me "American Culture" would be freedom, Christmas, thanksgiving and sports. The only reason why I say this is because in some cultures they don't celebrate Christmas for thanksgiving. I was born here in San Francisco Kaiser but however I was raised in the Philippines. I know we celebrated Christmas but I didn't remember celebrating Thanksgiving. But when I moved back to the U.S. when I was 8 years old. I celebrated my first thanksgiving. I also got to understand more of all the holidays here. Like the 4th go July is the Independence Day. Fourth of July is filled with hamburgers, hot dogs and beautiful fireworks! The only reason why I would say sports is a huge part of its American Culture is because in American their is all kinds of sports such as football, soccer, basketball, swimming and etc. You name it and America has it. We also have Labor Day which is honoring the lives that was lost during the war. As well as Martin Luther king day to honor his birthday. Martin Luther king was someone who fought for civil rights. MLK was made into a holiday after the assassination happened. So with that being said America has a lot of culture all around.
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Hi Julianne! It’s nice to meet someone in the class who was raised in the
Philippines! I do believe you were able to learn a bit of American Culture through the holidays and comparing it to the Filipino holidays there. As you go through the holidays (like MLK, Veterans Day), you’ll learn a little bit of American history. Additionally, I agree with you with sports being a major factor in American culture. A lot of my family in PH also follows American sports very closely!
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When I hear about American Culture I think of Hollywood stars famous actors and actress throughout America , I also think about the diversity America has to offer with a wide range of different ethnicity where you can meet many people who may have an impact in your life. The American Culture to me at first looks like a big land where people are welcomed and live happily together with the ability to have freedom of speech. But lately with social media and hate crimes and racial profiling I have found America in a bad spot for minorities and people of different cultures. The American culture I see gets worst and worst every year every time I watch the news. I see on the news about the warriors winning the NBA Finals to seeing many people rioting and protesting violently and I also notice a lot of Asian hate crimes lately towards the Asian community since Covid sparked around. But overall living in America is an experience I wouldn't want to give up since I've been traveling to foreign countries in the countryside I understand why its a blessing to live in America many other people have it a lot harder than we do here in America. The American culture to me means, The land of possibilities America even though it can get very sad sometimes here but American Culture has a lot to offer for the future for everyone around the world.
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I am newly immigrant residents I don’t know how to explain very well about American culture .I am still learning about learning about American culture. It is hard to define the specific American culture because there are many different ethnic, religion with many custom and traditions. As a newly immigrants I simply understand that American culture includes freedom of speech, culture diversity, political competitiveness and correctness, scientific competitiveness. United States In the new land I am trying to adapt and adopt the new culture. I have learned that American culture that help people think, how to behave, how to groom, how to enjoy life, how to financially independent and move forward to create their life. I also learned that some characteristic and value of American culture such as independence, achievement, privacy, equal right, democracy, diversity, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of press. American Culture measure the quality of life for the whole American society.
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Edited by Phyu Phyu Thant on Oct 9 at 11:22pmPersonally to me the “American culture” has many different meanings. Things are always changing in the world, but I think it was mostly be freedom of speech, being diverse, making things be bigger and better, and finally being able to try and live a more lavish life. I’m a first generation born over here and my parents moved here to give me a better life than what they grew up with and that would go towards the meaning of being able to live a more lavish life.
Going on to explain the other meanings, freedom of speech is being able to speak for one’s self and what they believe in. As for being divers, everyone around us isn’t the same. We’re able to live around different people with different ethnic backgrounds. Finally with making things bigger and better, it would mean that as time moves forward, we have more to grow from and expand with things such as technology or agriculture.
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You bring up a good point about the fact that America prides themselves on making things bigger and better. It makes me realize how much we care about development within areas such as technology and simply just improving ways of living. I agree that America is very diverse and we manage to live with different people from different backgrounds and such. I also think that is one of the main aspects of American culture. (74)
The American Culture is an idea I fully cannot draw from myself and tell my sole thoughts. My family comes to mind when thinking about American Culture. About 70% of my family members are living in the Philippines. From my parents, they told me stories when they were kids about how their meals, house arrangements, clothes and technology were not as great as the kids and families in America. My family desired to have a life in America because a lot of known pop culture, life and food existed there. At first, I felt bad knowing that they couldn’t experience those luxuries as they were rare in PH, but if I looked at it another way, it was something for them to keep going. There are some dark histories America has witnessed, there were some great moments to what the culture has entered to the minds of not only me and my family, but to the world. Some examples that struck me and my family back home are classic teen books (hunger games, twilight, divergent), movies (marvel, dc, almost any popular movies from the 80’s to 90’s) and shoes (doc martens, nike, converse). American culture will remind me on how I was able to connect with my family.
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Coming from a Chinese background, I never specifically defined what "American culture" was. America was built on the principle of giving immigrants a second chance at a life or letting people from all over the world experience the American dream; the American culture is a mixture of all cultures, and depending on where you live in the States or what your family values are, one specific culture may be more prominent than the others. Although not based in historical culture, I believe the standards and ways we hold ourselves is also what defines cultures. For me, the American culture lies in the feeling of individualism and empathy. Comparing my direct family's current values with our distance family's (who still live in China) values, I came to realize a clear distinction in how we went about our lives. The American culture seems to compromise of bettering yourself for yourself, while Chinese culture somewhat dictates that you work for the betterment of your family. In America, when someone's in need, be kind and lend a hand; however, in China, the culture is very much the opposite: if it doesn't impact you, keep walking. (191 words)
When I think of the term "American culture," to me it is the combination of cultures that are present in the United States. When I define someone who is American, it is anyone that was born, grew up, or a citizen of America. For this reason, American culture comes in all different varieties. There are all different races and ethnicities of people that make up America. It is not one singular culture. To say that it is only one version it would completely disregard minorities that make up the United States. As someone that has grown up in the bay area all their life this is how I perceive American culture to be since I was surrounded by a vast variety of people. America culture looks like different people across all different ethnic groups that make up America. I think American culture is also the idea of freedom since we pride ourselves in being the land of the free. Although there is still progress to be made for everyone to be equal, compared to other countries we do have a lot more rights. This does not mean that we should not fight for what is right and I think this idea itself is also part of American culture. (208)
Edited by Melanie Nguyen on Oct 9 at 11:51pmThere are many things to describe American Culture as in my opinion. I see very diverse cultures, different classes that families are at, freedom to a certain extent and I think of sports and famous actors and artists. I would describe American Culture very high class compared to most countries but there are many and many people that are low class and are poor. I feel our diverse cultures causes many disagreements which can lead to all sorts of crimes. I feel American Culture is lucky to have the freedom it has but sometimes it can be too much where people get away with things many sorts of things that are not good. I think American Culture is very well known for its sports like football, basketball and baseball. Also, for our movies and tv shows and reality tv shows and for our diverse music that we play in our cars or at parties and events. (word count 156)
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How would you personally describe "American culture"?
I see American Culture as two different meanings. The first meaning as I would describe American Culture as would be people who were born and raised in America. They believe and take pride in their country and believe in equality for all and keep fighting to keep their country equal. They do “American things” such as getting “American food” such as stereotypical burgers and hamburgers and doing activities such as watching football games (especially since football was created as a sport in the US). The other way you can describe “American Culture” is by the stereotypical idea that people come here from other countries as immigrants for freedom and a better life. People come here to be citizens for work and to start families. Usually people come here when they are younger in their early twenties and thirties from job offers or spouses that live here. They try their hardest to get residency here and become legal citizens.
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What is it, what does it look like, etc. ?
American Culture looks like having the American Values people associate America with. These include equality, meaning no matter where you are from, what you believe, your race, and your gender you will always have equal opportunities as everybody else. There is “no specific glamorized person”. America is also seen as to create a better future and life for people. People from other countries come here as immigrants to seek work for our popular jobs such as jobs as an Engineer, Construction Worker, and Nurse. There are more jobs open and more job opportunities here. American Culture is mainly seen for diversity. This looks like no matter where you go there will always be someone similar to you. This can be your gender, shared religious beliefs, political beliefs, race, skin color, and beliefs. The American stereotypical food is seen as hamburgers, hot dogs, and corn dogs. There are super popular barbecue places and state food fairs many Americans attend yearly.
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What does the term or idea " American culture" mean to you?
American culture means to me that everyone can come here with an equal free opportunity for a better life. I see that a lot of people come here especially from the media and they do not have a better life despite coming here. American culture means people get the same opportunities as my dad did as he came here as an immigrant from England after he finished college there and was able to become a citizen from his job opportunity he got here as a software engineer. When I think of American culture I think of Fourth of July every year millions of Americans celebrate by throwing parades, making the stereotypical American food such as hotdogs and hamburgers. Especially because I live in one of the most diverse areas with so many career opportunities in the United States, I definitely think of diversity. Everywhere I go in the bay area I see people from all over here and many people who came here and were not born in the US. This means opportunity and equality.
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