American Stereotypes of Canada

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American Stereotypes of Canada

The following paper will analyze the discussion generated from our

Focus Group session, which covered American stereotypes Canadians

portrayed in their media. The topic an interesting one to Canadians

and rather enlightening to you because of your American upbringing was

chosen based on what we observed during the Olympic coverage.

We noticed that the Americans covered the events only when their

athletes were participating or would abandon a broadcast of an event

when it was clear the American athlete was not in contention for a

medal to watch something a little more interesting. However, when an

event has a dedicated audience such as figure skating, and the judging

scandal took place, it was the American audience that stood up for

their neighbours to the north. Since in the eyes of the United States

we are "weak, mild and timid". (USA Today) Yet it was obvious by the

media coverage around the world including the American views that

Canada was not about to take the Gold medal scandal sitting down.

We asked the class what some of the negative stereotypes Americans

have of Canadians and it became apparent as an observer that our

multicultural classroom was one under the Canadian flag. How so? In

the discussion I noticed that we Canadians are all in on the joke. We

all understood that the Americans were ignorant of Canada and that we

played up to the stereotypes at their expense.

What are some of the negative stereotypes we encounter on a daily

basis? As shows like the Simpsons and South Park made so evident was

that Canada is known for are the RCMP, hockey, maple syrup, and of

course snow. However are these stereotypes a bad thing to Canadians?

Not necessarily, because American satirists use Canada as a tool for

satirizing themselves. Trey Parker and Matt Stone did not create the

flip-top headed Canadian characters in South Park to offend Canadians

- they did so to take a jab at Americans' stereotyping of Canadians.

They chose to "Blame Canada, before somebody thinks of blaming us" for

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