I lately think of Charleston, S.C., that beautiful old-fashioned, new-fashioned city. On a walk there in October I went by one of the oldest Catholic churches in the South, St. Mary's, built in 1789. Across the street, equally distinguished and welcoming, was Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, a Jewish congregation founded in 1749. They've been across from each other peacefully and happily for a long time. I walked down Meeting Street to see the Hibernian Society, founded in 1801. My people wanted their presence known. In a brochure I saw how the society dealt with Ireland's old Catholic-Protestant split. They picked a Protestant president one year, a Catholic the next, and so on. In Ireland they were killing each other. In America they were trading gavels. What a country! What a place. What a new world.
We have much to be proud of. And we know it. But take a look around us. Don't we have some reasons for pause, for self-questioning? Don't we have a lot of cultural repair that needs doing?
***
Imagine for a moment that you are a foreign visitor to America. You are a 40-year-old businessman from Afghanistan. You teach a class at Kabul University. You are relatively sophisticated. You're in pursuit of a business deal. It's your first time here. There is an America in your mind; it was formed in your childhood by old John Ford movies and involves cowboy hats and gangsters in fedoras. You know this no longer applies—you're not a fool—but you're not sure what does. You land at JFK, walking past a TSA installation where they're patting the genital areas of various travelers. Americans sure have a funny way of saying hello!You get to town, settle into a modest room at the Hilton on Sixth Avenue. You're jet-lagged. You put on the TV, not only because you're tired but because some part of you knows TV is where America happens, where America is, and you want to see it. Headline news first. The world didn't blow up today. Then:
Click. A person named Snooki totters down a boardwalk. She lives with young people who grunt and dance. They seem loud, profane, without values, without modesty, without kindness or sympathy. They seem proud to see each other as sexual objects.
Click. "Real Housewives." Adult women are pulling each other's hair. They are glamorous in a hard way, a plastic way. They insult each other.
Click. Local news has a riot in a McDonalds. People kick and punch each other. Click. A cable news story on a child left alone for a week. Click. A 5-year-old brings a gun to school, injures three. Click. A show called "Skins"—is this child pornography? Click. A Viagra commercial. Click. A man tried to blow up a mall. Click. Another Viagra commercial. Click. This appears to be set in ancient Sparta. It appears to involve an orgy.
You, the Kabul businessman, expected some raunch and strangeness but not this—this Victoria Falls of dirty water! You are not a philosopher of media, but you know that when a culture descends to the lowest common denominator, it does not reach the broad base at the bottom, it lowers the broad base at the bottom. This "Jersey Shore" doesn't reach the Jersey Shore, it creates the Jersey Shore. It makes America the Jersey Shore.
You surf on, hoping for a cleansing wave of old gangster movies. Or cowboys. Anything old! But you don't find TMC. You look at a local paper. Headline: New York has a 41% abortion rate. Forty-four percent of births are to unmarried women and girls.
You think: Something's wrong in this place, something has become disordered.
The next morning you take Amtrak for your first meeting, in Washington. You pass through the utilitarian ugliness, the abjuration of all elegance that is Penn Station. On the trip south, past Philadelphia, you see the physical deterioration that echoes what you saw on the TV—broken neighborhoods, abandoned factories with shattered windows, graffiti-covered abutments. It looks like old films of the Depression!
By the time you reach Washington—at least Union Station is august and beautiful—you are amazed to find yourself thinking: "Good thing America is coming to save us. But it's funny she doesn't want to save herself!"
***
My small point: Remember during the riots of the 1960s when they said "the whole world is watching"? Well, now the whole world really is. Everyone is traveling everywhere. We're all on the move. Cultures can't keep their secrets.The whole world is in the Hilton, channel-surfing. The whole world is on the train, in the airport, judging what it sees, and likely, in some serious ways, finding us wanting.
And, being human, they may be judging us with a small, extra edge of harshness for judging them and looking down on them.
We have work to do at home, on our culture and in our country. A beautiful Easter to St. Mary's Church of Charleston, and happy Passover to Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim.
As any other culture, the US one is unique. The word that I think that better defines the US culture is diversity, due to the fact that there are all kinds of people and lifestyles. That is one reason why many people from different countries are attracted there. According to what I acknowledge about the US culture is that most Americans always try to improve on what has been done. They are quite idealist on the grounds that they believe that they can be the best, they believe that they can do anything they want. Apart from that, what I also know about this culture is that Americans eat a lot of fast food, such as burgers, pizza and French fries. Everything that I know about the American culture I learned it from TV, since there are American programs and movies everywhere, in which their culture is reflected.
ReplyDeleteVanesa: After watching the playlist from YouTube, my view of US culture changed a little since I did not have idea that those kinds of TV programs were shown in US. That is, in those programs we can see people having fun and without any values, since they do not respect each other, and we can also see how injustice is going on in this country. However, I think that popular TV programs such as the ones that I saw do not show an accurate image of US culture due to the fact that they only depict the negative side of American culture.
ReplyDeleteSusy:In my opinion each country has a particular culture that defines it. Us culture can be defined in general terms according to its product, practices and perspective – they are behaviors, concrete cultural elements, values, attitudes, ideas, rituals, ways of entertainment, etc. The knowledge or perception that people could have in relation to this country comes mainly from TV series, music, Hollywood and literature. All these ideas can be cristallised in the following perceptions: US seems to be a consumer and capitalist society. Generally, they perceive themselves as the most influential and powerful country in the world. They have a strong feeling of nationalism and the country has constant racial conflicts. They are well-known for eating fast food. The significant development of the country in areas such as education and technology is also renowned. After having watched the video I could say that many of the TV programs do not depict an accurate image of the US culture because they just let us see a fraction of their reality that, by the way, it is not the positive one.
ReplyDeleteAfter watching the playlist, my mind in relation to the US culture changed in some aspects, but, not so much in some others. I was surprised about the concept of Justice, since I did believe the US had a very good Justice system. But, in some other videos, I confirmed my theories about how US people act or behave radically. Well, some of the products that I could see reflected in the videos are mostly the consume of alcohol and a lot of unhealthy food. The practises vary, in some of the videos an out of control kind of behavior was perfectly reflected. But, in some others, I saw an interest for changing and becoming better, as in the case of "The Biggest Loser" video. I did not know these programs, since I am used to watching other US TV shows. The image of the US culture shown in the movies and TV shows I see, is completely different from what I just watched. I think that they show a more idealistic kind of culture, though some aspects (such as the consume of alcohol and junk food) are always present. But, as every TV show or movie, what prevails is fiction, which does not mean that the US culture per se is completely like that.
ReplyDeleteLaura- There are a lot of things shown on US tv that do not accurately depict America as a whole. Yes, there are many people who consume alcohol a lot, and there is an increasing number of overweight people. But that does not mean that the entire United States participates in those types of activities. Media in the US doesn not show a true picture of what America is like. We value family, education, and hard work, and none of those things are stressed in the most popular TV shows today. Shows like "The Biggest Loser" give a little big more perspective as to how our country is trying to solve our issues instead of letting them spiral uncontrollably.I just feel like people from other countries are not getting an accurate picture of the way most Americans live, and our country's reputation is suffering because of it.
ReplyDeleteLaura- America has some pretty goofy ideas for tv shows and movies sometimes which only purpose is to attract an audience. They are about the strange or unusual things that some small percentage of American do but do a horrible job of accurately depicting America as a whole. I live in Iowa, so most of the people I meet are care and are willing to help those in need. This may not be the same in large cities because of their lifestyle but the majority of Americans are actually nice, hard working, and determined to succeed. These shows you have seen, show Americans as dumb, lazy people who are self conceided and have poor morals. Don't believe it, we just put these people on shows for others to see for entertainment, because most of us aren't like that so we find it amusing to see. We actually value our family, friends, education, and hard work. We believe that if you want to succeed and have a fullfilling life, you have to work hard to do so but this is not what is portreyed in many of the shows you have seen.
ReplyDeleteTo the first post-
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say that you are right. America is completely about diversity. We focus on our diversity to make us stronger. We can be who we are, and that makes us happier and harder working than those that cannot express themselves. We always try to improve upon what has been done because we know that things can be better. Just look at how far we have come with things like technology even in the last fifteen years. We do not just want the best, we want better than the best. We work toward perfection with no possibility of reaching it, but with the reality of bettering ourselves and our lives. This is one reason so many people try to stay fit. Yes, it is true that America is known for fast food. And, yes, Americans do eat fast food, but many Americans eat healthy, balanced meals and exercise frequently to better their bodies and keep themselves in shape. Advertising and media in the United States may send out mixed messages about this and other things to the world. The media in America focuses on those things that make people different. The people that you see in Jersey Shore or Real Housewives may exhist, but they are not the norm in America. The are the oddities that the media focuses on for entertainment. As you said, America focuses on differences, so what better way to entertain ourselves than watching people you do not normally see?
To the first post-
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with you. America does have a very diverse culture. That's what makes us so unique, we don't all celebrate the same holidays and we don't have the same core values. Since we are so diverse it means that not everyone has the same culture. We are who we are. We are all hardworking and gain gratitude through our handwork know that whatever we have we worked for and that we earned it. I'm not saying that everyone in america is like that but the majority of us are and we are very thankful for what we have. We do try to improve on what we have. Our society is always growing and that is why we try to alway improve what we have. We always try to make things work better, run more efficiently and be even better than it was before. We do want the best but who doesn't we are always trying to perfect what we have. THere may be nothing wrong with what we have but we are constantly coming up with ways in which we can improve something even if it is the most minute improvement.
Yes, we do have a lot of fast food in America but that doesn't mean that everyone here eats it. Only a handful of people consume fast food daily. As for me I only eat fast food a couple of time a year I usually make all of my food that i eat. The majority of our society is in a rather healthy state. Yes there is a good amount of the population that is obese like the people in one of the video clips but as you saw those people want dot change their lifestyle and in doing so they found help in order to help them lose weight. that only show s a portion of the people that wanted to lose weight but there are more people out there that are just like that, that also want to be able to have a healthy lifestyle. Many americans only eat healthy food and exercise daily in order to maintain a healthy body image and to stay in shape. As you saw in the video the guys were rather fit. That isn't the best example for our society as that is sometime a little over the top but people try to stay in shape like that in order to have a better self esteem about themselves and to live a long and healthy life.
the media in AMerica isn't the best way to learn about America. Our reality TV shows are usually rather skewed and usually show one extreme or the other. The people that you saw in the videos that you watched may exist but that isn't what the majority of the population in America look like. As you said, America is all about differences so one way that we see some of the different lifestyles in America is through the TV shows that we watch. Just because that's what our TV shows are about doesn't meant that is what our whole society is like.
To the first post-
ReplyDeleteI think you are spot on with the diversity aspect. The US is called the melting pot for that reason. It's full of all sorts of different people from completely different walks of life because that's how it began. The country was built and established by immigrants. I also agree with you that the US tries to improve on what has been done but I don't always see it as a belief that we are the best, I see it more as an ideal that no one can tell us that we can't be or do the best. Although, that best isn't always in competition with others. A big belief that most people push for is that you should always do YOUR best. It may not always be the best that there is in the entire world but it is the best that you are capable of through trying and pushing as hard as you can. In addition, we believe we can do anything we want because that's how you get stuff done. If you don't believe you can do it you won't put your best effort forth. Finally, fast food does play a large role in our culture. I think a reason for that is because we are always busy and moving from one thing to the next so we have very little time for "slow" food. And pure laziness is a factor as well. TV shows and movies tend to show parts of US culture but sadly they usually show the over-the-top, entertaining, overexaggerated members. No one wants to watch a show about a family of four sitting at a dinner table and talking about their normal days so no one makes productions of it.
Vanesa,
ReplyDeleteI agree with your thoughts that TV programs such as the ones on the YouTube aren't accurately showing what is true US culture. I am pleased to see that you realize that the shows are depicting the negative side of our culture. It sounds like you know that not all Americans are lacking in moral values and it is comforting to know that some people can look past the negative images in the media and not judge our culture based solely on that.
To the third post-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. A country is defined by its products, practices and perspectives. The knowledge and opinions people have about the United States do come mainly from the media. We put too many negative representations of ourselves in the media as well, which needs to change in order for others to get a more accurate image of us. We do have strong patriotism for our country, however I don't believe that we constantly have racial conflicts. The U.S. has improved largely regarding that issue. Fast food is very popular in the U.S., but there are many people who don't eat it, especially on a regular basis. The video definitely does not represent the U.S. well or accurately. The U.S. should put more positive representations of us in the media instead of so many negative.
From one Vanessa to another Vanesa-
ReplyDeleteSadly they are the "popular" TV shows that week after week millions of Americans tune into. I respect your view that those shows are not showing an accurate image of our US culture wholly; however, I do feel that they are showing us a warning sign for our future generations. If these are acceptable for us to view on TV now, who's to stop our children from emulating these practices in the future?! I think that the US needs to focus on changing the main sources of entertainment from sleeze to something ACTUALLY entertaining for the right reasons. A lot of people claim they watch those TV shows because they are like a car wreck and cannot look away, but those are the same people that two weeks later are acting like the characters from their favorite TV show or buying into the latest trend started from those same TV shows.
Belén-I agree with you. I also think the US has its own culture which is defined by the traits you listed(the way people live here, the view we have on the rest of the world, our costumes, the aspects of life that we value, our habits, our language, our art, and the way we express ourselves). TV shows definitely do not define the American culture because all it is is entertainment. When I think of America fast food and obesity comes to mind. Americans are very materialistic, especially with all of the new technology that has been coming out lately. My view on studying others' cultures is correct, at least for me. I think that it's useless to study others' cultures because what good does it do unless there is a purpose behind learning about other cultures than your own. The only reason I would be willing to learn about others' cultures is if it was for a class or I were to visit because then I would need some background info. And for your view on racism, I totally agree not only because I have colored friends but because I really don't understand it. Racism doesn't make sense to me at all.
ReplyDeleteNick made a good point about Americans not wanting to watch a citcom about a family sitting at the dinner table discussing their daily lives. Of course this would be boring and it wouldnt get great ratings. Thus, most Americans want the pop culuture/reality tv junk that is giving the country a bad name. I feel that there are plenty of other great shows on television. Such channels include the History Channel, Dicovery Channel, and Public telelvision. It is sad for me to see our country being portrayed as it is in the well liked reality tv shows. Sometimes I wonder if ratings, similar to those of Movies, should be required for television shows. This ratings should strict and only allow certain activities to be viewed. What ever happened to Little house on the Prairie, Home Improvement, Fraiser, and the Drew Carey Show? None of these were as provocative and explicit as the shows on television today. They actually contained lessons on morals and daily life struggles that every audience member could relate to.
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